[Antitumor activity of UFT and interferon-alpha against human renal cell carcinoma in athymic nude mice]

We examined whether a combined use of UFT with interferon against human KDR-1 strain cells was effective or not. KDR-1 strain derived from the patient with renal cell carcinoma was transplanted into nude mice. When the tumor grew large enough, the mice were divided into 4 groups. The group consisted of 1) oral use of 5% Acasia as a control, 2) oral administration of UFT, 3) combined use of UFT and IFN-alpha, 4) intraperitoneal injection of IFN. Each group was treated continuously for 16 days. Antitumor effect was not observed in group 2 and 4, but observed in group 3. The concentration of UFT in the tumor tissue did not show any differences between combination and UFT groups. Therefore, there is no evidence to prove that IFN-alpha makes UFT level higher. Antitumor effect was observed histopathologically in the combined regimen group, although a mechanism of synergistic effect is still unknown.