title: Interleukin-15 and the growth of tumor derived activated T-cells.
abstract: Interleukin-15 was tested to determine whether this recently discovered cytokine was capable of stimulating the growth of tumor derived activated T cells in culture (TDAC, also referred to as tumor infiltrating lymphocytes). When established cultures of IL-2 induced, IL-2 dependent TDAC were tested, IL-15 stimulated growth in a dose dependent manner, alone or in the presence of IL-2. One established TDAC was cultured with IL-15 alone for 18 passages over a 10 week period. Comparing IL-2 and IL-15 treated cultures, growth rate with IL-15 was slower. IL-15 doubled the secreted interferon alpha and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor. IL-15 and IL-2 were compared in primary TDAC cultures. IL-15 induced TDAC outgrowth in 3 of 6 cultures. IL-2 induced outgrowth in all 6. Tumor cells were eliminated as TDAC grew out in both IL-2 and IL-15 treated cultures. These results suggested that IL-15 like IL-2, is capable of stimulating the growth of TDAC with antitumor activity, but with certain distinct effects which may be of interest therapeutically.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Therapeutics Inc., Franklin, Tennessee 37068-1055, USA.
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Lewko
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Bowman
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Good
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Oldham
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D019409:Interleukin-15; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D007378:Interleukins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects*; D016246:Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / Q000187:drug effects*; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D019409:Interleukin-15; D007376:Interleukin-2; D007378:Interleukins