[Regional adoptive immunotherapy using activated lymphocytes]

The antitumor effect of PSK was analysed with the "double grafted tumor system" in which BALB/c mice received simultaneous intradermal inoculations of Meth-A in the right (10(6) cells) and left (2 x 10(5) cells) flanks and were then injected with PSK in the right tumor on day 3. PSK inhibited the growth of not only the right but also the left, non-treated tumor. Immunized spleen cells were taken from mice which had been cured by intratumoral administration of 5 mg of PSK. On day 3, one hour after intravenous injection of cyclophosphamide, immunized spleen cells (2 x 10(7) cells/mouse) were injected into the Meth-A tumor. Adoptive transfer of PSK immunized spleen cells caused the complete regression of Meth-A tumors. However, the intravenous administration of spleen cells showed no antitumor effect. Expansion of peripheral blood lymphocytes was stimulated with immobilized anti CD3 antibody plus IL-2 for use in adoptive immunotherapy. gamma delta T cells proliferated in response to immobilized anti CD3. About 5 x 10(9) BRM-activated killer (BAK) cells were treated in cancer patients who gave their informed consent. One patient with colon cancer and metastatic cancer of the liver was treated with BAK cells by transcatheter arterial infusion without side effect. During the course of BAK treatment, serum IAP CIAE (crossed immunoaffino electrophoresis) pattern of patient changed tumor IAP pattern to normal IAP pattern. Two patients with malignant tumor in maxillary sinus were treated with BAK cells and OK-432 intratumorally. BAK treatment induced more infiltration of T cells, M phi and granulocytes in the tumor than OK-432 treatment alone and showed an antitumor effect with extensive necrosis.