Treatment of ovarian carcinoma with intraperitoneal administration of interferon alpha 2b

BACKGROUND: Pharmacokinetic studies have confirmed that for many chemotherapeutic agents a substantial pharmacological advantage can be achieved using the intraperitoneal route. Aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of intraperitoneal interferon alpha 2b chemotherapy to treat ovarian cancer. METHODS: Forty-four patients affected by ovarian cancer have been submitted to intraperitoneal interferon alpha 2b chemotherapy from October 1989 to May 1996 at the Gynecology and Obstetric Institute of the Second University of Naples. Intraperitoneal route has been obtained through a catheter in left iliac fossa. Drugs have been solved in 2000 ml of physiologic solution to obtain a better distribution into the peritoneal fluid. RESULTS: Three patients of 15 not-pre-medicated and 16 of 24 pre-medicated have obtained complete anatomo-pathological resolution. No compliances have been checked about catheter. Only two patients have stopped the therapy for asthenia; all the others have well tolerated interferon. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows the very low toxicity of interferon associated to a good tolerance of the intraperitoneal catheter and therefore we retain that intraperitoneal chemotherapy with interferon alpha 2b improves the prognosis of patients with minimal ovarian cancer after systemical chemotherapy.