[Effect of human fibroblast interferon on malignant brain tumors]

Since 1980, phase 1 and 2 clinical trials of Hu-IFN-beta have been done in the field of neurosurgery. In the present study, (1) the results of in vivo experiments of Hu-IFN-beta are reported and (2) the effectiveness of Hu-IFN-beta in patients with malignant brain tumors is also evaluated. (1) The antitumor activities of beta-IFN and poly ICLC in nude mice receiving subcutaneous transplants of human brain tumors (2 strains) were compared with those of conventional anticancer drugs. After 3 weeks of treatment with ACNU, vincristine, bleomycin, mitomycin C, beta-IFN and poly ICLC, tumor reduction rates were evaluated by the method of Battelle. The effectiveness of beta-IFN and poly ICLC was slightly inferior to that of ACNU and vincristine, although tumor reduction rates (treated/control values) of 43% and 39% were respectively obtained with beta-IFN and poly ICLC against one strain of glioblastoma. (2) Clinically, 7 patients with malignant brain tumors were given beta-IFN (4 by intratumor administration and 3 by intravenous injection) in a dose of 3 X 10(6) to 9 X 10(6) IU/day for 2 to 6 months to study the efficiency and side effects of IFN treatment. One of four patients given IFN intratumorally showed a reduction in tumor size (partial response) by CT scan; the three patients injected IFN intravenously were unchanged. There were no noteworthy side effects in the cases treated intratumorally except for fever occurring in one patient. In the patients treated intravenously, however, fever, general malaise, leukopenia and thrombocytopenia were noted.