Human Interferon: Production and Clinical Use

This volume stems from a workshop held at the W. Alton Jones Cell Science Center, Lake Placid, New York, May 19-20, 1977. The Center is an operational unit of the Tissue Culture Association and offers, in collaboration with the Association's Education Committee, a wide range of activities. One of the earliest symposia held at the Center was one concerned with Interferon, (Waymouth, C. (Ed.) 1973. The Production and Use of Interferon for the Treatment and Prevention of Human Virus Infections. In Vitro, Monograph No. 3. Tissue Culture Association, Rockville, Maryland.) In the intervening years since that symposium, many developments have taken place. Much has been learned of the molecular biology of interferon. However, the focus of this particular workshop, as the title indicates, was the production of human interferon and investigation of its clinical use. Evidence has accumulated that interferon is an effective antiviral and, possibly, an antitumor agent.

The production of interferon requires human cells and proper inducing agents. Present production facilities are limited. The quantities of interferon needed for clinical trials and eventual routine demand the development of new techniques in the growth and handling of cells and inducers. Safety is an important consideration in the production of biological products, and interferon is no exception. All components of the system and the final product must satisfy stringent safety standards. The participants of the workshop dealt with all of the above problems on a practical level. The next few years will see advances in the technology of production of interferon. The future will also see more widespread investigation of the antiviral and antitumor roles of interferon.

In addition, the lymphokine-like properties of interferon, the ability to affect cell growth and the ability of interferon to affect lymphoid cells will all be investigated with the underlying purpose of utilizing interferon in the treatment of human disease. Thus, there will be an ever increasing need for larger and larger quantities of purified interferon. The editors and all those who took part in the workshop sincerely hope that this volume will act as a catalyst in bringing about the availability in sufficient quantity that it can be used for therapeutic purposes in a routine manner. The editors wish to acknowledge the support and assistance of the Education Committee of the Tissue Culture Association and the financial support of the Bureau of Biologics of the Food and Drug Administration, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Cancer Institute, and the Fogarty International Center.