Perilymphatic injections of recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) partially correct the immunologic defects in patients with advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. |
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Authors: | G Melioli G Margarino M Scala P Mereu S Bertoglio G Schenone M Barbaresi A M Machí L Santi F Badellino |
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Institution: | Laboratorio di Patologia Clinica, Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genova, Italy. |
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Abstract: | Patients with advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are severely immunocompromised. In virtually all such patients who have been studied, reduced numbers of circulating CD3+ T-cell-receptor (TCR)alpha/beta+ T lymphocytes, a reduction of natural killer (NK) activity, and a poor induction of lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cell activity (following in vitro treatment with recombinant interleukin-2 rIL-2]) have been detected. Recently, however, it has been demonstrated that perilymphatic injections of low doses of rIL-2 may induce a local reduction of tumor masses in these patients. The present study, a cooperative pilot effort on the clinical effects of this route of administration, showed an activation of the lytic machinery in lymphocytes belonging to the T-cell lineage, as well as a potentiation of NK activity in the peripheral blood. These findings demonstrated that the severe immunodeficiency of HNSCC patients may be at least partially corrected by in vivo administration of rIL-2. |
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