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Short‐duration in vitro interleukin‐2–activated mononuclear cells for advanced cancer. A hong kong biotherapy pilot study trial
Author(s) -
Yeung Alex W.,
Pang Ying Ki,
Tsang Yin Chun,
Wong Sai Wah,
Leung John S.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19930601)71:11<3633::aid-cncr2820711127>3.0.co;2-c
Subject(s) - medicine , peripheral blood mononuclear cell , lymphokine activated killer cell , chills , interleukin 2 , immunology , population , immunotherapy , cancer , oncology , gastroenterology , cancer research , in vitro , t cell , cytokine , interleukin 21 , immune system , biology , biochemistry , environmental health
Background . In vitro studies have demonstrated that a brief exposure of peripherally collected mononuclear cells to high‐dose human recombinant interleukin‐2 (rIL‐2) will generate a population of pulsed lymphokine‐activated killer (LAK) cells. These cells have similar cytotoxicity against natural killer cells and resistant and sensitive target cells as compared with the standard LAK cells incubated for 3–7 days with rIL‐2. Therefore, the authors conducted a pilot study to investigate the activity of pulsed LAK cells in patients with advanced cancer. Methods . Nineteen patients were enrolled in a pilot study, and pulsed LAK cell treatment was administered two times per week for 4 weeks, followed by similar cycles if patients remained free of disease progression and unacceptable toxic effects. Results . Toxic effects consisted mainly of fever, chills, nausea, and dizziness but were self‐limiting and mild. Most cycles were administered on an outpatient basis. There were six partial responses (31%), occurring in two of three patients with renal cell carcinoma, two of four with hepatocellular carcinoma, one of seven with non‐small cell lung carcinoma, and one of one with ovarian carcinoma. Two minimal responses were seen in one case each of melanoma and carcinoma of colon. Nine other patients had disease stabilization for 16 weeks, and two additional patients had disease progression. Pheno‐typing of peripheral mononuclear cells showed increases in CD56 and CD25 populations with no in vivo rIL‐2 being administered after treatment with pulsed LAK cells. Conclusions . The relative ease in generating pulsed LAK cells and the associated mild toxic effects enable prolonged stimulation of the effector cells of the patients against sensitive tumor targets, with a response rate comparable to those of high‐dose rIL‐2 and LAK cell treatment. Therefore, it may be a theoretically ideal adjuvant for patients with renal cell carcinoma, melanoma, and hepatoma and other applicable patients after bone marrow transplantation. The initial high response rate in patients with late‐stage renal cell carcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma indicates the need for additional confirmation.