This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Papa, M. Z. Articles by Rosenberg, S. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Papa, M. Z. Articles by Rosenberg, S. A.

Effect of Corticosteroid on the Antitumor Activity of Lymphokine-activated Killer Cells and Interleukin 2 in Mice

Surgery Branch, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892

The adoptive transfer of lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells combined with low dose interleukin 2 (IL-2) mediates the regression of established pulmonary metastases in mice and has efficacy in the treatment of human cancer. Systemic administration of high dose IL-2 alone can mediate tumor regression. Cortisone acetate (CA), 25–75 mg/kg, was administered daily to mice receiving high dose IL-2 for 10 days. CA significantly reduced the toxicity induced by IL-2; 38 of 48 mice receiving CA survived compared to 0 of 30 controls (P < 0.0001). In addition, CA administration caused a decrease in IL-2-induced ¹²⁵I-labeled albumin leakage in mouse organs. However, CA abrogated the in vivo antitumor effect of high dose IL-2, and to a lesser extent the therapeutic effect of exogenous LAK cells plus lower dose IL-2. Mice treated with 100,000 units of IL-2 showed 98, 63, and 33% reductions of pulmonary metastases in Hanks' balanced salt solution, 25 mg Ca/kg, and 75 mg Ca/kg groups, respectively; treatment with LAK and 7,500 units of IL-2 resulted in reductions of 94, 77, and 57% in these same groups. CA treatment of animals did not affect LAK generation, although the absolute number of LAK precursors was greatly reduced. These results show that although CA can reduce the toxic effect(s) of IL-2, it can be detrimental to successful immunotherapy using this approach.

¹ To whom requests for reprints should be addressed, at Building 10, Room 2B42, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892.

Received 4/ 7/86. Revised 7/22/86. Accepted 7/23/86.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				W. E. Carson, H. Yu, J. Dierksheide, K. Pfeffer, P. Bouchard, R. Clark, J. Durbin, A. S. Baldwin, J. Peschon, P. R. Johnson, et al. A Fatal Cytokine-Induced Systemic Inflammatory Response Reveals a Critical Role for NK Cells J. Immunol., April 15, 1999; 162(8): 4943 - 4951. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]