ACTIVATION OF PERITONEAL-MACROPHAGES IN PATIENTS WITH GYNECOLOGICAL MALIGNANCIES BY SIZOFIRAN AND RECOMBINANT INTERFERON-GAMMA

We investigated the influence of the combined use of sizofiran, a beta-1,3-glucan and a recombinant interferon-gamma (rIFN-gamma) upon biological activities of peritoneal macrophages (Mphi). The number of peritoneal Mphi and the production of cytokines (interleukin-1beta, interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor) was increased by the combined treatment. Fully activated peritoneal Mphi based on the increased number of elongated pseudopods were observed by electromicroscope. Sizofiran seems to assure a sufficient supply of Mphi to kill tumor cells in the peritoneal cavity and co-administered rIFN-gamma seems to directly stimulate the accumulated Mphi in addition to its direct cytotoxicity against tumor cells. This combination therapy may be a step to the prevention of the recurrence of gynecological malignancies including ovarian cancer, after a negative second-look laparotomy.