Mechanisms of Anticancer Action of Interferons on Human Tumour Xenografts in Nude Mice

Osteosarcoma and interferon

“…The nude mouse model is suitable for studies of the effects of human IFNs on human xenografts since IFNs are largely species specific (Uenishi et al 1983;Heston et al 1984;Balkwill et al 1986). Antitumor effects can be regarded as the result of a direct effect of the human IF" on the human tumor cells.…”

“…Human IFN does not induce IFN dependent enzymes in nude mice nor stimulate natural killer cells (Balkwill et al 1982;Uenishi et al 1983;Heston et al 1984;Balkwill et al 1986). However, murine IFN can inhibit the growth of human xenografts in immunodeficient mouse (Gresser et al 1972;Balkwill et al 1986). This antitumor effect is considered to reflect a disturbance of human tumor cell and mouse stromal cell interactions.…”

“…This antitumor effect is considered to reflect a disturbance of human tumor cell and mouse stromal cell interactions. Murine IFN may render the host cells less sensitive to local growth factors, produced by the human tumor, necessary for angiogenesis and stromal cell proliferation (Balkwill et al 1986). …”

Structure and Effects of Interferon-Gamma

“…Preliminary results indicate a positive efficacy of hu man IFN-y in renal carcinoma xenografts [46], whereas human breast carcinomas showed very little sensitivity to human IFN-y [47], It is hoped that stu dies of this type will yield more information on the mechanisms of action of IFNs, resulting in more ratio nal approaches to the design of clinical trials. It will be particularly interesting to see whether IFN-y, with its much broader spectrum of immunomodulatory activities, differs in its mode of action from IFN-a or IFN-p.…”

Changes in endogenous cytokines, adhesion molecules and platelets during cytokine-induced tumour necrosis

“…1986;Balkwill et al, 1987). Later, Thom et al (1992) reported improvement of the anti-tumour effect and higher cure rate of MCA sarcomas treated with paralesional administration of TNF-a.…”