Human brain tumor--derived cell lines: growth rate reduced by human fibroblast interferon.

The biological response modifier human beta-interferon had pronounced antigrowth effects on various histologic types of human brain tumor cells but no effects on a nontransformed cell line, MRC-5. The cultures of brain tumor cells showed severe alterations indicative of cell injury and death after exposure to beta-interferon for 2 to 6 days. Similar results were obtained with cells freshly explanted from human brain tumors. The results indicate that it may be possible to use fresh, explanted tumor tissue to identify patients who might benefit from therapy with beta-interferon.