Intraperitoneal recombinant interferon‐alpha 2b for recurrent malignant ascites due to ovarian cancer

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Abstract
Thirteen patients with malignant ascites due to recurrent ovarian cancer were treated with intraperitoneal interferon 2b (5 mu/m2 escalating to 15 mu/m2, administered twice weekly by indwelling intraperitoneal catheter). The study population included eight patients with ascites only and five patients with ascites plus tumor masses > 2 cm in diameter. Five of 13 responded to treatment. All the responses were seen in patients with ascites only. Although tumor mass was an important determinant of response there was also a correlation between clinical response and suppression of colony growth on soft agar after in vitro exposure of tumor cells to interferon-alpha (IFN.alpha.). The intraperitoneal use of IFN.alpha. should be explored further in tumors with a predominant intraperitoneal location and microimplantation growth pattern.