Continuous interleukin-2 and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes as treatment of advanced melanoma: a National Biotherapy Study Group trial

Article Abstract:

Melanoma is on the rise in the United States. This form of skin cancer is readily treatable in the earliest stages, but once melanoma has begun to spread, the chances for long-term survival are small despite recent improvements in therapy. One approach which has stimulated interest in recent years is to attempt to marshall the forces of the immune system to fight the cancer. One way of accomplishing this is to give the patient an intravenous infusion of interleukin-2. This so-called lymphokine stimulates the response of T lymphocytes, a particular type of white blood cell; some T cells then may attack the spreading cancer. Some researchers have presented preliminary results to suggest that better results can be obtained if the T cells are stimulated outside the body. In this procedure, the patient's tumor cells are incubated with lymphocytes obtained from the patient's blood. In the presence of interleukin-2, some T cells are stimulated to attack the tumor cells. These T lymphocytes are then returned to the patient's bloodstream, along with a continuous infusion of interleukin-2. A study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of this procedure. Tumor cultures were obtained from 82 patients with advanced malignant melanoma. Successful growth of sufficiently many T cells for treatment was achieved for 23, and a total of 21 were actually treated with their own T cells. After an injection of approximately 100 billion T cells and the infusion of interleukin-2, only one patient achieved a complete response. Four patients achieved a partial response, which is defined as a reduction in tumor size of more than half. These results are not significantly better than would be expected from treatment with interleukin-2 by itself without T cells. While the number of patients in the present study is too small to say with certainty that the T cells have no effect, the time and expense involved in the preparation of the T cells cannot be justified at the present time. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Health aspects, Care and treatment, Drug therapy, Melanoma, Interleukin-2, Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes

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Immunohistochemical studies of blood group-related antigens in human superficial esophageal carcinomas

Article Abstract:

As their name implies, blood groups are antigens that can distinguish the blood cells of some patients from those of others. It must not be forgotten, however, that while these antigens may have been discovered in relation to blood cells, they are found on the cells of many other organs as well. Research has demonstrated that the disappearance of blood group antigens from cancerous cells may be a bad sign. The adult blood group antigens appear to be indicators of full differentiation of cells, that is, they indicate that the cells are expressing their full adult role within the organ. When malignantly transformed tumor cells fall back from their proper adult roles, the tumor is likely to become more dangerous and aggressive. Like all general rules of thumb, however, tumors must be evaluated on a case by case basis. For this reason, researchers have examined the relation between blood group antigens and the microscopic appearance of esophageal cancer tissues. When 49 superficial (early stage) esophageal cancers and 14 advanced cancers were examined, no correlation was found between the abnormal appearance of the cancer under the microscope and the presence or absence of the adult blood cell antigens. This was not true, however, for the Lewis antigen. Unlike antigens of the ABO system, the Lewis antigens tend to be found on fetal cells; they disappear on cells of adult tissues. It was found that more advanced cancers were more likely to express Lewis antigens. It is not yet certain whether the correlation or lack of correlation between the blood group antigens and the pathological features of the cancer will be reflected in patient survival. For example, while the antigens of the ABO system did not correlate with cancers that appeared to be less aggressive under the microscope, these antigens may nevertheless prove to be correlated with improved survival. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Methods, Evaluation, Physiological aspects, Esophageal cancer, Blood group antigens, Diagnostic immunohistochemistry

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