Cytolysis of autologous fresh osteosarcoma cells by human cytotoxic T lymphocytes propagated with T cell growth factor.

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) against autologous fresh osteosarcoma cells were generated in mixed lymphocyte tumor culture (MLTC), and then were propagated and maintained for up to 19 days with culture medium containing T cell growth factor (TCGF). CTL generated with MLTC and propagated with TCGF (TCGF-CL) lysed fresh autologous osteosarcoma cells, but not autologous phytohemagglutinin-blastoid lymphocytes. More than 90% of the propagated lymphoblastoid cells were E-rosette forming cells. A subpopulation of TCGF-CL was Leu-2a positive and Leu-3a negative CTL. The cytotoxic activity to the autologous tumor detected by 51Cr release assay was not blocked by cold allogeneic tumor cells from 4 out of 5 patients tested. Human leukocyte antigen and chromosomes of TCGF-CL showed no abnormality.