Case report: Long-lasting response in a patient with metastatic renal cell cancer receiving antitumor cytotoxic T lymphocytes

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: Adoptive immunotherapy can be a therapeutic option to treat cancer patients with advanced-stage disease refractory to conventional therapies. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: We used T-cell therapy with autologous antitumor cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) in a patient with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Autologous antitumor CTLs obtained by stimulating CD8-enriched cells with dendritic cells pulsed with irradiated apoptotic tumor cells and expanded in vitro were transfused on days +14 and +28 following chemotherapy and every 2 to 4 months thereafter. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with high doses of antitumor CTLs proved to be safe and induced immunological responses and long-lasting clinical benefit in our patient.