Intralesional beta-interferon treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia associated with human papillomavirus infection.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND

Interferons (IFN) have offered considerable advances in the therapy of genital warts even those associated with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN); intralesional therapy either alone or in combination with other modalities such as cryosurgery and laser surgery provides improved clearing and cure of these often recalcitrant lesions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of intralesional IFN therapy in patients with CIN associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.

METHODS

Beta-IFN was injected intra-perilesionally into the cervix in 41 patients with CIN associated with HPV infection.

RESULTS

The regimen of 3 million international units (IU) injected intralesionally daily in the 1st week and 3 times a week in the 2nd and 3rd weeks for a total of 11 injections and a total dosage of 33 million IU yielded an 80 percent cure rate and may be more advantageous than other treatment options in certain instances. Cytocolposcopic and histologic examination was carried out before and after treatment and 24 lesions were also analyzed for type-specific papillomaviruses using in situ DNA hybridization. CIN disappeared in 33 patients 6 months after the end of therapy. Side effects of intralesional IFN therapy are dose related and for the most part readily tolerated.

CONCLUSIONS

Intralesional IFN proved to be effective treatment for CIN associated with HPV infection (cure rate: 80%) and well accepted because hospitalization is not required and no important side effects occur.