Adoptive immunotherapy using specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes against human lung-cancer-engrafted severe combined immunodeficiency mice.

OBJECTIVE: We studied the ability of human lung-cancer-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes to suppress the growth of human lung adenocarcinoma (PC-9) engrafted in severe combined immunodeficiency mice.
METHODS: PC-9-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes were generated by multiple stimulation with irradiated PC-9 cells of regional lymph node lymphocytes from lung cancer patients expressing the same human leukocyte antigen-A locus haplotype as PC-9 following expansion due to the administration of immobilized anti cluster of differentiation 3 mAb and interleukin-2. Cytotoxic T lymphocytes showed specific cytotoxicity against PC-9 cells in vitro. Severe combined immunodeficiency mice with a subcutaneous graft of PC-9 were treated with a PC-9-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte by i.v. injection and/or with interleukin-2 by s.c. injection.
RESULTS: Cytotoxic T lymphocyte treatment suppressed PC-9 graft growth significantly an effect, significantly enhanced when combined with interleukin-2 injection. To evaluate the in vivo specificity of anti-PC-9 cytotoxic T lymphocytes, each mouse was subcutaneously inoculated in the right flank with PC-9, and in the left flank with A549 or Sq-1. Cytotoxic T lymphocytes plus interleukin-2 treatment was found to suppress PC-9 growth selectively, but not A549 or Sq-1 growth.
CONCLUSIONS: These results provide sufficient rationale for conducting further clinical trials on immunotherapy using cytotoxic T lymphocyte for lung cancer patients.