Continuous infusion of recombinant interleukin-2 and lymphokine-activated killer cells in refractory malignancies

Adoptive immunotherapy with recombinant interleukin-2 (rlL-2) and lymphokineactivated killer (LAK) cells has been reported to effect the regression of tumor in patients with a variety of malignancies. Responses have occurred in patients treated with highdose bolus rlL2 as well as lower-dose continuous intravenous infusion. Ten patients who had been extensively pretreated with systemic chemotherapy with or without additional radiation therapy were treated with continuous infusion rlL2 and LAK cells. Five patients received rlL2 alone for 96-120 hours prior to leukapheresis in addition to rlL2 at the time of LAK cell infusion. Three patients received LAK cells that had been cultured for 14 days in an automated tissue culture system. No responses were seen in this tenpatient cohort. While the lack of response in these patients may be related to any one or more of several variables, patients who have been heavily pretreated may not respond as well as patients who have received little to no systemic chemotherapy.