ABSTRACT
Adoptive transfer of in vitro lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells in combination with in vivo administration of recombinant interleukin-2 has resulted in regression of advanced neoplastic diseases in several murine tumor systems. The lymphocytes were isolated and cultured for 3 to 4 days to amplify the LAK activity. Several extramural cancer centers are involved in a study with the specific goal of characterizing the antigenic phenotype of cells isolated from the peripheral blood by leukapheresis to compare them with the phenotype of the LAK cells. Numerous treatment protocols have been designed in an effort to maximize the efficacy and minimize the toxicity of the adoptive cellular immunotherapy therapy. All patients accepted for treatment with interleukin-2 (IL-2)-LAK cells had clearly progressive and measurable metastatic malignancy that was refractory to standard therapy. Standard poly olefin platelet storage bags have been adapted for long-term culture of LAK cells in IL-2, thus allowing the whole process to be performed in a closed-system manner.
