Basic fibroblast growth factor enhanced LAK cell cytotoxicities against human bladder neoplasm cells

AIM: To study the effects of basic fibrolast growth factor (bFGF) on the pr oliferation of lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells fi om patients with bladder cancer and LAK cells cytolysis against bladder tumor cells. METHODS : LAK cell proliferation was assayed in the presence of various concentrati ons of bFGF combined with interleukin-2 (IL-2) by cell count. Cytotoxicity of LAK cells against bladder cancer cell line EJ cells and bladder tumor ce lls (BTC) from patients was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5- diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays. RESULTS: The proliferation of per ipheral blood monocytes (PBMC) was inhibited by bFGF 5 mu g. L-1. bFGF did not affect the stimulation of LAK cells induced by IL 2. The LAK cell numbe rs in the combination of IL-2 with bFGF were not significantly different co mpared with that treated with IL-2 alone. bFGF enhanced cytotoxicity of LAK cells against bladder cancer cell line EJ cells or ETC, respectively. CONC LUSION: Although the proliferation of PBMC was inhibited by bFGF, bFGF incr eased LAK cell cytotoxicity against bladder neoplasm cells.