Protective effect of human recombinant tumour necrosis factor-alpha against lung metastases of the Morris hepatoma in rats.

The effect of intratumour (i.t.) administration of human recombinant tumour necrosis factor-alpha (hrecTNF-alpha) on Morris 5123 hepatoma spontaneous lung metastases was studied. Tumour was implanted in the skeletal muscles of the right hind limb of Buffalo rats. Two weeks after the implantation treatment with cytokine started. The cytokine was injected i.t. in a single dose of 10 micrograms in 4- and 8-day cycles. In control animals PBS was administered, respectively. Then all rats were necropsied and the extent of lung metastases was determined. Data were expressed as volume of lung metastases. In this study we observed significant antimetastatic effects of hrecTNF-alpha (p < 0.05) determined by reduced volume of lung metastases in treated animals.