[Current status and problems of cancer treatment with interferon]

Within the Special Research Group of Department of Health and Welfare, seven research subgroups which are testing different types of interferon supplied from each seven companies are organized at the time of October 1982. Out of these subgroups, two groups, Toray company group (IFN-beta) and Sumitomo company group (HLBI-alpha), have made clinical trials on 123 cases and 120 cases respectively. Other groups are still under preparation. 6 cases with complete response and 23 cases with partial response by IFN-beta, and 0 cases with complete response and 13 cases with partial response by HLBI-alpha are observed. Over all responded disease are such as glioblastoma, medulloblastoma, melanoma and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma with local injection, and hypernephroma, bladder carcinoma, medulloblastoma, multiple myeloma, and adult T-cell leucaemia with systemic administration.