INTRODUCTION Interferons have been used to treat basal cell carcinoma with positive results. Cuba’s Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Center developed HeberPAG, a combined formulation of interferons alpha-2b and gamma, for treatment of basal cell carcinoma of any size, subtype and location.

OBJECTIVE Evaluate the safety and effectiveness of using HeberPAG in primary care to treat basal cell carcinomas.

METHODS A descriptive observational study was conducted of basal cell carcinoma treated with HeberPAG. The sample comprised 21 tumors in 19 patients who met selection criteria. The dose was 3.5 million international units of antiviral activity administered by perilesional infiltration 3 times a week for 3 weeks. Clinical monitoring and laboratory testing of patients was conducted before treatment initiation and at 4, 8, 16 and 52 weeks. Variables recorded were: age, sex, skin phototype, clinical and histologic type, clinical response to treatment, changes in tumor diameters and adverse events. Four response categories were included: complete response, partial response, stable disease and progressive disease. Data were recorded in medical dossiers. Microsoft Excel and SAS were used for data management and calculation of measures of frequency, central tendency and dispersion.

RESULTS Of 19 patients studied, 63% were male, and 63% aged 61–80 years. At 16 weeks, there was an objective response in 76% of tumors (8 complete and 8 partial responses). Fewer objective responses were seen in rodent ulcer, advanced invasive and sclerosing clinical types and in the sclerodermiform histologic type. Mean sum of diameters decreased from 36.9 mm (SD 4.1 mm) to 10.3 mm (SD 18.3 mm). One-year recurrence was 10%. The most common adverse reaction was flu-like syndrome, consisting of fever, malaise, joint pain and muscle pain.

CONCLUSIONS Basal cell carcinoma can be successfully treated in primary care settings with a combination of interferons alpha-2b and gamma administered by trained personnel. At the dose employed in this study, the formulation produces a favorable response in basal cell carcinomas of low clinical and histologic risk, and is well tolerated, with only mild side effects.

KEYWORDS Basal cell carcinoma, interferons, interferon alpha-2b, interferon gamma, primary care, Cuba

CONTRIBUTION OF THIS RESEARCH This study demonstrates the feasiblity of treating basal cell carcinoma in primary care settings with a combined formulation of interferons alpha-2b and gamma, enabling management in primary care of a cancer usually treated in hospital.