title: Induction of lymphokine-activated killer cell against human leukemia cells in vitro.
abstract: The induction of lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells against fresh human leukemia cells was investigated. Two thirds of the 62 leukemias examined were susceptible to the lytic effect of allogeneic IL-2 induced LAK cells in vitro. No substantial differences could be detected between myeloid or lymphoid leukemias or with regard to the FAB subtype or the immunophenotype. Culturing mononuclear cells from peripheral blood or bone marrow of leukemia patients with IL-2 resulted in an expansion of residual large granular lymphocytes and development of cytotoxic activity. The combination of IL-2 with IFN-gamma or the presence of tumor cells during the activation process led to an enhancement of LAK cell cytotoxicity. These results suggest that LAK cells may be useful in the treatment of leukemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology and Oncology, Universitätsklinikum Steglitz, Free University of Berlin.
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Teichmann
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Ludwig
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Seibt-Jung
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Thiel
mesh_terms: D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D007938:Leukemia / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007371:Interferon-gamma