Antitumour effect of interferon combined with hyperthermia against experimental brain tumour

Abstract

Antiproliferative activity of recombinant murine interferon-β (Rec-MuIFN-β) combined with hyperthermia against Rous sarcoma virus-induced mouse malignant glioma (RSV glioma) was investigated both in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, the antiproliferative activity of Rec-MuIFN-β was enhanced by incubation at elevated temperatures (40° and 43°C). In vivo, combined therapy of Rec-MuIFN-β treatment and local tumour hyperthermia (43°C) exerted a greater antitumour effect against transplanted RSV glioma in C3H/He mice than either treatment alone, especially when Rec-MuIFN-β was administered intratumourally. Subsequently, in order to probe the mechanism of enhanced antiproliferative activity, the production of prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) and 2′, 5′-oligoadenylate synthetase (2–5A synthetase) in the culture medium of RSV glioma cells was measured. Rec-MuIFN-β treatment resulted in a significantly greater PGE₂ and 2–5A synthetase production at 43°C than at 37°C.

Key Words:

• interferon
• hyperthermia
• glioma
• prostaglandin E₂
• 2′
• 5′-oligoadenylate synthetase.