Synergistic cytotoxic effects of tumor necrosis factor, interferon-gamma and tamoxifen on breast cancer cell lines.
The combined effects of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interferon-gamma (IFN) and tamoxifen (TAM) on the proliferation of human breast cancer cell lines were investigated. In estrogen receptor positive MCF-7 cells, relatively resistant to TAM or TNF, cytotoxicity significantly increased in combinations of TNF and IFN, and of a cytokine and TAM. The cytotoxicity of TNF increased when cells were pretreated with IFN, but not vice versa. Sequential treatment with IFN following TNF and TAM also exhibited significant antiproliferative effect on both cell lines. The combined or sequential cytokines and TAM treatments are possible modalities to overcome breast cancers unresponsive to endocrine treatment.
Matsuo
S
S
Department of Surgery II, Kumamoto University Medical School, Japan.
Takano
S
S
Yamashita
J
J
Ogawa
M
M
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D013629:Tamoxifen; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D005472:Fluorouracil