Interferon therapy in juvenile laryngeal papillomatosis.

Seventeen patients with severe juvenile laryngeal papillomatosis (12 in Stockholm and five in Umeå) were treated with exogenous leukocyte interferon (IFN-alpha) prepared in Helsinki and Umeå, respectively. Tumor progression occurred in all cases before treatment. During treatment tumor growth diminished in all cases, up to complete tumor disappearance. Of 17 patients, nine were cured and no longer are being treated, four exhibit no tumor growth but are still being treated, one has visible tumor but only slight growth, two still have active but diminished growth, and one, who has refused further treatment, is experiencing active tumor growth as before the start of interferon therapy. It is concluded that IFN-alpha therapy in a dosage of 3 X 10(6) units three times a week intramuscularly can arrest papilloma growth. Further trials are needed to optimize treatment.