Hayakawa M, Hatano T, Ogawa Y, Gakiya M, Ogura H, Osawa A
Department of Urology, School of Medicine, University of Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan.
Urol Int. 1994;53(3):117-24. doi: 10.1159/000282651.
We investigated the usefullness and problems of arterial administration of lymphokine activated killer (LAK) cells in combination with systemic IL-2 in the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Ten nephrectomized patients with extrapulmonary and/or nonresectable metastases were treated with arterial infusions of LAK cells and systemic rIL-2 (5 x 10(5) IU twice a day) for 1-12 weeks. Leukapheresis was carried out once or twice a week, and two LAK cell populations generated from two gravity subtypes of peripheral blood lymphocytes were administered separately. Five of 15 metastases treated showed appreciable regression of metastatic sites including bone, muscle and lymph nodes. Two of 15 showed a minor response. Local pain due to metastasis was relieved or disappeared in 6 patients. There was no correlation between the response of the patients and the number of LAK cells used. The 24- and 56-month survival rate was 50 and 25%, respectively. No serious side effects were experienced during treatment. We conclude that regional arterial administration of LAK cells in combination with a low dose of IL-2 is worthwhile as an alternative treatment modality to conventional therapy for a selected group of patients with advanced RCC.
