Regression of Infancy Hemangiomas with Recombinant IFN-α2b

Abstract

Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) has antitumor and antiangiogenic effects. The purpose of this work was to evaluate its efficacy and safety in the treatment of infancy hemangioma and to monitor the appearance of anti-IFN antibodies in these patients. Thirty-nine children (29 girls) aged 1.5-158 months, with 19 younger than 1 year and 9 older than 5, were treated with 3 x 10(6) IU/m(2) IFN-alpha 2b, subcutaneously (s.c.) daily. Inclusion criteria were life-threatening or life-limiting hemangioma and parents' informed consent. Regression was considered if tumor size diminished by 50% or more. Of the 38 patients who completed 6 months of treatment, 27 (71.1%) had regression and 11 (28.9%) had stable disease. No patient experienced progression. Regression was more frequent (100%) among patients between 1 and 5 years old, but it was particularly important (68%) among those under 1 year old, when spontaneous regression is rare. The main side effects were the IFN-related flulike syndrome (79%), increase in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (28%), anorexia (19%), and mild inflammation at the injection site (19%). There was no effect on psychomotor or physical development. On the contrary, 1 patient with neurologic symptoms improved remarkably, including seizure disappearance. Eight patients developed anti-IFN-alpha 2 neutralizing antibodies, and 7 of them responded to IFN treatment. IFN-alpha 2b is a safe and efficacious treatment of infancy hemangioma. Further work should look for other treatment schedules and ways of administration and carefully monitor anti-IFN neutralizing antibodies, which does not seem to interfere with response.

Strong inhibition of Ewing tumor xenograft growth by combination of human interferon-alpha or interferon-beta with ifosfamide

“…In children and young adults (516 years), few data on the use of Hu-IFNs in other pathologies have been published to date (Strander and Einhorn, 1996;Tanneberger and Harelia, 1996;Wo¨rle et al, 1999;Garmendia et al, 2001). The optimal timing and dosage for administration of Hu-IFNs alone or in combination with IFO remain to be evaluated.…”

Intramedullary Spindle Cell Hemangioendothelioma of the Thoracic Spinal Cord

“…IFN therapy is a new treatment modality used for various vascular pathologies. 10,11,19,21,25) Experimental studies have shown the usefulness of IFN for treating capillary hemangiomas. Successful use of IFN has been documented by various studies in childhood hemangiomas.…”

“…Successful use of IFN has been documented by various studies in childhood hemangiomas. 10,11) IFN a-2a therapy has been used with success in large infantile hemangiomas including one in the brain. 1) However, the small number of reported cases of hemangioendothelioma occurring in the brain and spinal cord do not provide firm guidelines for the behavior and the management of these tumors.…”

Intralesional administration of interferon A for the management of severe haemangiomas

“…Although INF-A is generally well tolerated, it may reach severe neurotoxic levels [17]. It appears with abnormal neurological examination and neurological effects, with seizures and spastic diplegia being the most serious and the most commonly reported [12,13,15,18,19]. Although these neurological side effects resolve after cessation of therapy, they still remain a substantial danger.…”