Artificial-capillary-system development of human alloreactive cytotoxic T-lymphocytes that lyse brain tumours.

The production of alloreactive cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL) for therapy of recurrent brain tumours was performed in the CELLMAX artificial capillary system composed of cell-culture modules containing cellulose acetate or cuprammonium rayon hollow fibres. Lymphocytes, obtained from the brain-tumour patient to be used for sensitization, were stimulated with OKT3 (anti-CD3) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) and inoculated into the extracapillary space of artificial capillary modules. For allogeneic CTL production, the expanded patient lymphocytes were harvested, irradiated and placed into a second artificial capillary system with allogeneic lymphocytes from a healthy donor. In a one-way mixed lymphocyte reaction, CTL developed in the presence of low-concentration IL-2 (60 i.u. of IL-2/ml). In 18-21 days the cell preparation usually displayed a predominantly CD3+, CD8+ phenotype, which consorted with the dual-labelled CD8/CD11a markers used to identify CTL. Chromium (Cr)-release assays demonstrated lysis of patient tumour in relation to allogeneic glioma; the response observed in cold-target-inhibition assays confirmed lysis of the relevant tumour by the CTL.