


Item type: | Article | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Journal or Publication Title: | Klinische Monatsblätter für Augenheilkunde | ||||
Publisher: | GEORG THIEME VERLAG KG | ||||
Place of Publication: | STUTTGART | ||||
Volume: | 240 | ||||
Number of Issue or Book Chapter: | 07 | ||||
Page Range: | pp. 891-896 | ||||
Date: | 2023 | ||||
Institutions: | Medicine > Lehrstuhl für Augenheilkunde | ||||
Identification Number: |
| ||||
Keywords: | SURFACE SQUAMOUS NEOPLASIA; AMERICAN-JOINT-COMMITTEE; OCULAR SURFACE; TOPICAL INTERFERON-ALPHA-2B; PHARMACOTHERAPY; CHEMOTHERAPY; 5-fluorouracil; mitomycin C; interferon- alpha 2b; ocular surface squamous neoplasia; conjunctival melanoma | ||||
Dewey Decimal Classification: | 600 Technology > 610 Medical sciences Medicine | ||||
Status: | Published | ||||
Refereed: | Yes, this version has been refereed | ||||
Created at the University of Regensburg: | Yes | ||||
Item ID: | 76226 |
Abstract
Purpose To evaluate the standard of care, in particular the use of topical or subconjunctival interferon- a 2b, in treating ocular surface squamous neoplasia or melanocytic tumours in tertiary eye centres in Germany.Methods A survey containing 14 questions was sent to 43 tertiary eye centres in Germany. The questions addressed the surgical and medical management of ocular surface squamous ...

Abstract
Purpose To evaluate the standard of care, in particular the use of topical or subconjunctival interferon- a 2b, in treating ocular surface squamous neoplasia or melanocytic tumours in tertiary eye centres in Germany.Methods A survey containing 14 questions was sent to 43 tertiary eye centres in Germany. The questions addressed the surgical and medical management of ocular surface squamous neoplasia and melanocytic tumours (primary acquired melanosis and malignant melanoma), as well as the clinical experiences and difficulties in prescribing off-label interferon- a 2b eye drops and subconjunctival injections.Results Twenty-four tertiary eye centres responded to the survey. Eighty-three percent of centres had used interferon- a 2b in their clinical practice and 25% prescribed it as the first-line cytostatic agent following surgical excision of ocular surface squamous neoplasia, while 10% would do so for melanocytic tumours. Correspondingly, the majority of respondents selected mitomycin C as their first-line agent. Side effects were uncommon with topical interferon- a 2b eye drops but were more frequently reported after subconjunctival interferon- a 2b injections. In total, eight centres had experience with interferon- a 2b injections. The most significant obstacles perceived by ophthalmologists when prescribing interferon- a 2b were its high cost and the reimbursement thereof.Conclusion Off-label mitomycin C was the preferred adjuvant therapy for epithelial and melanocytic tumours, with interferon- a 2b being the standard second-line option. Interferon- a 2b has predominantly been used to treat ocular surface squamous neoplasia and, to a lesser extent, melanocytic tumours at German tertiary eye centres. Following its market withdrawal, supply shortages of interferon- a 2b are likely to have a profound impact on patient care and their quality of life.
Metadata last modified: 18 Mar 2025 10:11