title: Local intratumor immunotherapy of prostate cancer with interleukin-2 reduces tumor growth.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study was designed to determine the effectiveness and toxicity of local continuous immunotherapy for prostatic cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  60 juvenile male Copenhagen rats with Dunning adenocarcinoma of the prostate, implanted subcutaneously into both flanks after proven tumor growth, were treated with either human interleukin-2 (IL-2) depot preparations (n = 30) or albumin (placebo) depot preparations (n = 30) implanted directly next to tumor site. IL-2 depots released IL-2 reliably for more than 24 days. Rat serum was tested during treatment for human IL-2, possibly absorbed from depots, and for rat interferon gamma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  IL-2 treatment reduced tumor growth significantly (p < 0.001) compared with albumin treated sites or untreated contralateral sites. No toxicity was observed during treatment. That neither human IL-2 nor rat interferon gamma was detected in serum indicates an exclusively local IL-2 effect.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IL-2 depot preparations reduce tumor growth in Dunning adenocarcinoma of the prostate significantly without toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University Hospital of Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hautmann
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Huland
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huland
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000628:therapy*; D000818:Animals; D010478:Chemotherapy, Cancer, Regional Perfusion; D004343:Drug Implants; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D008297:Male; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D004343:Drug Implants; D007376:Interleukin-2; D007371:Interferon-gamma