Infiltration of activated dendritic cells and T cells in renal cell carcinoma following combined cytokine immunotherapy.
OBJECTIVE
In a phase I study the feasibility, toxicity and immunological effects of peri-operative cytokine immunotherapy of renal cell carcinoma were studied. Main goals were to determine the maximal tolerable dose and detailed in situ analysis of tumor infiltrates.


METHODS
Fifteen patients with renal cell carcinoma, undergoing nephrectomy, received subcutaneous immunotherapy, consisting of low-dose IL-2, IFNalpha and GM-CSF, from day -3 prior, until day +5 following surgery in a dose escalation study. Infiltrates from resected tumor tissues from patients undergoing immunotherapy or control patients that underwent nephrectomy only, were examined using quantitative immunohistological analysis and 3-color immunofluorescence staining and confocal laser scanning microscope analysis.


RESULTS
Toxicity was limited and the maximal tolerable dose was established. In peripheral blood an increase was found in total lymphocytes, (activated) T cells, NK cells and monocytes. Quantitative immunohistological analysis of tumor infiltrates showed enhanced numbers of CD3+ T cells, S100+ DC, CD83+ DC and IL-2 receptor positive cells (4-fold, 2-fold, 10-fold and 20-fold, respectively, compared to controls). In treated patients preferential invasion was observed of TNFalpha positive CD8+ T cells and DC, positive for DC-SIGN (CD209), CD83, CD80, IL-12 and the DC specific chemokine, DC-CK1 (CCL18).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings show increased infiltration of activated, mature DC and functionally active CD8+ T cells in renal tumors, which may suggest clinical potential of cytokine immunotherapy.
Verra
Natascha
N
Department of Immunology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam.
de Jong
Daphne
D
Bex
Axel
A
Batchelor
Diane
D
Dellemijn
Trees
T
Sein
Johan
J
Nooijen
Willem
W
Meinhardt
Willem
W
Horenblas
Simon
S
de Gast
Gijsbert
G
Vyth-Dreese
Florry
F
D000328:Adult; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008875:Middle Aged; D009392:Nephrectomy; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D016898:Interferon-alpha; D007376:Interleukin-2; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor