In Vivo Versus Ex Vivo Modulation of Lymphocytes; Immunotherapy for Hematological Malignancies

Since recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) became available in large quantities in 1984, attention has been focussed on its potential use in the treatment of cancer patients as a fourth therapeutic modality. Clinical studies [1,2] have shown that treatment schedules with high dose rIL-2 and rIL-2 activated killer cells (LAK-cells) may be of benefit for patients with renal cell carcinoma and melanoma, although toxicity may be severe and the response rate generally does not exceed 30%.