The use of interferon functional assays in the laboratory monitoring of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma receiving interferon.

Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma receiving recombinant leukocyte alpha interferon therapy were monitored using a series of assays to evaluate various components of the interferon system. Pretherapy serum interferon concentrations were not elevated significantly in these patients, although elevated levels were recorded after initiation of therapy. Both before and after interferon treatment, the peripheral blood leukocytes of the patients were shown to be capable of producing both gamma and alpha interferon when appropriately stimulated in vitro. The patients' peripheral blood leukocytes also responded to interferon therapy, with 85% resisting viral replication after treatment was initiated. However, interferon did not appear to be of therapeutic value in these patients.