This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by DeLaney, T. F. Articles by Nogueira, C. P. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by DeLaney, T. F. Articles by Nogueira, C. P.

13-cis-Retinoic Acid with -2a-Interferon Enhances Radiation Cytotoxicity in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Vitro¹

Departments of Radiation Oncology [T. F. D., A. G. T.], Otolaryngology [N. A., N. S. F., C. P. N.], and Medical Oncology [D. A. S.], and Cancer Research Center [D. V. F.], Boston University Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02118-2393

The treatment of locally advanced squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck presents a challenge for oncologists. Radiation therapy alone fails to control many of these tumors. Chemotherapy added to radiation therapy has not clearly demonstrated an improvement in survival in the majority of trials reported to date. In this study, we have evaluated whether IFN--2a and/or 13-cis-retinoic acid (RA) enhance radiation cytotoxicity in a head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell line (FaDu). Using a clonogenic cell survival assay, IFN--2a (1000 units/ml) or RA (1 µM) alone did not significantly enhance radiation cytotoxicity. The combination of the two agents, however, significantly increased the cytotoxicity of radiation against FaDu cells. The calculated survival fraction at 2 Gy was decreased from 0.649 with radiation alone to 0.477 when combined with the other two agents (P = 0.016), and the MID was decreased from 3.318 to 2.499 Gy (P = 0.028). A Phase I clinical trial to combine IFN--2a and/or RA in patients with unresectable head and neck cancer has been initiated.

¹ Supported by a grant from the Boston University Cancer Research Center and by NIH Grant 1 RO3 CA68106-01. An abstract for a poster presentation of this paper was published in 1995 (Proc. Am. Soc. Clin. Oncol. Annu. Meet., 14: 295, 1995).

² To whom requests for reprints should be addressed, at Department of Radiation Oncology, Boston University Medical Center, EG-11, 88 East Newton Street, Boston, MA 02118-2393.

Received 12/12/95. Accepted 4/ 2/96.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. A. Seixas-Silva Jr, T. Richards, F. R. Khuri, H. S. Wieand, E. Kim, B. Murphy, M. Francisco, W. K. Hong, and D. M. Shin Phase 2 Bioadjuvant Study of Interferon Alfa-2a, Isotretinoin, and Vitamin E in Locally Advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck: Long-term Follow-up Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, April 1, 2005; 131(4): 304 - 307. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. N. Prasad, W. C. Cole, B. Kumar, and K. C. Prasad Scientific Rationale for Using High-Dose Multiple Micronutrients as an Adjunct to Standard and Experimental Cancer Therapies J. Am. Coll. Nutr., October 1, 2001; 20(90005): 450S - 463. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				D. M. Shin, F. R. Khuri, B. Murphy, A. S. Garden, G. Clayman, M. Francisco, D. Liu, B. S. Glisson, L. Ginsberg, V. Papadimitrakopoulou, et al. Combined Interferon-Alfa, 13-cis-Retinoic Acid, and Alpha-Tocopherol in Locally Advanced Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Novel Bioadjuvant Phase II Trial J. Clin. Oncol., June 15, 2001; 19(12): 3010 - 3017. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				X. Guo, D. M Nanus, A. Ruiz, R. R Rando, D. Bok, and L. J Gudas Reduced Levels of Retinyl Esters and Vitamin A in Human Renal Cancers Cancer Res., March 1, 2001; 61(6): 2774 - 2781. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				D. M. Shin, L. Mao, V. M. Papadimitrakopoulou, G. Clayman, A. El-Naggar, H. J. C. Shin, J. J. Lee, J. S. Lee, A. Gillenwater, J. Myers, et al. Biochemopreventive Therapy for Patients With Premalignant Lesions of the Head and Neck and p53 Gene Expression J Natl Cancer Inst, January 5, 2000; 92(1): 69 - 73. [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Malone, P. M. Schiltz, S. K. Nayak, M. W. Shea, and R. O. Dillman Combination Interferon-{{alpha}}2a and 13-cis-Retinoic Acid Enhances Radiosensitization of Human Malignant Glioma Cells in Vitro Clin. Cancer Res., February 1, 1999; 5(2): 417 - 423. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]