In vitro studies on potentiation of cytotoxic effects of anticancer drugs by interferon on a human neoplastic cell line (HeLa).
Experiments were performed to ascertain whether the antitumor effect of various anticancer drugs might be enhanced by interferon, using cultures of HeLa cells originating from a human carcinoma of the uterine cervix. The effects of drugs were assessed by counting cell colonies formed in culture. The drugs studied included 4 metabolic antagonists: cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) and methotrexate (MTX), 7 antibiotics: aclacinomycin (ACM), adriamycin (ADM), actinomycin D (ACD), cycloheximide, mitomycin C (MMC), peplomycin (PEP) and puromycin; 2 alkylating agents: nimustine hydrochloride (ACNU) and melphalan, and 3 other drugs, vincristine (VCR), cisplatin (CDDP) and hydroxyurea (HU). Interferon was a preparation of the beta-type produced by human fibroblasts. A specific additive or synergistic potentiation of the cytotoxic effect by concomitant application of interferon was observed with PEP, ACNU, ACM, CDDP, 5-FU and ADM; the drug concentration given a 50% inhibition of cell growth was reduced by one-half or more in cultures with the combination of interferon and these drugs. The treatment of cells with interferon alone caused only 10-30% inhibition of cell proliferation.
D000477:Alkylating Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002455:Cell Division; D002470:Cell Survival; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004357:Drug Synergism; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000477:Alkylating Agents; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007372:Interferons