Abstract
Five high-grade (3 grade III and 2 grade IV) astrocytoma tumour cell populations were treated with a preparation of Human Leukocyte Interferon either in monolayer cell culture or as multicellular spheroids in vitro or as xenografts growing in immune-deprived mice in vivo. A moderate and transient sensitivity was seen in one grade III tumour when tested in both of the in vitro assays, but no inhibition of growth was seen in vivo. Two tumours which were apparently resistant to Interferon treatment responded to orthodox chemotherapy. When used in conjunction with BCNU, Interferon was not effective in prolonging delay in tumour growth. It is concluded that Interferon is unlikely to be an effective agent in the treatment of malignant brain tumours.
Highlights
Five high-grade (3 grade III and 2 grade IV) astrocytoma tumour cell populations were treated with a preparation of Human Leukocyte Interferon either in monolayer cell culture or as multicellular spheroids in vitro or as xenografts growing in immune-deprived mice in vivo
With these results in mind, we have examined the effects of Human Leukocyte Interferon (HLI) on a number of human gliomas, using three systems that we have developed in our co-operative studies of glioma chemosensitivity
The grade IV astrocytoma, 15/81, initially showed a slight stimulation of protein synthesis compared with control cultures, which was lost after recovery in fresh medium
Summary
Five high-grade (3 grade III and 2 grade IV) astrocytoma tumour cell populations were treated with a preparation of Human Leukocyte Interferon either in monolayer cell culture or as multicellular spheroids in vitro or as xenografts growing in immune-deprived mice in vivo. Recent results suggest that treatment of some tumour types with various preparations of Interferon (IFN) might result in occasional clinical success (Gutterman et al, 1980) Experimental support for this suggestion derives, in part, from the observations that IFNs were found capable of inhibiting the in vitro growth of a wide variety of both normal and malignant cell types (Balkwill & Oliver, 1977). They have been shown to regulate the immune system (Gresser, 1977) and to induce differentiated characteristics in some nervous system tumour cell cultures (Bal de Kier Joffe et al, 1979). Results of treating a number of these tumours with certain cytotoxic agents, alone or in combination with HLI, are presented as an attempt to determine the possibility that HLI might be effective against minimal residual disease
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