Combination nonviral interleukin 2 gene therapy and external-beam radiation therapy for head and neck cancer.
Publication/Presentation Date
6-1-2003
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To demonstrate that the combination of nonviral murine interleukin 2 (mIL-2) gene therapy and external-beam radiation therapy (XRT) have an enhanced therapeutic effect for the treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) in an orthotopic murine model and to elucidate the mechanism of action.
METHODS: Randomized, controlled studies in the murine orthotopic model of HNSCC. Squamous cell carcinoma VII cells were injected into the floor of the mouth to establish tumors in immunocompetent mice. The intervention groups were treated with mIL-2, radiation therapy, empty plasmid, no treatment, combination mIL-2/XRT, and combination empty plasmid/XRT. Nonviral mIL-2 gene transfer was performed on days 5 and 9. The XRT was administered to the assigned groups 24 hours after first mIL-2 delivery. The mice were killed on day 13. Tumors and local lymph nodes were harvested and evaluated. Primary and secondary cytokine expression, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte activity, and apoptosis were assayed.
RESULTS: The combination mIL-2/XRT demonstrated a significant increase in antitumor effects compared with single therapy or controls. Increased expression levels of primary and secondary cytokines were found in the group treated with mIL-2, and this effect was preserved when mIL-2 treatment was combined with XRT. Combination therapy significantly increased apoptosis compared with monotherapy.
CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrates that combination mIL-2/XRT generates potent antitumor immune responses and significantly increases apoptosis in an orthotopic murine model of HNSCC. Further optimization of this strategy is warranted as well as consideration for human clinical trials.
Volume
129
Issue
6
First Page
618
Last Page
622
ISSN
0886-4470
Published In/Presented At
Bray, D., Yu, S. Z., Koprowski, H., 2nd, Rhee, J., Kumar, S., Pericle, F., Suntharalingam, M., Van Echo, D. A., Li, D., & O'Malley, B. W., Jr (2003). Combination nonviral interleukin 2 gene therapy and external-beam radiation therapy for head and neck cancer. Archives of otolaryngology--head & neck surgery, 129(6), 618–622. https://doi.org/10.1001/archotol.129.6.618
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
PubMedID
12810463
Department(s)
Department of Medicine, Division of Otolaryngology, Department of Surgery
Document Type
Article