Interferon alfa activates a lytic mechanism in ovarian and cervical carcinoma cells

Interferon alpha shows promise for the treatment of ovarian and cervical cancers. Interferon alpha is an antiviral cellular protein that also appears to play a role in a variety of biological activities. Human cervical and ovarian cancer cell lines were incubated with interferon alpha. When the cell lines were exposed to interferon alpha alone lysis, or destruction, of the cells did not occur. Lysis occurred when the cell lines were pretreated with interferon alpha and then treated with the protein synthesis inhibitors actinomycin D or emetine. Simultaneous treatment with interferon alpha and a protein synthesis inhibitor did not lead to additional cell lysis above that seen with the use of a protein synthesis inhibitor alone.