Response of rat morris hepatoma to intra-tumoral administration of high dose recombinant human tumour necrosis factor-β

The anti-cancer effect of recombinant human TNF-β was examined in Buffalo rats bearing Morris Hepatoma transplanted in the thigh. TNF-β was administered intratumorally at doses of 400 μg/kg (n = 7) and 800 μg/kg (n = 8) and its effects on tumor growth, tumor necrosis and animal survival were compared against untreated controls (n = 9). The serum level of TNF-β was 0.62 ± 0.25 μg/ml at 1 h after intratumoral administration in the 400 μg/kg group, and was 4.51 ± 2.23 μg/ml and 0.14 ± 0.08 μg/ml, respectively. No toxic effects were reported and no significant differences exist as for tumor size, percent necrotic area and survival between the three groups. In conclusion, human TNF-β is rapidly cleared from circulation and is ineffective in retarding hepatoma growth or prolonging survival in this rat model even at high doses. doses.