Long-term follow-up of patients with high-risk facial basal cell carcinoma treated with interferon

Vladimir Sánchez; Emilio Carpio; Vicente Eloy Fardales; Belkys Martínez; Ana Iris Arias; Elizabeth Brito; Niurka Bermudez; Yoel Rodríguez

doi:10.1016/j.abd.2023.08.009

Long-term follow-up of patients with high-risk facial basal cell carcinoma treated with interferon

An Bras Dermatol. 2024 Feb 20:S0365-0596(24)00021-7. doi: 10.1016/j.abd.2023.08.009. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Vladimir Sánchez¹, Emilio Carpio², Vicente Eloy Fardales³, Belkys Martínez⁴, Ana Iris Arias⁵, Elizabeth Brito⁶, Niurka Bermudez⁷, Yoel Rodríguez⁸

Affiliations

¹ Dermatology Department. Polyclinic Juana Naranjo Leon, Sancti Spíritus, Cuba.
² Department of Biomedical Sciences, Universidad de Ciencias Médicas, Sancti Spíritus, Cuba. Electronic address: emilio.carpio.md@gmail.com.
³ Department of Biomedical Sciences, Universidad de Ciencias Médicas, Sancti Spíritus, Cuba.
⁴ Dermatology Department, Polyclinic Camilo Cienfuegos, Yaguajay, Sancti Spíritus, Cuba.
⁵ Dermatology Department, Polyclinic Manuel de Jesús Lara Cantero, Trinidad, Sancti Spíritus, Cuba.
⁶ Dermatology Department, Center Polyclinic Juana Naranjo Leon, Sancti Spíritus, Cuba.
⁷ Dermatology Department, Polyclinic Antonio Ávila Valdivia, Jatibonico, Sancti Spíritus, Cuba.
⁸ Dermatology Department, Arcelio Suárez Bernal, Jatibonico, Sancti Spíritus, Cuba.

PMID: 38383261
DOI: 10.1016/j.abd.2023.08.009

Abstract

Background: Surgery is the treatment of choice for patients with basal cell carcinoma (BCC). When surgery is not a choice, only radiotherapy is recommended for patients with high-risk facial BCC. Interferon could be an acceptable therapeutic option for these patients.

Objective: To evaluate the long-term clinical response to interferon therapy in patients with high-risk facial BCC.

Methods: Patients with high-risk facial BCC were treated with perilesional injections of alpha-2b+ gamma interferons. Those with incomplete clinical response were reevaluated, their residual tumors excised, and declared cured. Patients treated with interferon and those treated with interferon plus surgery were followed for five years. Time to recurrence and the emergence of a new facial BCC were estimated by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Adverse events were documented.

Results: This study included 195 participants; 143 (73.3%) showed a complete response (95% CI 67.2‒80.1). Patients developed recurrence after a mean of 55 months (95% CI 53.8‒57.4). The estimated rate of recurrence was 12.3% (95% CI 7.4‒17.1). Patients developed a new BCC after a mean of 52.7 months (95% CI 50.4‒54.9). The estimated rate for development of a new BCC was 20.0% (95% CI 14.4‒25.9). Fifteen (7.7%) patients abandoned the study during follow-up. Adverse events were frequent but moderate or mild; fever and local pain were the most frequent.

Study limitations: Observational cohort design without a control group for comparison.

Conclusions: Perilesional injections of alpha-2b+ gamma interferons in patients with facial high-risk BCC offer a satisfactory cure rate after five years of follow-up with an acceptable safety profile.

Keywords: Carcinoma, basal cell; Dermatology; Interferons; Therapeutics.