Keyhole limpet hemocyanin: an effective adjunct against melanoma in vivo.
BACKGROUND
We have previously demonstrated the potent in vitro antiproliferative effects of keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) against melanoma. Our prior studies directed us to hypothesize that KLH would be effective in vivo against melanoma, alone and in combination with conventional immunotherapy.


METHODS
Mice were inoculated with 2 x 10(7) HTB68 cells and randomized to 6 groups. Treatment groups consisted of control, KLH 200 microg, alpha interferon (AIFN) 1000 IU, interleukin-2 (IL-2) 5000 IU, KLH + AIFN, and KLH + IL-2.


RESULTS
KLH + IL-2 exhibited the greatest reduction in tumor volume (30%) as compared to control (P = .014), followed by KLH + AIFN (28%, P = .031). Singly treated animals had less tumor inhibition: IL-2 (30%, P = .022), KLH (18%, not significant), and AIFN (16%, not significant).


CONCLUSIONS
KLH augments the effects of AIFN, one of the standard immunotherapeutic agents against melanoma in vivo. Further in vivo and early clinical studies into the effects of KLH as both a single and combined agent are warranted.
Rizvi
Irfan
I
Department of Surgery, Robert C. Byrd Health Science Center, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA.
Riggs
Dale R
DR
Jackson
Barbara J
BJ
McFadden
David W
DW
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005260:Female; D006433:Hemocyanins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D051379:Mice; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D007376:Interleukin-2; D006433:Hemocyanins; C032808:keyhole-limpet hemocyanin