Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1991. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUSES AND INTERFERON THERAPY
Antiviral Agents and Viral Diseases of Man. Third Edition. Galasso GJ et al, eds. New York, Raven, p. 301-25, 1990.. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ICDB/91676215 Reichman RC; Dept. of Medicine, Univ. of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood; Ave., Rochester, NY 14642
Abstract:
Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) produce epithelial tumors of the skin and mucous membranes and have been associated closely with several genital tract malignancies, especially carcinoma of the cervix. Papillomaviruses are highly species-specific; cross-species infections occur rarely. HPVs and interferon (IFN) therapy for them and other diseases are reviewed, including biophysical properties of HPVs, transcription and replication, manifestations of infection (cutaneous warts, epidermodysplasia verruciformis, anogenital warts, respiratory papillomatosis, and other warts), pathophysiology of disease and host responses to infection, epidemiology (incidence and prevalence, transmission, and association between HPV and malignancies), clinical and laboratory diagnosis, treatment, prevention, IFN pharmacology and toxicology, and clinical uses of IFN (HPV infections and malignancies). Initially, there was great optimism that IFNs would produce beneficial effects in a wide variety of disease processes. This optimism has not been confirmed, but several clinical roles have been delineated for these agents. Intralesionally administered IFNs have proven more effective than intralesionally administered placebo in the treatment of anogenital warts. Approx 50% of IFN-injected lesions resolve completely, compared with approx 20% of placebo-injected lesions. More study is needed to determine the relapse rates associated with intralesional IFN. Several open, uncontrolled studies have suggested that IFNs may be effective in treatment of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. The mechanism of action of IFNs in the treatment of HPV diseases is unclear. Several studies have indicated that IFN-alpha is effective in hairy cell leukemia and preparations have been licensed for this indication. IFN-alpha reduces total white cell counts and platelet counts in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia; several studies have suggested that IFNs might prove beneficial in multiple myeloma and malignant melanoma. Other hematologic malignancies that may be affected by IFN treatment include cutaneous T-cell lymphomas, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Promising results, although usually associated with a response rate of less than 50%, have been obtained with IFN therapy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Other solid tumors in which IFN administration has been associated with beneficial effects include breast carcinoma, Kaposi's sarcoma in AIDS, ovarian carcinoma, bladder cancer, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and cervical carcinoma. (241 Refs)
Keywords: Condylomata Acuminata/THERAPY Female Human Injections, Intralesional Interferons/ADVERSE EFFECTS/*THERAPEUTIC USE Male Papillomavirus/*DRUG EFFECTS Tumor Virus Infections/*THERAPY Virus Replication/*DRUG EFFECTS MONOGRAPH REVIEW
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Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1991. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
