Cancer immunotherapy by fusions of dendritic and tumour cells and rh‐IL‐12

• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2362.2005.01494.x
• Publication Date: 2005-04-07T14:32:09Z
• Authors: S. Homma; T. Kikuchi; N. Ishiji; K. Ochiai; H. Takeyama; H. Saotome; Y. Sagawa; E. Hara; D. Kufe; J. L. Ryan; T. Ohno; G. Toda
• Keywords: Male; 0303 health sciences; Fever; Pilot Projects; Dendritic Cells; Interleukin-12; 3. Good health; Cell Fusion; 03 medical and health sciences; Treatment Outcome; Neoplasms; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Humans; Female; Hypersensitivity, Delayed; Immunotherapy; Skin

AbstractBackground Vaccination with fusion cells (FCs) comprising dendritic cells and tumour cells as well as administration of interleukin‐12 (IL‐12) showed a significant therapeutic effect against established tumours in mouse experimental models. We conducted immunotherapy against various malignant tumours using the FCs and rhIL‐12, and investigated the safety and efficacy of the therapy.Materials and methods Patients’ DCs were mixed with autologous irradiated tumour cells and treated with 50% polyethylene glycol to generate FCs. The FCs were inoculated intradermally, and then 30 ng kg−1 of rhIL‐12 was injected at the same sites 2 and 6 days later. This process was carried out as one cycle, and three of these cycles were repeated at 1‐week intervals to comprise one course. After completing the course, its safety and therapeutic effects were estimated.Results The most frequently observed adverse event was fever, observed in 26% of patients in the first cycle. Decrease in white blood cell and an increase in serum ALT were observed in 28% and 25%, respectively. Three out of 12 patients with a malignant brain tumour (25%) achieved a partial response (PR), but other patients with a malignant tumour showed no regression of their tumours. Thirteen out of 16 patients with a brain tumour (81%) showed cutaneous delayed hypersensitivity responses. However, only one of 16 patients (6%) with a malignant tumour other than a brain tumour developed such responses.Conclusions Immunotherapy using a FC vaccine and rhIL‐12 induced no serious adverse reactions, and provided good therapeutic responses in some of the patients with a brain tumour.