REGRESSION OF MORRIS HEPATOMA IN RESPONSE TO INTRALESIONAL TREATMENT WITH TUMOR-NECROSIS-FACTOR MUTEINS

We examined the antitumor effects of human recombinant tumor necrosis factor alpha (rhTNF-alpha) and its muteins with the N-terminal amino a cid sequence altered by point mutations against transplantable Morris hepatoma 5123 in rats. Irt vivo studies Showed antiproliferative activ ity of the drugs in the dose range tested. For in vivo studies rhTNF-a lpha and muteins were administered intratumorly (i.t.), The preparatio ns were given at a dose of 10 mu g/rat, once daily for eight days. Alt hough the therapy was significantly effective in inhibiting tumor grow th, complete growth inhibition could not be achieved. Nevertheless, th ere was a significant increase in survival time of tumor-bearing rats.