Antitumor activity of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor in combination with hyperthermia against heterotransplanted human prostatic carcinoma and its lymph node metastasis in nude mice.

The antitumor activity of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor (rhTNF) against heterotransplanted human prostatic carcinoma (PC-3) and spontaneous lymphatic tumor metastasis was studied in vivo. The spontaneous lymphatic metastasis of PC-3 tumor was found in approximately 50% of cases. Significant antitumor activity was observed with repeated intratumoral administration of a large dose of rhTNF, not only on the subcutaneous tumor xenografts but also on the lymph node metastases. Strong antitumor activity could be achieved even with the intratumoral administration of a small dose of rhTNF in combination with mild hyperthermia on either the transplanted tumors or on the metastatic tumors.