Interferons and Bronchogenic Carcinoma in Juvenile Laryngeal Papillomatosis

A squamous cell carcinoma of the bronchus developed in a patient during the course of juvenile laryngeal papillomatosis. This patient had received interferon treatment, which caused regression of the papillomas, but apparently had no influence on the progression of the bronchogenic squamous cell carcinoma. This suggests that interferons have an antiviral effect, but not an antitumor effect in the dosage used. No radiation therapy had been given in the past and no other carcinogenic factors are obvious. However, human papilloma viruses, which cause juvenile laryngeal papillomatosis, have been incriminated in the genesis of squamous cell carcinomas.