[Adopted immunochemotherapy using IL-2 and spleen LAK cell--randomized study]

Thirty patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent hepatic resection during the recent 2 years in our department were randomized. We derived LAK cells from the autologous spleen removed during operation. The cultivation of LAK cells were done with IL-2. Adriamycin 20mg/body was injected into hepatic artery via subcutaneous implanted reservoir on the 8th postoperative day. In group A, 1.0-7.6 x 10(9) LAK cells were injected i.a on day, 10, 14, and 21 after operation. IL-2 of 5 x 10(5) JU were also injected i.a. during 3 weeks. Group B patients were treated only by adriamycin. High fever was seen in all patients belonged to group A. Twelve patients in each group were evaluable. Recurrence rate 8.3% in group A was significantly lower than 50% in group B. In experimental study, accumulation of 111In-oxine labelled LAK cells in mouse 3LL lung cancer was augmented in splenectomized ones. Adopted immunotherapy by spleen LAK-cells may be effective and safe treatment to preventing recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatectomy.