INFLUENCE OF THE POSTNATAL ADMINISTRATION OF TUMOR-NECROSIS-FACTOR PLUS INTERFERON-ALPHA(2B) ON THE DEVELOPMENTAL OF ETHYL-NITROSOUREA-INDUCED BRAIN-TUMORS IN RATS

Using the experimental model of brain tumors induced by ethyl-nitrosou rea (ENU), interferon-alpha(2b) and human recombinant tumor necrosis f actor-alpha (TNF) have been administered to Wistar rats between 100 an d 130 days of life (one injection each week, by intraperitoneal route, of 100 mu g of TNF and 10(4) IU of interferon-alpha(2b), in a total v olume of 1 ml per injection). The results obtained suggest, that at th is time, this association achieves a reduction in the number of so-cal led 'malignant schwannomas', but it does not influence the time of app earance nor the number of so-called 'oligodendroglioma-like tumors'. O n the basis of previous observations about cytokine modulation of thes e ENU-induced neoplasms, a different course of time for obtaining a po stnatal biomodulation of both type of tumors is suggested.