BACKGROUND - Current therapies for advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) have low cure rates or significant side effects. It has been reported that complexes composed of interleukin (IL)-2 and stimulating anti-IL-2 antibody (IL-2C) suppress malignant melanoma growth.
We investigated whether it could have similar effects on RCC.
METHODS - A syngeneic RCC model was established by subcutaneously injecting RENCA cells into BALB/c mice, which were administered IL-2C or phosphate-buffered saline every other day for 4 weeks. RCC size was measured serially, and its weight was assessed 4 weeks after RENCA injection. Immune cell infiltration into RCC lesions and spleen was assessed by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry.
RESULTS - IL-2C treatment increased the numbers of CD8(+) memory T and natural killer (NK) cells in healthy BALB/c mice (P < 0. 01). In the spleen of RCC mice, IL-2C treatment also increased the number of CD8(+) memory T, NK cells, and macrophages as compared to PBS-treated controls (P < 0. 01). The number of interferon-γ- and IL-10-producing splenocytes increased and decreased, respectively after 4 weeks in the IL-2C-treated mice (P < 0. 01). Tumor-infiltrating immune cells including CD4(+) T, CD8(+) T, NK cells as well as macrophages were increased in IL-2C-treated mice than controls (P < 0. 05). Pulmonary edema, the most serious side effect of IL-2 therapy, was not exacerbated by IL-2C treatment. However, IL-2C had insignificant inhibitory effect on RCC growth (P = 0. 1756).
CONCLUSIONS - IL-2C enhanced immune response without significant side effects; however, this activity was not sufficient to inhibit RCC growth in a syngeneic, murine model.
BMC urology. 2016 Jan 16*** epublish ***
Kyu-Hyun Han, Ki Won Kim, Ji-Jing Yan, Jae-Ghi Lee, Eun Mi Lee, Miyeon Han, Eun Jin Cho, Seong Sik Kang, Hye Jin Lim, Tai Yeon Koo, Curie Ahn, Jaeseok Yang
Transplantation Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Nephrology clinic, Center for Clinical Specialty, National Cancer Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Transplantation Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Transplantation Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Transplantation Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Transplantation Center, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-744, Republic of Korea. Transplantation Center, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-744, Republic of Korea. Transplantation Center, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-744, Republic of Korea. Transplantation Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Transplantation Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.