Effects of combined therapy with interleukin 2 and interleukin 12 gene-transfected tumor vaccine for head and neck carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
The biological effects of cytokines are coming to be understood. The therapeutic effects of interleukin (IL) 2, IL-12, and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) in cancer treatment have been reported, but there are problems when these cytokines are systemically used as therapeutic agents.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the efficacy of IL-2 and IL-12 gene-transfected tumor cell vaccines for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).


METHODS
Homozygous mice with the autosomal recessive nude gene (BALB/c nu/nu mice) were inoculated subcutaneously in the right flank with cells from a human oral floor SCC cell line (KB cells). The mice were then injected with IL-2 and IL-12 gene-transfected KB cells (KB/IL-2 and KB/IL-12 cells, respectively) irradiated with 2000 rad (20 Gy).


RESULTS
No mice died soon after the injection of the gene immunotherapy. The treatment with either KB/human IL-2 (hIL-2) or KB/murine IL-12 (mIL-12) was not very effective. However, the treatment with both KB/hIL-2 and KB/mIL-12 cells significantly and safely inhibited the growth of established tumors (P =.04). There was no significant difference in antitumor effect between once-weekly and twice weekly injections of both KB/hIL-2 and KB/mIL-12 cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Double gene immunotherapy is safe and effective treatment for SCC in mice.
Kimura
Yu
Y
Department of Otolaryngology, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan. kimuyu@med.yokohama-cu.ac.jp
Mizuno
Hiromi
H
Satake
Kenichi
K
Tahara
Hideaki
H
Tsukuda
Mamoru
M
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000628:therapy*; D002470:Cell Survival; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D007167:Immunotherapy; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000235:genetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D014162:Transfection
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D007376:Interleukin-2; D018664:Interleukin-12; D007371:Interferon-gamma