MEGAKARYOCYTE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT FACTOR DOES NOT STIMULATE GROWTHOF LYMPHOMAS AND SOLID TUMORS IN-VITRO

Background: Megakaryocyte growth and development factor (PEG rHu-MGDF) is a ligand of the receptor Mpl. Material and Methods: PEG rHu-MGDF w as tested alone or in combinations with recombinant human erythropoiet in (EPO), granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), stem cell fac tor (SCF), and, granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-C SF) for tumor growth-modulating activity in vitro using a variety of h uman lymphoma and solid tumor cell lines in a human tumor cloning assa y in semisolid media. Results and Conclusion: Growth modulation by PEG rHu-MGDF of these cells was not detected. Particularly, there was no growth stimulation. This is of importance, if this cytokine should be used for treatment of chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia in cancer patients.