Passive immunization against tumor necrosis factor partially abrogates interleukin 2 toxicity.
Passive immunization against TNF allowed non-tumor-bearing C3H/HEN mice and tumor-bearing C57BL/6 mice to tolerate significantly more doses of IL-2 before death (p less than 0.005 and p less than 0.001, respectively). The antitumor effect of IL-2 against both 3-d and 10-d pulmonary metastases was maintained in mice treated concurrently with neutralizing antibodies to TNF. In one experiment with 10-d pulmonary metastases, increased administration of IL-2 made possible by passive immunization against TNF significantly improved the antitumor response compared to equitoxic doses of IL-2 and control antibody. The results indicate that TNF is a mediator of IL-2 toxicity but contributes minimally to the antitumor effects of IL-2. Strategies to inhibit TNF may improve the therapeutic index of IL-2 as a neoplastic agent.
Fraker
D L
DL
Surgical Metabolism Section, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
Langstein
H N
HN
Norton
J A
JA
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology
D007376:Interleukin-2; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha