title: Tumor necrosis factor and chemotherapeutic agents. Potentiation of cytotoxicity with interferon gamma.
abstract: This study examined combinations of the recombinant human cytokines, tumor necrosis factor alpha and interferon gamma, with doxorubicin and dactinomycin as well as other drugs on six squamous cell carcinoma cell lines of head and neck origin using the 3(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide proliferation assay. Interferon gamma significantly enhanced the cytotoxicity of tumor necrosis factor alpha with dactinomycin on all six cell lines investigated, while in four of six cell lines the cytotoxicity of tumor necrosis factor alpha with doxorubicin was significantly augmented by interferon gamma. Additional experiments showed no effect with either cytokine in combination with cisplatin, fluorouracil, methotrexate, or etoposide. These data demonstrate that human recombinant cytokines in concert with certain drugs improve in vitro cytotoxicity and may have a potential for improving in vivo therapy.
authors.affiliation: Otologic Medical Services of Iowa City, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Dawson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gapany
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Burgess
authors.forename: P V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Boesen
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Headley
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000628:therapy; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003609:Dactinomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D004357:Drug Synergism; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D003609:Dactinomycin; D004317:Doxorubicin; D007371:Interferon-gamma