Anti‐tumor effects of interferon in mice injected with interferonsensitive and interferon‐resistant friend leukemia cells. VI. Adjuvant therapy after surgery in the inhibition of liver and spleen metastases

Adult DBA/2 mice were injected s.c. with the highly malignant, interferon-resistant 3C18 line of Friend erythroleukemia cells (FLC). Eight or 9 days after established s.c. tumors had developed, the primary tumor was excised and mice were treated i.p. with either mouse interferon alpha/beta or a control preparation. At the time of surgery, mice already had tumor cells in the liver. All control-treated mice died in the ensuing 2 weeks with extensive tumor metastases in the liver and spleen. Interferon treatment resulted in an inhibition of the development of liver and spleen metastases and a markedly increased survival time. We conclude that interferon alpha/beta is effective as adjuvant therapy after surgery for metastatic disease in mice.