Clinical and Laboratory Investigations on Man: Systemic Administration of Potent Interferon to Man234

Abstract

Eleven patients with malignant tumors were given injections of potent interferon prepared from human leukocyte cultures. The preparation was given intramuscularly (since an intravenous injection to 1 patient was toxic) as 1–3×10⁶ U of interferon 3 times weekly. Two patients had transient local reactions. All patients had increased sedimentation rates, a temperature rise dependent on interferon dose, and immunization against blood-group antigens, chick antigens, and parainfluenza type-1 virus antigens. No serious toxic effects were observed during treatment (150 days in 3 patients). Anti-interferon antibodies could not be demonstrated. No patient had clinical signs of acute viral disease during treatment. All but 1 patient tested had a drop in complement-fixing titers against an array of viruses and mycoplasma and stable or decreasing hemagglutination-inhibiting titers against rubella virus antigen. Three patients with disseminated herpes zoster had relief of pain and developed crust formation within 1 week after initiation of interferon therapy. No definite general antitumor effect was observed in this small group of patients during interferon therapy. The study strongly suggests that high-dose, long-term interferon administration is possible in man.