[Interferon as a treatment tool of cancer]

Characteristics of beta-IFN (Interferon) and alpha-IFN with its subspecies are described, which are produced by cell cultivation process or by gene cloning. beta-IFN exhibited far stronger cytostatic effect in vitro on the human epitherioid cells than hematologic malignant cells which were very sensitive to alpha-IFN. Pharmacokinetic study in man indicated that alpha-IFN appeared in the blood at a detectable concentration after i.m. injection of 3-6 X 10(6) iu/body, but beta-IFN did not. beta-IFN was less stable than alpha-IFN in the blood, tissues, and also medium for cell culture. The preliminary clinical data of alpha- and beta-IFNs indicates that there is a little difference in effect and side-effect of the both IFNs. At the moment, beta-IFN seems to show a stable therapeutic effect on brain tumor by using Ommaya reservoir, and malignant melanoma on the skin disappeared in some cases by intratumoral injection of beta-IFN.