Immunotherapy of cancer with lymphokine-activated killer cells and recombinant interleukin-2

S. A. Rosenberg, J. J. Mule

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

26 Scopus citations

Abstract

Lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells can be generated in vitro by incubation of normal murine or human lymphoid cells in recombinant interleukin-2 (RIL-2). These LAK cells are capable for mediating the lysis of fresh, noncultured tumor cells in 4-hour chromium release assays. The adoptive transfer of LAK cells plus RIL-2 is capable of mediating the inhibition of established pulmonary micrometastases from syngeneic tumors in mice. High-dose RIL-2 administered alone is also capable of mediating these antitumor effects, probably via the production of LAK cells in vivo. The immunotherapeutic effect of RIL-2 but not of LAK cells plus RIL-2 is abrogated in hosts that have received preirradiation with 500 rads. The administration of high-dose RIL-2 is also capable of reducing the growth of solid subdermal tumors as well. The use of LAK cells in conjunction with RIL-2 may be applicable to the treatment of cancer in humans, and clinical trials to evaluate this approach in humans have begun.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)437-444
Number of pages8
JournalSurgery
Volume98
Issue number3
StatePublished - Dec 1 1985

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery

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