Use of interferon alpha in intratumoral chemotherapy for cystic craniopharyngioma.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

This study analyzed the intratumoral activity of interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) in the treatment of cystic craniopharyngiomas.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

From January 2000 to January 2004, nine patients presenting with cystic craniopharyngiomas were treated with intratumoral injection of IFN-alpha at the Pediatric Oncology Institute of the Federal University of São Paulo-Escola Paulista de Medicina. Age ranged from 1 year and 10 months to 18 years (mean 10 years). All intratumoral catheters were inserted by a subfrontal approach. Doses varied from 36 to 108 MU.

RESULTS:

There was complete disappearance of the lesion in seven cases. In two cases, partial reduction of tumor size was observed at follow-up. Follow-up varied from 1 year to 3 years and 6 months (mean 1 year 8 months).

CONCLUSIONS:

IFN-alpha proved to be an effective drug in the control of cystic craniopharyngiomas. Additional studies should be carried out to determine the optimal dose of IFN-alpha in the treatment of cystic craniopharyngioma. In addition, other drugs possessing high efficacy and low neurotoxicity should be analyzed.

• Authors: S Cavalheiro, P A Dastoli, N S Silva, S Toledo, H Lederman, M C da Silva
• Journal: Child's nervous system : ChNS : official journal of the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery (Childs Nerv Syst) Vol. 21 Issue 8-9 Pg. 719-24 (Aug 2005) ISSN: 0256-7040 [Print] Germany
• PMID: 16133276 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents
• Interferon-alpha

Topics

• Adolescent
• Antineoplastic Agents (therapeutic use)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Craniopharyngioma (drug therapy)
• Cysts (drug therapy)
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Infant
• Interferon-alpha (therapeutic use)
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (methods)
• Male
• Pituitary Neoplasms (drug therapy)
• Radiography (methods)
• Retrospective Studies
• Tomography, X-Ray Computed (methods)
• Treatment Outcome