Treatment of dysplasia of the cervical epithelium with an interferon gel.

Human leukocyte interferon was incorporated into a hydrophilic gel and applied to the cervix of six patients suffering from moderate to severe dysplasia or carcinoma in situ of the cervix. Only patients showing no spontaneous regression during at least 27 consecutive weeks were admitted to the trial. The diagnoses were established by Papanicolaou smears and biopsy specimens of the cervix. The gel was applied directly on the cervix twice weekly for six weeks, and only minor clinical improvements were seen. However, after an additional six weeks, six of six patients responded positively; three of them regressed completely. No side effects were noted.