title: Activation of peritoneal macrophages in patients with gynecological malignancies by sizofiran and recombinant interferon-gamma.
abstract: We investigated the influence of the combined use of sizofiran, a beta-1,3-glucan and a recombinant interferon-gamma (rIFN-gamma) upon biological activities of peritoneal macrophages (M phi). The number of peritoneal M phi and the production of cytokines (interleukin-1 beta, interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor) was increased by the combined treatment. Fully activated peritoneal M phi based on the increased number of elongated pseudopods were observed by electromicroscope. Sizofiran seems to assure a sufficient supply of M phi to kill tumor cells in the peritoneal cavity and co-administered rIFN-gamma seems to directly stimulate the accumulated M phi in addition to its direct cytotoxicity against tumor cells. This combination therapy may be a step to the prevention of the recurrence of gynecological malignancies including ovarian cancer, after a negative second-look laparotomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, Cancer Institute Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hasumi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002452:Cell Count / Q000187:drug effects; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008262:Macrophage Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012566:Sizofiran / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D007375:Interleukin-1; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D012566:Sizofiran; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D015232:Dinoprostone