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Interleukin-2 activated lymphocytes (LAK cells) as potential tumor tracers
T Timonen1, P Lehtovirta, J Gripenberg
1Department of Pathology, University of Helsinki, Finland.
Acta Radiologica. Supplementum
|January 1, 1990
Summary
Interleukin-2 activated lymphocytes (LAK cells) show selective homing to tumors and infiltrate cancer tissue. This suggests their potential use as diagnostic tumor tracers in addition to cancer therapy.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Oncology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Interleukin-2 activated lymphocytes, known as lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells, are investigated for their therapeutic potential in cancer.
- Understanding their homing and infiltration capabilities is crucial for evaluating their clinical applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the homing characteristics of LAK cells to malignant tumors in vivo.
- To evaluate the infiltrative capacity of LAK cells within three-dimensional tumor models in vitro.
- To explore the potential of LAK cells as tumor imaging agents.
Main Methods:
- 111In-oxine labeled LAK cells were injected into the hypogastric artery during hysterectomy for endometrial carcinoma.
- Scintigraphy was used to track lymphocyte homing to the tumor site.
- LAK cells were incubated with cultured glioma cell line spheroids to assess infiltration using immunoperoxidase techniques.
Main Results:
- Scintigraphy revealed selective homing of LAK cells to the endometrial carcinoma tumor area.
- No selective homing was observed with injected labeled red blood cells.
- Activated lymphocytes demonstrated slow infiltration into three-dimensional tumor spheroids, acting as a frontier.
Conclusions:
- Interleukin-2 activated lymphocytes exhibit specific homing to malignant tumors.
- These cells possess the capacity to infiltrate tumor tissue, albeit slowly.
- LAK cells show promise as potential tumor tracers for diagnostic imaging, complementing their therapeutic role.