title: Enhanced natural killer cell activity in patients with cervical carcinoma by postoperative PS-K immunotherapy.
abstract: The cell-mediated immunity in 19 patients with stage I and II cervical carcinoma was evaluated before and after postoperative PS-K immunotherapy. Lymphocyte subpopulations were enumerated using specific monoclonal antibodies (moAbs) of the Leu series (Leu2, Leullb, Leu15, and Leu19) and the OKT series (OKT3, and OKT4). A 4-hour 51Cr-release assay was used to measure natural killer (NK) cell activity. Serum levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2), soluble interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) were also determined before and after postoperative PS-K immunotherapy. The results showed that the number of cells carrying the marker of a non-major histocompatibility complex (MHC), restricted cytotoxic lymphocytes in the peripheral blood and NK activity at three different effector/target ratios increased significantly after postoperative PS-K immunotherapy. It is therefore concluded that postoperative PS-K immunotherapy enhanced the NK activity in patients with cervical carcinoma, in which NK activity tended to be lower. Further clinical investigation to assess the effectiveness of PS-K immunotherapy in improving the overall survival is in progress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Provincial Tao-Yuan Hospital, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: C Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: C Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Hsieh
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D016207:Cytokines; D011509:Proteoglycans; C010770:polysaccharide-K