Antitumor effects of interferon in mice injected with interferon-sensitive and interferon-resistant Friend leukemia cells. III. Inhibition of growth and necrosis of tumors implanted subcutaneously.

Administration of highly purified interferon to DBA/2 mice inhibited the growth of interferon-sensitive or interferon-resistant Friend erythroleukemia cells implanted subcutaneously. Injection of interferon at the site of tumor inoculation was more effective than injection of interferon intraperitoneally. Histologic examination of tumors in interferon-treated mice showed extensive areas of tumor-cell necrosis in the absence of an obvious host-cell infiltrate. Interferon inhibited the growth of established subcutaneous tumors and induced complete tumor regression in some mice. Interferon treatment also resulted in an inhibition of tumor metastases in the liver and spleen.