title: Autologous lymphokine-activated killer cell therapy of Epstein-Barr virus-positive and -negative lymphoproliferative disorders arising in organ transplant recipients.
abstract: Lymphoreticular malignancies, collectively called posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD), eventually develop in 2-5% of organ transplant recipients. They frequently undergo regression when immunosuppression is reduced or stopped. This feature has been associated with a previous or de novo Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. We herein describe immunotherapy with autologous lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells in seven patients with PTLD (four EBV-positive patients and three EBV-negative patients). Autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cells were obtained by leukapheresis, depleted of monocytes, and cultured in the presence of interleukin 2 for 10 to 11 days. A single dose of 5.2 x 10(9) to 5.6 x 10(10) LAK cells was given intravenously. Systemic interleukin 2 was not administered. The four patients with EBV+ PTLD had complete tumor regression; two of them developed controllable rejection. Three patients are well 13-16 months after treatment; the fourth patient died of pneumonia 41 days after infusion. Three patients with EBV- lymphomas had no response despite prior evidence that their tumors also were subject to immune surveillance. Two of these three patients died after being given other treatment, and the third patient has persistent tumor. In conclusion, autologous LAK cell infusion was effective for treatment of four EBV+ organ transplant recipients. LAK cell efficacy for three patients with EBV- PTLD was not evaluable under the management circumstances in which this treatment was utilized.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Nalesnik
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Furukawa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pham
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zeevi
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Fung
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Gritsch
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Elder
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Whiteside
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Starzl
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology*; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human; D006801:Humans; D016219:Immunotherapy, Adoptive; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D015979:Killer Cells, Lymphokine-Activated / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D008232:Lymphoproliferative Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology; D014180:Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2