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Recombinant interleukin-2 treatment in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: Effect on natural cytotoxicity

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Summary

Natural cytotoxicity (natural killer, NK, and lymphokine-activated killer, LAK, activity) was documented in 12 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, both before and after a 5-day course of continuous therapy with intravenous recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2). Treatment induced a substantial increase in circulating CD56+ lymphocytes (pretreatment: 12.1±6.9%, mean ± SD; posttreatment: 39.2±6.9%. Maximal NK cell activity was induced by treatment with rIL-2 but only suboptimal augmentation of LAK cell cytotoxicity was obtained. This study indicates that although continuous infusion of rIL-2 does have a significant effect on natural cytotoxicity, this is suboptimal and further studies are necessary to define the most efficacious immunity-enhancing regimens of therapy, thereby hopefully improving clinical outcome of rIL-2 treatment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Aberdeen University, Polwarth Building, AB9 2ZD, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, UK

    K. G. M. Park, S. D. Heys, J. B. Murray, P. D. Hayes, J. A. Ashby & O. Eremin

  2. Eurocetus BV, Paasheuvelweg 30, 1105J, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    C. R. Franks

Authors
  1. K. G. M. Park
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  2. S. D. Heys
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  3. J. B. Murray
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  4. P. D. Hayes
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  5. J. A. Ashby
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  6. C. R. Franks
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  7. O. Eremin
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Park, K.G.M., Heys, S.D., Murray, J.B. et al. Recombinant interleukin-2 treatment in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: Effect on natural cytotoxicity. Cancer Immunol Immunother 35, 53–58 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01741055

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01741055

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