Differential resistance of melanoma cells to treatment with recombinant IFN-alpha2b and leukocyte IFN.

Background: Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) subtypes bind to the same receptor and are expected to have the same biological functions. Whether or not leukocyte IFN, containing six major IFN-alpha proteins had the same anti-tumor effect as one subtype, recombinant IFN-alpha2b, was investigated.

Materials And Methods: Three melanoma lines were treated with both types of IFN, and the effect on proliferation and survival was estimated both after short-term and prolonged treatment.

Angiogenic acceleration of Neu induced mammary tumor progression and metastasis.

The Neu (ErbB2, HER2) member of the epidermal growth factor receptor family is implicated in many human breast cancers. We have tested the importance of increased angiogenic signaling in the NeuYD [mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV)-Neu(ndl)-YD5] mammary tumor model. Transgenic mice expressing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)(164) from the MMTV promoter were generated.