Antitumour effect of intratumoral injection of human recombinant interleukin-2 in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: a preliminary report.
Five hepatoma patients with small resectable tumour received an intratumoral injection of recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) once weekly over 2-4 weeks (1.05 x 10(6)-3.6 x 10(6) U in total per patient). Tumour regressions of 32% and 57% were observed in two patients at day 42 after the first rIL-2 injection. No response was observed in two patients and disease progressed in one. Lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) activity was enhanced and Leu-11+ cells increased in the peripheral blood in the patients with 32% and 57% tumour regression after rIL-2 therapy. However, LAK activity, Leu-7+ cells were reduced in the patient who progressed. No consistent changes in Leu-2a+ cells and Leu-3a+ cells were demonstrated. In the three patients showing no response or 32% tumour regression, hepatic segments containing tumour were resected; histologically the tumour showed severe necrosis and lymphocytic infiltration in the patient with 32% tumour regression but mild or moderate changes in the other two. IL-2 mediated tumour killing can be induced in tumours by intratumoral injection of rIL-2, leading to tumour regression.
Shirai
M
M
National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892.
Watanabe
S
S
Nishioka
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000378:metabolism; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015979:Killer Cells, Lymphokine-Activated / Q000187:drug effects; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009336:Necrosis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology
D000954:Antigens, Surface; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins