title: Cancer immunotherapy: current status of treatment with interleukin 2 and lymphokine-activated killer cells.
abstract: In recent years, the medical community has witnessed a growing interest in the use of adoptive immunotherapy in patients with malignant lesions refractory to standard treatments. Systemic administration of interleukin 2, in combination with the adoptive transfer of a patient's own activated immune cells, has resulted in objective regression of several types of advanced cancers. Pronounced regression of tumor has also been observed with use of systemic interleukin 2 alone. This ability to augment the immune defense system of the host against cancer has stimulated intense clinical and laboratory investigations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: van Haelst-Pisani
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Pisani
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kovach
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008222:Lymphokines; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D008222:Lymphokines