Malignant hemangioendothelioma.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The administration of interleukin-2 (IL-2) has recently been reported to be favorable for treating malignant hemangioendothelioma (MHE).

METHODS:

Two patients with MHE responded well to intralesional injections of recombinant IL-2 (rIL-2) without major side effects. The purpose of this study was to characterize cells infiltrating the regressing tumor following rIL-2 treatment. Immunohistochemical studies were performed on biopsy specimens taken from rIL-2-injected lesional skin.

RESULTS:

It was shown that CD8+ lymphocytes and CD56+ natural killer (NK) cells infiltrated at the rIL-2-injection sites, suggesting that these cells contributed to the tumor regression. In addition, MHE cells bore intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) whose expression was augmented by rIL-2 injections.

CONCLUSIONS:

These findings suggested, that rIL-2 not only induces lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells and NK cells, but also facilitates these cytotoxic cells to adhere to MHE cells by enhancing ICAM-1 expression of tumor cells.

• Authors: H Ihda, Y Tokura, M Fushimi, R Yokote, H Hashizume, S Shirahama, K Iwatsuki, K Murakami, M Takigawa
• Journal: International journal of dermatology (Int J Dermatol) Vol. 34 Issue 11 Pg. 811-6 (Nov 1995) ISSN: 0011-9059 [Print] England
• PMID: 8543420 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Interleukin-2
• Recombinant Proteins
• Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1

Topics

• Aged
• CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes (pathology)
• Female
• Hemangiosarcoma (immunology, pathology, therapy)
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 (analysis)
• Interleukin-2 (therapeutic use)
• Killer Cells, Natural (immunology, pathology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Recombinant Proteins
• Skin Neoplasms (immunology, pathology, therapy)