Comparison of immunological changes between subcutaneous and intravenous route of administration of IL-2 in cancer patients.
The effects of the route of administration of interleukin 2 (IL-2) on the immunological parameters of patients with various malignancies were investigated. The percent mean values for IL-2 receptor (Tac) positive cells among mononuclear cells in patients receiving IL-2 subcutaneously (5 cases) or intravenously (6 cases) were 7 and 7%, respectively. The corresponding values of post-IL-2 treatment peak were 18 and 16%. Similarly, the values for class II antigen expressing cells were 12 and 16% and 25 and 26%. In no case the difference between the values for the subcutaneous or the intravenous route reached significance. Using the 51Cr release assay, the mean percent killing activity of IL-2-activated mononuclear cells against Daudi tumour target cells for the subcutaneously and the intravenously treated groups were 27 and 14% and the corresponding values for the post-IL-2 treatment peak were 59% (p > 0.05) and 69% (p > 0.05), respectively. The similar values using K562 tumour as target were 17 and 8%, and the corresponding values for post-treatment peak were 55% (p > 0.05) and 23% (p > 0.05). In all cases the cytotoxic values for the post-IL-2 treatment were significantly greater than the pre-IL-2 values. The mean (+/- SD) values for serum beta2-m levels for 6 subcutaneously and 5 intravenously IL-2-treated patients were 6.5 +/- 4.6 and 5.7 +/- 3.4 mg/l (p > 0.05). The corresponding values for post-IL-2 (15 days) were 9.1 +/- 3.4 and 9.9 +/- 5.1 mg/1, respectively. These results demonstrate that there is no significant difference in the immunological parameters in cancer patients receiving IL-2 via subcutaneous or intravenous routes and provide further support for the current trend for clinical trials to concentrate on outpatients subcutaneous administration.
Nouri
A M
AM
Department of Medical Oncology, The Royal London Hospital, UK.
Lowdell
M
M
Entazami
Z
Z
Tezabwala
B U
BU
Goode
A
A
Oliver
R T
RT
D015415:Biomarkers; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000276:immunology; D004333:Drug Administration Routes; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015979:Killer Cells, Lymphokine-Activated / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000276:immunology*
D015415:Biomarkers; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D007376:Interleukin-2; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin