Can recombinant human alpha-2 interferon prevent recurrence of high-grade superficial bladder tumors?

Eight patients with superficial bladder cancer were treated by systemic interferon (IFN) alpha-2 application to investigate whether the rate of local tumor recurrence could be diminished. All patients had recurrent high-grade urothelial cancer. Recombinant human IFN alpha-2 was administered by daily intramuscular injections for a period of 6 weeks. The natural-killer cell activity and the antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity was augmented for a short time only. However, this was of no clinical benefit. Tumor recurrence was observed in seven out of the eight patients within 6 months following therapy. IFN serum levels, which were measured during interferon treatment, did not inhibit tumor cell proliferation in vitro.