IMMUNOMODULATION IN PATIENTS WITH EPITHELIAL OVARIAN-CANCER AFTER ADOPTIVE TRANSFER OF TUMOR-INFILTRATING LYMPHOCYTES

The immunomodulation determined by natural killer cell activity, delay ed-type hypersensitivity to purified protein derivative and phytohemag glutin, and phenotypic changes of peripheral blood lymphocytes was cha racterized in 12 patients with epithelial ovarian cancer who received adoptive transfer of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) after cispl atin-containing chemotherapy (TIL group). As a control, 10 patients wi th epithelial ovarian cancer who did not receive infusions of TIL were also examined in the same fashion. In the TIL group, peripheral blood lymphocytes showed increased percentages of cells bearing the CD8 ant igen, in contrast to stable percentages of CD4 antigen-bearing cells, resulting in a decreased ratio of CD4+ to CD8+ cells. The percentages of CD16 and CD56 antigen-bearing cells also increased in proportion to augmentation of natural killer cell activity against K562 cells. Addi tionally, with regard to cell-mediated immunity determined by delayed- type hypersensitivity to phytohemagglutin and purified protein derivat ive, significantly and slightly enlarged erythema was observed 2 and 8 weeks, respectively, after the injection of TILs (phytohemagglutin, P < 0.05; purified protein derivative, not statistically significant). The control group showed no major changes in any of the immunological markers. These results suggest the possibility that the adoptive trans fer of TILs induces immunoactivation of cellular immunity and enhances natural killer activity in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer.