title: FLT3-ligand administration inhibits liver metastases: role of NK cells.
abstract: FLT3-ligand (FL) is a recently described cytokine that stimulates the proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic progenitors both in vivo and in vitro and, when administered to mice, induces an accumulation of dendritic cells (DC) in different lymphoid and nonlymphoid organs and tissues, including the liver. We have studied the antitumor effect of FL administered alone or in combination with IL-12 in a day 3 murine liver metastasis model. FL significantly reduced the number of hepatic metastases (36.00 +/- 11.00 vs 92.00 +/- 10.19 in control group, p < 0.05). Histologic evaluation of the livers revealed that FL induced a significant infiltration of the tumor border by lymphocytes and DC associated with increased number of apoptotic figures. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that FL significantly enhanced the number of DC in the liver parenchyma and within the liver metastases, as well as the number of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes. These data support the suggestion that DC may be directly involved in the antitumor effect of FL. Interestingly, the antitumor effect of FL was greatly reduced by the NK depletion. Combination of FL and IL-12 resulted in greater antitumor efficacy than these cytokines alone. In summary, we have shown that FL has significant antitumor effect on preexisting murine C3 liver tumors that is mediated by NK cells. We have also demonstrated that the FL/IL-12 combination has an enhanced antitumor activity in the same murine tumor model.
authors.affiliation: Biologic Therapeutics Program, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, PA 15213, USA.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Péron
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Esche
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Subbotin
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maliszewski
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Lotze
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Shurin
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D002452:Cell Count; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000276:immunology; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000473:pathology; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008024:Ligands; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000556:secondary*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D012513:Sarcoma, Experimental / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000556:secondary; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D006131:Growth Inhibitors; D008024:Ligands; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C084881:flt3 ligand protein; D018664:Interleukin-12