A non randomized pilot study has been undertaken to evaluate the feasibility of local immunotherapy (IT) of recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (GM) by continuous intracerebral perfusion of recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2, Eurocetus) with and without lymphokine activated killer (LAK) cells. At time of surgical removal of the tumor, a catheter was implanted in the cavity left by tumor debulking allowing continuous perfusion of rIL-2. Five patients received 18 x 10(6) IU/day or rIL-2 for five days. At days 1, 3, and 5 after surgery, rIL-2 perfusion was briefly interrupted for the injection of LAK cells. Eight other patients received rIL-2 alone, either 24 x 10(6) IU/day (five patients) or 54 x 10(6) IU/day (three patients). Capillary leak syndrome, which is the main side effect of systemic infusion of rIL-2, was never observed, but local immunotherapy induced fever, confusion, and cerebral edema in all patients. Despite local IT, tumor progression was diagnosed by CT scan 4 to 12 weeks after the treatment.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Lymphocytes HLA antigens expressivity after neuraminidase treatment (author's transl)].

Neuraminidase treatment of lymphoid cells increases the cytotoxic action of antibodies and complement on these cells. We have studied the action of 25 human alloantisera on lymphocytes of 26 healthy subjects by the Trypan blue lymphocytotoxicity technic, before and after neuraminidase treatment of cells. The results show, as a rule, an increased cytotoxicity of sera, with a higher titer and/or a more important number of positive cells. In some sera a specific cytotoxic activity is found only with neuraminidase treated cells. The antibodies often reveal an anti-HLA specificity: that specificity was previously known in the serum or, in several cases, has been found only with neuraminidase treated cells. But in some cases the new specificity does not seem to be related to the HLA system. Different hypotheses are discussed in order to explain these results and the action of neuraminidase on membranes; lastly, applications of our neuraminidase treatment method to practical problems are presented.

Antibody Specificity↗