Lymphokine-activated killer traffic assay and our preliminary clinical results of regional arterial infusion of lymphokine-activated killer cells for renal cell carcinoma.
In vivo distribution of radiolabeled lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells that were administered either through the caudal vein or the abdominal aorta of Lewis rats was studied. The LAK traffic study showed remarkable increase in radioactivity in several organs peripheral to the arterial injection site. We began treating the patients with metastatic renal cancer by means of regional arterial administration of LAK cells. This treatment was supported by the results of the traffic assay. Our regional LAK therapy, which involves a weekly leukapheresis in combination with daily systemic low dose interleukin-2 administration, has been in practice for over 2.5 years. Seven out of 12 metastatic lesions in the 7 patients treated showed regression. Two responding cases have been alive for over 2 years. Responding lesions were bone, muscle, para-aortic lymph node, and/or retroperitoneum. The regional arterial administration of LAK cells is local therapy. However, this mode of therapy could be useful for those patients with extrapulmonary nonresectable metastasis and at least one injectable feeding artery. This study shows our laboratory data concerning the localization of LAK cells transferred via arterial route and our clinical cases treated with regional arterial administration of LAK cells.
Hayakawa
M
M
University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan.
Koyama
Y
Y
Williams
R D
RD
Osawa
A
A
D000818:Animals; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016219:Immunotherapy, Adoptive; D007261:Infusions, Intra-Arterial; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D015979:Killer Cells, Lymphokine-Activated / Q000276:immunology* / Q000637:transplantation; D007937:Leukapheresis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew
D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes