Eye cancer

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Immunotherapy for eye cancer

Immunotherapy is rarely used to treat eye cancer. It is a type of treatment that uses the immune system to help destroy cancer cells. The immune system is a complex system of cells and organs that work together to defend our bodies against disease and infection. Cancer, and some cancer treatments, can weaken the immune system. Sometimes the immune system doesn’t recognize cancer cells as different, or foreign, and so it doesn’t work to destroy them. Immunotherapy boosts the immune system to help it recognize and fight cancer cells.

You may have immunotherapy to:

  • kill eye cancer cells
  • strengthen your immune system
  • stop eye cancer cells from growing and spreading


Immunotherapy drugs used for eye cancer

Interferon alfa-2b (Intron A) is an immunotherapy drug that is sometimes used to treat a squamous cell carcinoma of the eye or eyelid or a lymphoma of the eye. It is a type of protein that occurs naturally in the body to help fight infection or cancer. Interferon alfa-2b can help boost the immune system to destroy cancer cells.

Interferon alfa-2b is usually given in an eye drop applied directly to the eye to treat eye cancer. Applying the drug to the surface of the eye is called topical therapy.

Side effects



Side effects of immunotherapy will depend mainly on the type of drug or drug combination, the dose, how it’s given and your overall health. Topical interferon alfa-2b may cause these side effects:

  • eye discomfort
  • sensitivity to light (photophobia)


Information about specific cancer drugs



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