INTERFERON-ALFA ACTIVATES A LYTIC MECHANISM IN OVARIAN AND CERVICAL-CARCINOMA CELLS

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to examine the in vitro cytolytic potential of interferon alfa for human cervical and ovarian carcinoma cell line s. STUDY DESIGN: The lytic potential of interferon alfa alone and in t he presence of the protein synthesis inhibitors actinomycin D and emet ine was determined in the human cervical carcinoma cell lines ME-180, MS751, SiHa, HT-3, and C-33A and the ovarian carcinoma cell lines Caov -3, NIH:OVCAR-3, SK-OV-3 carcinoma cell lines by means of an 18-hour c hromium 51 release assay. RESULTS: Exposure of these cell lines to int erferon alfa alone did not result in lysis. Similarly, when cells were simultaneously exposed to interferon alfa and either actinomycin D or emetine there was no additional increase in lysis above that seen wit h actinomycin D or emetine alone. Pretreatment of cells with interfero n alfa (10(3), 10(4), or 10(5) U/ml) followed by protein synthesis inh ibition by actinomycin D or emetine resulted in a synergistic increase in lysis. CONCLUSION: The ability to reveal the lytic potential of in terferon alfa when protein synthesis is subsequently inhibited could h ave practical applications for the treatment of gynecologic malignanci es.