Preliminary trial of specific targeting therapy against malignant glioma.

The results of specific targeting therapy by use of lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells treated with bispecific antibody in 10 patients with malignant glioma were compared with the results of therapy with untreated LAK cells in 10 other patients. Both treated and untreated cells were given locally. The bispecific antibody was an anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (mAb) chemically conjugated to anti-glioma mAb. Of the 10 patients given specific targeting therapy, 4 showed regression of tumour, and in another 4 patients computed tomography and histology suggested eradication of the glioma cells left behind after surgery. No recurrence was detected in the 10 to 18 months of follow-up. Patients receiving untreated LAK cells had recurrences within 1 year except in 1 case, and 8 patients died within 4 years. So far specific targeting therapy seems to be a new useful form of adoptive immunotherapy.