[The effectiveness of interferon-beta against glioma cells and its augmentation of growth inhibitory effect by transfection of its gene].

The mortality and morbidity of patients with malignant glioma is not satisfactory, although the survival time is prolonged by several adjuvant therapies. In order to increase the survival time, various studies have been undertaken. In the present article, at first we discuss the effectiveness of the single and/or combined therapy of interferon-beta. Although a synergistic effects with radiation is noted in nitrosoureas and interferon-beta, and it is the most effective treatment for malignant glioma at present, it is still necessary to continue to search for an effective strategy to prolong survival of the patients. To improve the interferon-beta cytokine therapy, we have studied liposome mediated transfection of cytokine genes to control glioma cells. For this purpose, human beta-interferon gene entrapped in liposome was transfected into glioma cells and the growth inhibitory effect was observed. Successful secretion of interferon-beta and remarkable suppression effect to the glioma cells was demonstrated and this effect was enhanced by conjugating with monoclonal antibody G-22 on the surface of liposome. These results suggest that interferon-beta gene transfection by the use of liposome coupled with monoclonal antibody might become a useful technique for gene therapy of malignant glioma.