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Perioperative Immunotherapy with Recombinant Interleukin 2 in Patients Undergoing Surgery for Colorectal Cancer

Academic Unit of Surgery, St. James's University Hospital, Beckett Street, Leeds LS9 7TF, United Kingdom

Major surgery impairs the cellular immune response. We have therefore studied the immunological effects of low-dose recombinant interleukin 2 given to patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer to determine whether this agent has potential in perioperative adjuvant immunotherapy. Patients were randomly allocated to control (n = 13) or treatment groups (n = 12). Immunological studies of both lymphocyte function and subset number were performed preoperatively and on Days 1, 4, 7, and 10. Treatment with recombinant interleukin 2 prevented the postoperative fall in both natural killer and lymphokine-activated killer cell cytotoxicity, clearly demonstrated in the control group. The treatment group also showed in vivo T-cell activation with an initial lymphopenia followed by a rebound lymphocytosis and upregulation of the subset markers CD25 (interleukin 2 receptor) and CD45RO (T-memory cells). These combined effects may have important consequences in controlling metastatic dissemination of tumor during the vulnerable perioperative period.

¹ Supported by a grant from the Yorkshire Cancer Research Campaign, Harrogate, United Kingdom.

² To whom requests for reprints should be addressed at Academic Unit of Surgery, Clinical Sciences Building, St. James's University Hospital, Beckett Street, Leeds LS9 7TF, United Kingdom.

Received 5/12/92. Accepted 8/ 7/92.