[Intraperitoneal administration of recombinant interferon-beta for prevention in peritoneal metastasis of gastric...

Recombinant interferon-beta (IFN-beta) shows a high anti-tumor effect on cancerous ascites, has little local irritative action and can safely be administered intraperitoneally. A randomized trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of intraperitoneal administration of IFN-beta for the purpose of preventing peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer. The subjects selected were patients under 75 years of age who were macroscopically positive for serosal invasion and had undergone curative operation. Comparison was made by the envelope method between the cases given IFN-beta i.v. at 6 x 10(6) units continuously for 14 days from the day of operation and from 1 week after operation. MMC, 20 mg (i.v.) on the day of operation and 5-FU, 200 mg (p.o.) for 1 year from 2 weeks after operation were administered, respectively, in the two groups. The number of cases registered from March, 1987 to September, 1988 was 33, with 17 in the administration group and 16 in the control group. No difference was noted between the two groups in 3-year survival rate and disease free survival rate. As to the recurrence involving the peritoneum, however, there was a difference between the two groups, with 1 out of 6 cases in administration group and 3 out 4 cases in control group. Intraperitoneal chemotherapy can be an effective adjuvant therapy for gastric cancer, if cases are selected.