Adoptive Transfer of Anti-Cd3-Activated Cd4(+) T Cells Plus Cyclophosphamide and Liposome-Encapsulated Interleukin-2 Cure Murine Mc-38 and 3ll Tumors and Establish Tumor-Specific Immunity

The infusion of anti-CD3-activated murine T cells plus interleukin-2 (IL-2) exerts antitumor effects against several tumors in murine immunotherapy models. This study compares the therapeutic efficacy of anti-CD3-activated CD4(+) or CD8(+) T-cell subsets, when given with cyclophosphamide (Cy) and liposome-encapsulated IL-2 (L-IL2) in a murine model. C57BL/6 mice bearing subcutaneous (SC) MC-38 colon adenocarcinoma, 3LL Lewis lung carcinoma, or 38C13 lymphoma for 7 to 14 days were pretreated with low-dose intraperitoneal (IF) Cy before intravenous (IV) injection of anti-CD3-activated T cells or T-cell subsets. Cell administration was followed by IP administration of L-IL2 for 5 days, Mice receiving activated CD4(+) T cells showed significantly reduced tumor growth or complete remissions with prolonged disease-free survival in MC-38, 3LL, and 38C13. The timing of Cy doses in relation to adoptive transfer was critical in obtaining the optimal antitumor effect by CD4+ cells, Injecting Cy 4 days before the infusion of CD4+ cells greatly enhanced the antitumor effect of the CD4(+) cells and improved survival of the mice compared with other Cy regimens. C57BL/6 mice cured of MC-38 after treatment with CD4+ T cells developed tumor-type immunologic memory as demonstrated by their ability to reject rechallenges with MC-38, but not 3LL. Similarly, mice cured of 3LL tumors rejected rechallenges of 3LL, but not MC-38. The immunologic memory could be transferred with an IV injection of splenocytes from mice cured of MC-38 or 3LL. No cytotoxic T-lymphocyte activity was detected in T cells or T-cell subsets from mice cured of MC-38 or 3LL. Increased IL-2 and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production was observed from CD4(+) subsets in cured animals when stimulated in vitro with the original tumor, but not with an unrelated syngeneic tumor. These results suggest that tumor-specific immunity can be achieved in vivo with anti-CD3-stimulated CD4(+) T cells in this cellular therapy model. [References: 28]

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