AUGMENTATION OF CYTOTOXICITY OF CHEMOTHERAPY BY HUMAN ALPHA-INTERFERONS IN HUMAN NON-SMALL CELL LUNG-CANCER XENOGRAFTS

  • 1 October 1986
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 46  (10) , 4916-4920
Abstract
Three human non-small lung cancer xenograft lines were used to study the activity of combinations of cytotoxic drugs with human .alpha.-interferons (IFNs). Statistically significant potentiation of cis-platinum (CDDP) and cyclophosphamide (CY) given weekly in a low dose was seen when human lymphoblastoid interferon (RFN-.alpha.nl) (2 .times. 105 .mu./mouse/day) was administered simultaneously. The median tumor doubling times for CDDP in the three tumors (35, 22, and 29 days) increased to 52, 51, and 41 days when IFN-.alpha.nl was added. A similar though less marked effect was seen with CY (median doubling time increased from 21.5, 19.5, and 27 days to 32, 27, and 35 days with the addition of IFN-.alpha.nl). IFN-.alpha.nl alone at this dosage was shown to have some cytotoxic activity. Similar potentiation of CDDP and ifosfamide was seen in two tumors when human recombinant .alpha.-2 interferon was added at a lower dose (2 .times. 104 .mu./mouse/day). Median doubling times for CDDP increased from 17 and 14 days to 27 and 18.5 days with the addition of human recombinant .alpha.-2 interferon, whereas for ifosfamide they increased from 11.5 and 14 days to 15 and 16 days. Human recombinant .alpha.-2 interferon in this dose had no effect as a single agent.