title: Infusion of in vitro expanded tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes and recombinant interleukin-2 in patients with surgically resected lymph node metastases of malignant melanoma: a pilot study.
abstract: A pilot study was set up in order to evaluate the feasibility and safety of infusing in vitro expanded tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) in a group of patients with advanced melanoma after radical resection of lymph node metastases. Twenty-four patients were eligible for the study and proliferating TILs were collected in 16. These patients were infused with TILs and then treated with rIL-2 and alpha-interferon. Short-term toxic effects (such as fever) were in general controlled by symptomatic drugs, whereas chronic toxicities were absent. The median follow-up period was 19 months; at present, 13 patients are alive and disease free, one patient is in progression and two patients have died. The approach was feasible and safe and the clinical results observed are comparable to those obtained by long-term treatment with other biological response modifiers.
authors.affiliation: Unita' di Chirurgia Plastica, Clinica Dermatologica, Universita' di Firenze, Italy.
authors.forename: U M
authors.initials: UM
authors.lastname: Reali
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Martini
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Borgognoni
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Semino
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pietra
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chiarugi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guastella
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Melioli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016219:Immunotherapy, Adoptive / Q000379:methods*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D016246:Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins