The role of interferon-alpha in a successful murine tumor therapy.
Combination therapy using reovirus type 3 and the chemo-therapeutic agent 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) is sufficient to cure approximately 80% of EL-4 lymphoma tumor-bearing BD2F1 male mice. Cured animals can be challenged with the EL-4 tumor, in the absence of the therapy, to yield 100% survival, whereas those challenged with heterologous tumor produce 0% survival. These results strongly suggest that a host-immune response is responsible for the observed therapeutic effect. Reovirus, a double-stranded RNA virus, is an efficient inducer of type I interferon. In an effort to determine the role of virus in this therapy, we substituted interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) for reovirus in the therapy. Doses of IFN-alpha from 1000-10,000 U were capable of replacing reovirus to produce cure rates similar to reovirus. Spleen cells isolated from therapy-treated animals demonstrated high levels of cytotoxicity against the natural killer cell-sensitive cell line YAC-1, but not against EL-4 tumor. In vitro stimulation of isolated spleen cells by IFN-alpha resulted in a high level of natural killer cell activity, but no cytotoxicity against the EL-4 tumor. A significant antiproliferative effect against the EL-4 tumor in cell culture was demonstrated by IFN-alpha. Finally, therapy-treated, tumor-bearing mice that were injected with anti-IFN-alpha + -beta antibodies had similar survival levels as control mice, indicating that other cytokines might also play a role in promoting tumor killing. These investigations suggest that IFN-alpha may be a mediator of antitumor activity in the reovirus therapy system.
Department of Microbiology, Osteopathic Medical Center, Des Moines University, 3200 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50312, USA. timothy.steele@dmu.edu
Timothy A
TA
Steele
Christopher C
CC
Hauser
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002330:Carmustine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D012089:Mammalian orthoreovirus 3; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000628:therapy*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology
D000906:Antibodies; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D002330:Carmustine