IMMUNOTHERAPY WITH THE USE OF TUMOR-INFILTRATING LYMPHOCYTES AND INTERLEUKIN-2 AS ADJUVANT TREATMENT IN STAGE-III NON-SMALL-CELL LUNG-CANCER - A PILOT-STUDY

This study assesses the feasibility and toxicity of adoptive immunothe rapy with tumor infiltrating lymphocytes and recombinant interleukin-2 in 29 patients who underwent resection for stage III non-small-cell l ung cancer, In five patients cultures yielded no growth of tumor infil trating lymphocytes, In the remaining 24 patients (stage IIIa, 14 case s; stage mb, 10 cases) tumor infiltrating lymphocytes were in vitro ex panded from surgically obtained tissue samples, including samples from both the tumor and surrounding lung, A number of tumor infiltrating l ymphocytes, ranging from 4 to 70 billion cells, were reinfused intrave nously 4 to 6 weeks after operation. Interleukin-2 was administered su bcutaneously at escalating doses for 2 weeks and then at reduced doses for 2 to 3 months, Median survival was 14 months, and the 2-year surv ival was 40%. Three patients remain alive and disease-free at more tha n 2 years after operation, Two of these patients did not have complete resection at thoracotomy, Multivariate analysis showed no correlation between the Factor of incomplete resection and survival. Intrathoraci c recurrence without concomitant distant failure was documented in two patients only and none of the patients with incomplete resection (12 cases) had relapse within the thorax, The present experience demonstra tes that adoptive immunotherapy may be applied with safety in patients operated on for stage In non-small-cell lung cancer and suggests that it can be useful, notably in patients with locally advanced disease.