title: Effects of interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-alpha on clonogenic growth of cell lines and primary cultures from human gliomas and brain metastases.
abstract: In this study we tested the effect of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and a combination of these immunotherapeutics on clonogenic growth of cell lines and primary cultures of malignant human brain tumors. Out of 29 primary cultures studied, 5 were inhibited 50% or more by IFN-gamma (10 ng/ml), 6 were inhibited 50% or more by TNF-alpha (10 ng/ml) and 14 were inhibited 50% or more by a combination of IFN-gamma (10 ng/ml) and TNF-alpha (10 ng/ml). The doses of the immunotherapeutics used in this in vitro study are achievable in serum after intravenous administration of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha without causing unacceptable side effects. We believe that some glioma patients and some patients with brain metastases will benefit from receiving treatment with IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha or a combination of these immunotherapeutics. The patients should be selected for treatment with these immunotherapeutics according to in vitro sensitivity results.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cancer Research, University Hospital of Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Helseth
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Torp
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dalen
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Unsgaard
mesh_terms: D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D005910:Glioma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma