Antitumor effects of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor against human tumor xenografts transplanted into nude mice.

Antitumor activities of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor (rH-TNF) against human tumor xenografts in nude mice were studied. Thirteen human tumor xenografts serially transplanted into nude mice were used for experiments; five gastric, two breast, two gallbladder, one colon and one esophageal carcinoma, one liposarcoma and one squamous carcinoma of the neck. They were inoculated into the subcutaneous tissue of BALB/c nu/nu nude mice and the treatment was started when the estimated tumor weight reached 100-300 mg. rH-TNF was administered intratumorally at schedule of qd X 5 or q3d X 5. rH-TNF showed a marked antitumor activity against various human tumors. The hemorrhagic necrosis was observed in all types of the human tumor xenografts (100 per cent), and the complete regression of the tumor was noted in 4 of 11 tumors (36.4 per cent). On the contrary, intraperitoneal rH-TNF exhibited little antitumor effect. The additive effect in the combination of TNF and Mitomycin C was observed against two Mitomycin C resistant gastric tumors.