Local Administration of Human Fibroblast Interferon (Hu IFN-β) for Metastatic Brain Tumor

Abstract

Twelve patients with intracranial metastatic tumors were given local treatment with human fibroblast interferon (Hu IFN-β). Following tumor removal, the IFN was injected into the tumor removed cavity through an Ommaya's reservoir. When serial computed tomographic scans suggested recurrence, whole brain irradiation was started. The results demonstrated that local administration of Hu IFN-β was an important addition to surgical excision and whole brain irradiation when there were no extracranial metastases from the primary lesion and T lymphocyte transformation to phytohemagglutinin and concanavalin A was relatively normal. However, IFN was not effective in preventing the appearance of other intracranial metastases beyond the site of injection.