Widespread Ocular Surface Squamous Neoplasia Treated with Topical Interferon Alpha-2b

Hershel Patel; Lauren J Jeang; Ankit Shah; Edgar M Espana; Curtis E Margo

doi:10.1159/000486339

Widespread Ocular Surface Squamous Neoplasia Treated with Topical Interferon Alpha-2b

Ocul Oncol Pathol. 2018 Sep;4(5):298-303. doi: 10.1159/000486339. Epub 2018 Feb 13.

Authors

Hershel Patel¹, Lauren J Jeang¹, Ankit Shah², Edgar M Espana^{1

3}, Curtis E Margo^{1

4}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Ophthalmology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA.
² Department of Ophthalmology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
³ Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA.
⁴ Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA.

Abstract

Purpose: To emphasize the importance of staging ocular surface squamous neoplasia when contemplating use of topical interferon alpha-2b alone.

Cases: Two patients with 360 degrees of limbal involvement.

Results: Two patients with in situ squamous cell carcinoma of the conjunctiva and clinical involvement of the entire limbus were treated with topical interferon alpha-2b. Thorough examination and multiple biopsies excluded invasive disease. The patients had complete response to therapy.

Conclusion: Widespread intraepithelial squamous neoplasia involving the entire limbus can be successfully treated with topical therapies. Biopsy plays a role in excluding invasive disease. Interferon alpha-2b is a preferable agent to start with because it is well tolerated. Since long-term risks of recurrence are unknown, appropriate monitoring is essential.

Keywords: Conjunctival intraepithelial neoplasia; Cytokine immunotherapy; Interferon alpha-2b; Ocular surface; Ocular surface squamous neoplasia.