[The effect of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor alpha on malignant tumors in vivo. Physiopathologic basis for clinical oncology].

Effects of Recombinant Human Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha on Malignant Tumors in vivo/Pathophysiological fundamentals for clinical oncology. The impact of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-alpha (rhTNF-alpha; 6.6.10(6) U/mg protein) on growth, metabolism and perfusion of isotransplanted rat tumors (DS-carcinosarcomas) was investigated. Tumor growth was stimulated at low TNF doses (1 and 10 micrograms/kg), and significantly retarded at higher TNF dose levels (0.1 and 1.0 mg/kg). Growth changes were paralleled by variations in perfusion and metabolism. A reduced tumor blood flow enhanced the efficacy of a subsequent heat treatment. From these results, important implications for the clinical use of rhTNF-alpha are obvious (e.g., possible growth stimulation, timing of a combination therapy with other tumor treatment modalities).