[A dramatic effect of continuous intra-arterial injected recombinant interleukin-2 immunotherapy on malignant hemangioendothelioma].

Abstract

A malignant hemangioendothelioma (MHE) developed on the frontal scalp of an 83-year-old woman was treated with intralesional injection of recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2, TGP-3, Takeda Chemical Industries LTD, Osaka) which had lead the lesion to complete remission for 2 years and 9 months. After the period of the complete remission, the patient developed MHE lesion on the occipital scalp which rapidly enlarged to more than 10 cm in diameter within 7 days, though there was no recurrence of MHE on the frontal scalp at that time. Intra-arterial rIL-2 injection was conducted through the occipital artery which circulates around the tumor lesion, but resulted unsuccessful because of the obstruction of the artery. Continuous intra-arterial rIL-2 injection through bilateral superficial temporal arteries was conducted, and then the tumor lesion came to complete remission on both clinical and histological data. So far, the patient has been showing no local recurrence or metastasis for the period of 8 months. We conclude that continuous intra-arterial rIL-2 injection immunotherapy through superficial temporal arteries is the best way of all the treatment in cases with recurrent MHE located on occipital scalp.