Safety of HeberFERON in patients with basal cell eyelid carcinoma

Abstract

Objective: Evaluate the safety of HeberFERON in the treatment of basal cell eyelid carcinoma.

Methods: A descriptive study was conducted of patients with basal cell eyelid carcinoma undergoing perilesional HeberFERON therapy from January 2013 to January 2018. The sample was composed of 20 patients meeting the inclusion criteria. The protocol dose was 3.5 x 10⁶ UI perilesional twice a week for five consecutive weeks. The variables analyzed were age, sex, skin color and tumor location, as well as adverse event type and degree. Absolute and relative frequencies were estimated for all the study variables.

Results: The prevailing age group in the study basal cell eyelid carcinoma population was 60-79 years (80%). The most common lesion site was the lower eyelid (60%). Eyelid erythema and injection site pain were the most frequent ocular adverse events (95.0% and 70.0%, respectively), presenting in 95% of the study subjects. Systemic adverse events (fever, arthralgia and headache) prevailed in 100% of the cases studied, among whom the degree of severity was mild.

Conclusions: HeberFERON is a good non-surgical alternative for basal cell eyelid carcinoma. It is safe and well tolerated.

Key words: Basal cell carcinoma; non-surgical treatment; chemotherapy; interferons; HeberFERON.