Irradiated KHYG-1 retains cytotoxicity: potential for adoptive immunotherapy with a natural killer cell line.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate gamma-irradiation on KHYG-1, a highly cytotoxic natural killer (NK) cell line and potential candidate for cancer immunotherapy.


METHODS
The NK cell line KHYG-1 was irradiated at 1 gray (Gy) to 50 Gy with gamma-irradiation, and evaluated for cell proliferation, cell survival, and cytotoxicity against tumor targets.


RESULTS
We showed that a dose of at least 10 Gy was sufficient to inhibit proliferation of KHYG-1 within the first day but not its cytolytic activity. While 50 Gy had an apoptotic effect in the first hours after irradiation, the killing of K562 and HL60 targets was not different from non-irradiated cells but was reduced for the Ph + myeloid leukemia lines, EM-2 and EM-3.


CONCLUSIONS
gamma-irradiation (at least 10 Gy) of KHYG-1 inhibits cell proliferation but does not diminish its enhanced cytolytic activity against several tumor targets. This study suggests that KHYG-1 may be a feasible immunotherapeutic agent in the treatment of cancers.
Suck
G
G
Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, rincess Margaret Hospital/Ontario Cancer Institute, Toronto, Canada. garnet.suck@uhn.on.ca
Branch
D R
DR
Keating
A
A
D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000528:radiation effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000528:radiation effects; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D018922:HL-60 Cells; D006801:Humans; D016219:Immunotherapy, Adoptive / Q000379:methods*; D020014:K562 Cells; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011829:Radiation Dosage