Experimental Immunotherapy of Breast Cancer Using Alpha Interferon Conjugated to Monoclonal Antibody Mc5

In recent years, rapidly advancing knowledge on biological response modifiers and the advent of monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) have provided renewed incentives for immunotherapy of malignant neoplastic diseases. Indeed, important progress has been made in the management of several solid tumors and leukemias through a variety of immunological manipulations, 1,2 while other tumors, including carcinomas of the breast, have thus far been regarded as poor candidates for immunotherapy. Nevertheless, some encouraging local results have been obtained in breast cancer recurrences and metastases treated with intralesional (i.l.) injections of interferons (IFNs). 3-5 A recent study has shown that natural interferon-α combined to natural interferon-γ (nIFN-α/nIFN-γ) delivered i.l. to recurrences and metastases of carcinomas of the breast can effectively eradicate the tumor cells apparently through direct antineoplastic effects and enhancement of cell-mediated immunological responses. 5