[Clinical studies on interferon in cancer therapy in Japan].

Since the late 1970s, 18 clinical studies have been conducted in Japan with various types of human interferon (IFN) for their possible anti-tumor efficacy under the control of the Special Committee for Clinical Application of IFN of the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Objective antitumor effects have been observed in renal cell carcinoma, brain tumor, multiple myeloma, malignant lymphoma, adult T cell leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia, and by local injections in skin cancer such as malignant melanoma and cutaneous lymphoma. In this paper, updated results of clinical studies of the 3 types of IFNson various malignant tumors in Japan was reviewed, and the potential usefulness of IFNs as the first cytokine introduced into a clinical trial of the treatment of cancer was discussed.