Short-term tumor cell lines from breast cancer for use as autologous tumor cell vaccines in the treatment of breast cancer.
OBJECTIVE
We tried to establish short-term cultures of autologous tumors from patients with breast carcinoma for potential use as active specific immunotherapy (i.e., autologous vaccine) after resection of primary breast cancer, and/or for the treatment of metastases.


METHODS
Between 10/90 and 12/99 the cell biology laboratory of the Hoag Cancer Center attempted to establish short-term tumor cell lines from 115 breast cancer specimens from 56 primary breast lesions, 17 axillary nodes, 14 other lymph node/soft tissue sites, 10 chest wall recurrences, and 6 thoracentesis of malignant pleural effusions. Success was defined by growth of 5 x 10(7) viable cells whose malignant nature and breast cancer origin was confirmed by histology of the submitted tissue, cell morphology and antigenic phenotyping. Variables associated with successful growth of short-term cell lines were examined.


RESULTS
Expansion to 5 x 10(7) cells was achieved for only 8/115 samples [7%] including two from chest wall recurrences, and one each from a supraclavicular node, an umbilical node, liver, omentum, and pleural fluid. Two of the successful cell lines were established from tissue that originally had been cryopreserved; the others were initiated from fresh tumor. The success rate was better from regional/distant metastases 7/55 (13%) compared to primary tumors 1/56 (1.8%) (p = 0.063). The success rate for tumors harvested at Hoag Hospital was 4/97 (4%) compared to 4/14 from (31%) distant sites, but all but one of the tumors from a distant geographic site was a metastatic lesion. Tumor cell lines were successfully established from metastatic lesions ranging in size from < 1.0 g to 19 g. Four patients were treated with their autologous vaccine in the setting of chemotherapy-refractory metastatic disease without any significant toxicity.


CONCLUSIONS
We were unable to establish short-term cell lines for most patients with primary or metastatic breast cancer using this methodology. However, two long-term cell lines have been established and characterized. Treatment with the autologous irradiated cell product was not associated with acute toxicity.
Dillman
R O
RO
Hoag Cancer Center, One Hoag Drive, Building 41, Newport Beach, California 92658, USA. rdillman@hoaghospital.org
Beutel
L D
LD
De Leon
C
C
Nayak
S K
SK
D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008408:Mastectomy; D008875:Middle Aged; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000276:immunology
D001324:Autoantigens; D019496:Cancer Vaccines