Effects of alpha and gamma interferons and cytostatics on ovarian cancer in the subrenal capsule assay.

Ovarian cancers from seven patients were grown in the subrenal capsule assay for 6 days in normal mice and for 12 days in nude mice. Groups of 5 mice received the following daily treatments: 1) saline 2) 6 x 10(5)IU of human leukocyte interferon (IFN-alpha) 3) 3 x 10(3)U of human IFN-gamma 4) 6 x 10(5)IU of IFN-alpha and 3 x 10(3)U of IFN-gamma 5) cytostatic drug combination (doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, cis-platinum). The cytostatic drug combination had stronger antitumor activity than the interferons. The combination of alpha and gamma interferons was more effective than either interferons alone. The same trend was seen both in normal and nude mice.