title: Molecular insights on the peripheral and intratumoral effects of systemic high-dose rIL-2 (aldesleukin) administration for the treatment of metastatic melanoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We have previously shown that within tumors, recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2, aldesleukin) consistently activates tumor-associated macrophages and upregulates IFN-stimulated genes while inducing minimal migration, activation, or proliferation of T cells. These effects are independent of tumor response to treatment. Here, we prospectively evaluated transcriptional alterations induced by rIL-2 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and within melanoma metastases.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated gene expression changes by serially comparing pre- to posttreatment samples in 13 patients and also compared transcriptional differences among lesions displaying different responsiveness to therapy, focusing on 2 lesions decreasing in size and 2 remaining stable (responding lesions) compared with nonresponding ones.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As previously described, the effects of rIL-2 were dramatic within PBMCs, whereas effects within the tumor microenvironment were lesion specific and limited. However, distinct signatures specific to response could be observed in responding lesions pretreatment that were amplified following rIL-2 administration. These signatures match the functional profile observed in other human or experimental models in which immune-mediated tissue-specific destruction (TSD) occurs, underscoring common pathways leading to rejection. Moreover, the signatures observed in pretreatment lesions were qualitatively similar to those associated with TSD, underlining a determinism to immune responsiveness that depends upon the genetic background of the host or the intrinsic genetic makeup of individual tumors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first prospectively collected insight on global transcriptional events occurring during high-dose rIL-2 therapy in melanoma metastases responding to treatment.
authors: Department of Medicine/Division of Hematology-Oncology, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, 22908, USA. grw3k@virginia.edu
authors: Geoffrey R
authors: GR
authors: Weiss
authors: William W
authors: WW
authors: Grosh
authors: Kimberly A
authors: KA
authors: Chianese-Bullock
authors: Yingdong
authors: Y
authors: Zhao
authors: Hui
authors: H
authors: Liu
authors: Craig L
authors: CL
authors: Slingluff
authors: Francesco M
authors: FM
authors: Marincola
authors: Ena
authors: E
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000378:metabolism; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D020381:Interleukin-17; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C082598:aldesleukin