[Antitumor effects of recombinant human leukocyte interferon (rIFN-alpha A) on human malignomas transplanted into nude mice].

The antitumor effects of recombinant human leukocyte interferon (rIFN-alpha A) on human malignant melanomas (SK-14 and AM-1) were studied using a nude mouse-human tumor xenograft system. Intratumoral administration of 6 X 10(5)U of rIFN-alpha A significantly inhibited proliferation of SK-14 and inhibited that of AM-1 moderately. This result indicated that the sensitivity of human melanoma to rIFN-alpha A varied with the cell line. The effects of rIFN-alpha A were found to be dose-dependent, in that it was necessary for a relatively large dose of rIFN-alpha A to be injected in order to produce an appreciable effect on human tumors. Antitumor activities achieved depended on the routes of administration used, intratumoral being more effective than intraperitoneal. The effects of rIFN-alpha A were about equal to those of human lymphoblastoid interferon (HLBI).