title: Loco-regional immunotherapy with recombinant interleukin-2 and adherent lymphokine-activated killer cells (A-LAK) in recurrent glioblastoma patients.
abstract: Nine patients with recurrent glioblastoma were given autologous adherent lymphokine-activated killer (A-LAK) cells and interleukin-2 (IL-2) administered directly into the tumor cavity through an Ommaya tube placed during surgery/biopsy. The immunotherapy was well tolerated and the response rate was 33% (one complete response, two partial responses, four with stable disease and two with progressive disease). However, survival 18 months from initial diagnosis did not differ from that reported in the literature for patients treated conventionally. Serial determinations of IL-2 in the tumor cavity during the course of treatment revealed that IL-2 concentrations were sufficient to maintain lymphocyte activation. Since steroid medication was discontinued during treatment and A-LAK cells have greater antitumor activity than standard LAK cells, other factors are discussed that might explain the limited results.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Nazionale Neurologico C. Besta, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boiardi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Silvani
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Ruffini
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rivoltini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Parmiani
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Broggi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salmaggi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016219:Immunotherapy, Adoptive; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015979:Killer Cells, Lymphokine-Activated; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2