Abstract
The antitumor activities of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-α (rH-TNFα) and liposome-entrapped rH-TNFα were evaluated in various glioma cell lines and a rat brain T9 gliosarcoma model. rH-TNFα had a direct cytotoxic activity against various glioma cell lines in vitro, and indirect cytotoxic activity against gliosarcoma (T9) in vivo. Liposome-entrapped rH-TNFα had increased direct cytotoxic activity in vitro, and against experimentally induced brain tumors in vivo. The effects in vivo were probably due to vascular damage of the tumor vessels as shown by histological examination and activation of cytotoxic macrophages as shown in vitro. These results indicate that the general or local administration of liposome-entrapped rH-TNFα may become a useful adjunct treatment for malignant brain tumor.
