title: Lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells. Analysis of factors relevant to the immunotherapy of human cancer.
abstract: Lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells can be generated by incubating fresh peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) in Interleukin-2 (IL-2). LAK cells kill fresh autologous and allogeneic human tumor cells in vitro. This study analyzes aspects of LAK cells that make them a promising candidate for the adoptive immunotherapy of human cancer. LAK cells can be generated from PBL of normal individuals and tumor-bearing patients. Pure, recombinant IL-2 generates LAK cells capable of killing a wide variety of tumors including sarcomas and cancers of the colon, pancreas, adrenal gland, and esophagus. Thirty-six of 41 (88%) fresh, noncultured, human tumor cell suspensions prepared from surgical specimens were lysed by LAK cells in a standard 4-hour chromium-release assay. Normal PBL were not killed. LAK cells can be expanded in vitro for periods longer than 2 months, potentially more than 10(20)-fold, while maintaining lytic ability. These results and the demonstrated efficacy of LAK cells in the therapy of murine tumors make LAK cells a candidate for clinical use in the adoptive immunotherapy of human cancer.
mesh_terms: D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D006801:Humans; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007167:Immunotherapy; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology* / Q000637:transplantation; D007951:Leukemia, Myeloid / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000276:immunology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2