Antitumor effect of human necrosis factor on human hepatoma cells PLC/PRF/5

The antitumor activity of natural human tumor necrosis factor (TNF) on a human hepatoma cell line PLC/PRF/5 was studied in vitro. TNF produced by the LuKII human lymphoblastoid cell line showed a cytostatic effect on the hepatoma cells, whereas the growth of non-tumorigenic Chang liver cells was little affected. The combined effects of TNF and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) were additive on the PLC/PRF/5 cells as shown by statistical analyses. The same combination showed synergistic effects on a human breast cancer cell line BT-20, which was highly sensitive to TNF. These data may provide some informations concerning the use of TNF in the treatment of hepatoma.