Local treatment with human recombinant interleukin 2 inhibits growth of MC-induced sarcomas in syngeneic mice.

In previous communications we have demonstrated that crude rat interleukin 2 and partially purified mouse interleukin 2 were capable of inhibiting growth of transplantable, MC-induced mouse sarcomas in syngeneic recipients. Here we report that repeated peritumoral injections of highly purified human recombinant interleukin 2 can inhibit growth of these mouse sarcomas and prolong survival of tumour-bearing mice. These findings taken together and the ready availability of high doses of recombinant human interleukin 2 substantiate our proposal for initiation of clinical trials using local administration of the interleukin 2 (Bubeník et al. 1983) in selected cancer patients.