title: A phase I study of prolonged continuous infusion of low dose recombinant interleukin-2 in melanoma and renal cell cancer. Part II: Immunological aspects.
abstract: Previously we described the clinical aspects of a phase I study of prolonged continuous infusion of low-dose recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2). In the present paper we report several immunological effects in 13 patients with melanoma and renal cell cancer treated on an out-patient basis with rIL-2 for uninterrupted periods ranging from 5 to 18 weeks. Groups of three patients were treated at following dose levels 0.18, 0.6, 1.8 or 6 x 10(6) IU m-2 24 h-1 and one patient was treated with 3 x 10(6) IU m-2 24 h-1. Prolonged rIL-2 treatment resulted in a dose-dependent and sustained increase in the percentage and absolute number of (CD56+, CD8dim) natural killer cells. Within this population a preferential increase in the CD56bright cells with low expression of CD16 was observed. The CD27 antigen was also upregulated in the CD56bright CD16dim population. This increase of NK cells was accompanied by an enhancement of the cytotoxic capacity of the peripheral lymphocytes. No consistent signs of T cell activation or expansion were noted.
authors.affiliation: Division of Immunology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam.
authors.forename: L T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Vlasveld
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hekman
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Vyth-Dreese
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Rankin
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Scharenberg
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Voordouw
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Sein
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Dellemijn
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rodenhuis
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Melief
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins