The Effect of Recombinant CD80-Adenovirus and Interleukin-12 on Generation of Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes Against Autologous Tumour in Patients with Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Abstract Objectives: The combined effect of a costimulatory molecule, CD80 and interleukin-12, on generation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes against autologous tumour cells was investigated using peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma. Materials and Methods: The use of recombinant adenovirus enabled efficient transduction of CD80 into all primary cultured squamous cell carcinoma cells. Peripheral blood mononuclear lymphocytes from patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma were co-cultured with CD80-transduced autologous tumour cells in the presence of interleukin-12. Results: The levels of cytotoxicity against autologous tumour in patients with squamous cell carcinoma were individually variable. However, the cytotoxicity against autologous tumour cells, but not against allogeneic tumour cells, was efficiently inhibited by the addition of either anti-CD3, anti-CD8, or anti-MHC class I mAb, suggesting that the induced cytotoxicity was specific for autologous tumour cells. Conclusion: The results suggest that generation of tumour-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes using a combination with CD80 costimulation and interleukin-12 is effective in oral squamous cell carcinoma patients. However, a further approach for expanding the number of specific effector cells will be required for clinical application.