Human interferon-beta therapy for cerebral primitive neuroectodermal tumors--two case reports.

A 5-year-old girl and a 2-year-old boy presented with recurrent cerebral primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) and were treated with intravenous administration of human fibroblast interferon (HuIFN-beta) which was continued as outpatient maintenance therapy. Both patients showed a partial response and were still alive 14 months and 2 years after diagnosis. Our results suggest that HuIFN-beta is an effective therapy for PNET, and can be used as long-term maintenance therapy without serious side effects.