A xenograft model of local adoptive immunotherapy would be useful in evaluating the
therapeutic effects both
cytokines with and without added effector cells have on human head and neck
tumors implanted into nude mice. Human
squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck lend themselves to local intervention and, since conventional radio- and/or
chemotherapy often fail to arrest
tumor growth, new therapeutic modalities, including
immunotherapy, must be considered and local
immunotherapy may have the advantage of minimal side effects. In the present study the ability of local adoptive immunotherapy with human lymphokine-activated killer cells (LAKc) and recombinant
interleukin-2 (IL-2) to inhibit the growth of established
squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck was evaluated in nude mice. The model was established by
subcutaneous injections of in vitro maintained
tumor cells into the flank splenectomized animals pretreated with
cyclophosphamide and anti-
asialo GM1. The line used was tumorigenic in 95% of the nude mice and neither metastasized nor killed the animals. The local daily administration of
IL-2 to the
tumor site for two weeks resulted in a significant inhibition of
tumor growth. Complete inhibition of
tumor growth was achieved with three times weekly
injections of 5 to 10 x 10(6) LAKc delivered to the
tumor site and 1000 U of
IL-2 administered locally every day for two weeks. The data obtained indicate that local adoptive immunotherapy with
IL-2 and an adequate dose of LAKc may be effective in preventing the in vivo growth of established
squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck.