Effects of interferon-alpha on cellular proliferation and adhesion of breast carcinoma cells

We examined the potent inhibitory effects of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) o n both cellular adhesion and cell proliferation of MCF-7 breast carcinoma c ells. When MCF-7 cells were exposed to IFN-alpha at a concentration of 5x10 (3) IU/ml for 5 days, cell proliferation was markedly inhibited. Cell attac hment assay demonstrated that incubation with IFN-alpha for up to 48 h redu ced alpha 2 beta 1 integrin-mediated cellular adhesion. However, fluorescen ce activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis revealed that incubation with IFN- alpha for 24 h had no effect upon the cell surface expressions of either al pha 2 and beta 1 integrin on MCF-7 cells. These antiproliferative and antia dhesive actions of IFN-alpha may be applied to treatment for patients with metastatic breast carcinoma.