Synergy of radiation therapy and immunotherapy in murine renal cell carcinoma.
The treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma with immunotherapy has resulted in objective anti-tumor responses in 15-30% of patients. To enhance the therapeutic effects of immunotherapy, it is becoming evident that this approach should be combined with other treatment modalities. In this study, a spontaneously metastasizing murine renal adenocarcinoma (Renca), transplanted under the renal capsule, was treated with either radiation therapy, immunotherapy or a combination of both. In order to distinguish between the local and systemic effects of radiation therapy, total body irradiation was compared to irradiation of the tumor-bearing kidney only, or irradiation of the whole mouse with the tumor-bearing kidney shielded. Immunotherapy was administered with interleukin-2 (IL-2) alone or with IL-2 and lymphokine activated killer (LAK) cells. Combined radiation and immunotherapy induced a better anti-tumor response than either modality alone. The best response was obtained by local tumor irradiation and IL-2 therapy and resulted in a significant reduction in primary tumor size, elimination of lung metastases and a significant increase in survival.
Dybal
E J
EJ
Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Medical Center, Allen Park, Michigan.
Haas
G P
GP
Maughan
R L
RL
Sud
S
S
Pontes
J E
JE
Hillman
G G
GG
D000818:Animals; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005260:Female; D007167:Immunotherapy; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D015979:Killer Cells, Lymphokine-Activated; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D015996:Survival Rate; D014916:Whole-Body Irradiation
D007376:Interleukin-2