Adoptive immunotherapy of human cancer: The cytokine cascade and monocyte activation following high-dose interleukin 2 bolus treatment

G. Boccoli, R. Masciulli, E. M. Ruggeri, P. Carlini, G. Giannella, E. Montesoro, G. Mastroberardino, G. Isacchi, U. Testa, F. Calabresi, C. Peschle

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Serum concentration kinetics of γ-interferon (IFN-γ), neopterin, 2′-5′A synthetase and tumor necrosis factor a were determined in five cancer patients undergoing adoptive immunotherapy with high-dose interleukin 2 (IL-2) bolus infusion and lymphokine-activated killer cells according to the National Cancer Institute, NIH protocol. In all cases a significant increase of these markers was observed after IL-2 treatment. This suggests that the antitumor effect of high-dose IL-2 bolus administration may be in part mediated by activation of a cascade of endogenous cytokines including IFN-γ and tumor necrosis factor α. After IL-2 bolus injection, the kinetics of neopterin was similar but delayed when compared to that of IFN-γ: this suggests that macrophages, the specific source of neopterin, become activated by IFN-γ following IL-2-mediated lymphocyte induction, thus implying a possible role for macrophages in the antitumor effects mediated by IL-2 and lymphokine-activated killer cells.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)5795-5800
Number of pages6
JournalCancer Research
Volume50
Issue number18
Publication statusPublished - Sept 15 1990

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cancer Research
  • Oncology

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