[Potentiation of the cytotoxic effects of various anticancer drugs by interferon on human neoplastic cells (HeLa) in culture].

Potentiation of the cytotoxic effects of various anticancer agents by interferon on human malignant cells was examined in culture. The human neoplastic cells used were HeLa cells derived from uterine cervical cancer. The interferon was produced in human diploid fibroblasts treated with Poly I:C. Anticancer drugs examined were as follows; antibiotics (aclacinomycin, actinomycin D, adriamycin, cycloheximide, mitomycin C, peplomycin, puromycin), antimetabolites (cytosine arabinoside, 5-fluorouracil, 6-mercaptopurine, methotrexate), alkylating agents (ACNU, melphalan), and others (cisplatin, hydroxyurea, vincristine). The cytotoxic effects were determined by colony formation. Our results demonstrated that interferon potentiated significantly the cytotoxic effects of peplomycin, aclacinomycin, cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, and adriamycin on HeLa cells. The present results indicate that a combined administration of interferon and these drugs may be effective in the treatment of human cancers.