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From: hsf@hlexa.UUCP (Henry Friedman)
Newsgroups: net.med
Subject: Re: Query on treatment of Hypernephroma and other visceral carcinoma.
Message-ID: <4720@hlexa.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 20-Nov-85 14:21:10 EST
Article-I.D.: hlexa.4720
Posted: Wed Nov 20 14:21:10 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 21-Nov-85 07:27:58 EST
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Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Short Hills, NJ
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> I suspect one of the best avenues being researched at present are the
> monoclonal antibodies with toxic attachments.  Is there current work 
> being done on visceral carcinoma?  Is any at the experimental or field
> stage?  I'm particularly interested on current work with hypernephroma,
> and would appreciate the pooled knowledge of the net.
....
> Don Barry (Chemistry Dept)          CSnet: cmpbsdb%gitpyr.GTNET@gatech.CSNET
I'm not familiar with hypernephroma, but the most promising research for
the class of tumors you mention (other than the monoclonal antibody
approach) involves the genetic-engineered version of the natural
hormone TNF (tumor necrosis factor).  

Human testing has recently begun in the US (original live testing was in Japan).
I believe four different genetic engineering companies are involved.
A combination of TNF and interferon also showed promise. The first phases
of live testing usually concentrate on issues of safety, but I'd think
that some announcements of effectiveness will be due shortly. My sources
are articles in the Wall Street Journal over the past few months
(some of the best-documented popular medical reporting).

--Henry Friedman