Abstract
Growth inhibitory effects of the combination of β-interferon (β-IFN) and conventional anticancer drugs such as adriamycin (ADM) and 1-(4-amino-2-methyl pyrimidine-5-yl)-methyl-3-(2-chloroethyl)-3-nitrosourea hydrochloride (ACNU) were evaluated in nude mice receiving subcutaneous transplants of human glioblastoma. Next, the anticancer and radiation sensitizing effects of β-IFN on human glioblastoma were also evaluated in the nude mouse model. Tumor reduction rates (treated/control values of the tumor volume) were evaluated by Battelle's method after 3 weeks of the combination treatment. The tumor reduction rates of each treatment group were as follows: β-IFN alone, 63%; ADM (8 mg/kg) alone, 48%; β-IFN plus ADM, 36%; ACNU (20 mg/kg) alone, 44%; β-IFN plus ACNU, 36%; radiation (390 rad) alone, 61%; β-IFN plus radiation (390 rad), 35%; radiation (650 rad) alone, 51%; and β-IFN plus radiation (650 rad), 26%. The growth inhibitory effect of β-IFN was most enhanced when β-IFN was administered following radiotherapy. Furthermore, the combination effect was enhanced in proportion to the dose of radiation.
