Human neuroblastoma cell lines are induced to differentiate and display neuronal phenotypes when treated with interferon (IFN)-alpha 2, retinoic acid (RA), or dibutyryl cyclic AMP (dbcAMP). We investigated the effects of combinations of these agents in induction-differentiation in the neuroblastoma cell line, NUB-6. The inductive effect of IFN-alpha 2 was markedly enhanced when used in combination with RA or dbcAMP. In parallel, RA or dbcAMP also enhanced the level of 2'-5'-oligoadenylate (2-5A) synthetase, and enzyme induced by IFNs and implicated in their biological action. The levels of another IFN-inducible enzyme, p68 kinase, were not enhanced by the combination treatments. The enhancement effects appeared to be exerted largely at the posttranscriptional level as both RA and dbcAMP stabilized IFN-induced 2-5A synthetase mRNA, resulting in increased enzyme activity. Thus, the 2-5A synthetase system is likely involved in mediating the IFN-alpha 2-induced differentiation of neuroblastoma cells and may also mediate the enhancement effects of RA and dbcAMP on IFN activity in these cells. These results also provide a rational basis for establishing a combination therapeutic approach for the treatment of neuroblastoma.