[In vitro induced and expanded Epstein Barr virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes can specifically kill nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells].
OBJECTIVE
To establish a method for efficient induction and expansion of Epstein Barr virus (EBV)-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) in vitro and evaluate the possibility of using this strategy for treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).


METHODS
EBV-transformed B lymphoblastoid cells (BLCLs) were used as the antigen stimuli and antigen-presenting cells. EBV-specific CTL was induced by co-culture of the autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and the irradiated BLCLs, and expanded with a cocktail method consisting of OKT-3, irradiated homologous PBMC, and IL-2. The specific activity of the CTL against the NPC cells was measured with MTT assay.


RESULTS
EBV-specific CTL was successfully induced and expanded by 600 folds. The killing efficiency of the CTL was 76% for autologous BLCLs, 13% for homologous BLCLs, 51% for autologous NPC cells, and 27% for homologous CNE cell line, and after expansion, the corresponding killing efficiencies were 63%, 25%, 49%, and 33%, respectively. The non-specific killing only slightly increased after the expansion.


CONCLUSIONS
EBV-specific CTL can be successfully induced and expanded in vitro for specific killing of autologous NPC cells, suggesting the potential of this strategy in the treatment of NPC.
Chen
Li-pai
LP
Tumor Hospital of Guangzhou Medical College, Guangzhou, China. chenlipai@yahoo.com
Huang
Jian-qing
JQ
Zhou
Tong-chong
TC
Zhang
Shu-xu
SX
Wang
Jin-long
JL