Treatment of colon cancer in rats with rMuTNF and the interferon-inducer bropirimine.

It is well documented that the antitumor activity of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is improved by interferons (IFN's). Bropirimine (BP) is an immune response modifier which induces IFN. Both TNF and BP have the capacity to inhibit the growth of a transplantable colon tumor (CC531) in inbred WAG rats. In the present study their combined use was investigated in a one-week assay, with the tumor implanted under the renal capsule. The results indicate that BP, given on days 0 and 1, and 1 microgram TNF on days 0, 2 and 4 act additively, leading to an almost complete inhibition of tumor growth.