[The intralymphatic administration of adoptive immunotherapy (LAK) in the treatment of patients with metastatic cancer and resistant to conventional therapies. Apropos 50 patients].
Between January 1990 to December 1993, we administered LAK immunotherapy using intralymphatic route to 50 patients with metastatic cancer resistant to conventional therapies. In the preparations of the immunotherapy, followed the technique described by Pizza G. et al. The age of our patients ranged between 50 to 75 years and their Karnosfsky's indexes were above 70%. The histological type of the metastasis was determined by cytology and the size by Rx, ECO and/or TAC before and after the administration of the immunotherapy. In the intralymphatic administration, we followed the technique described by Pizza G. et al. The immunological therapy was administrated on days 1, 21, 90 and 111 and the clinical responses were assessed by RC, RP, SD and F. The immunological behaviour of the host was assessed through the determination of lymphoid populations (CD2, CD3, CD4, CD5 and CD8) and natural killer cells were studied with monoclonal antibodies CD3 and CD16. Such immunological study was carried out before the administration of each immunotherapy series. In 12 out of 50 patients (24%), we were able to administer the four LAK series. Such patients were subsequently studied, observing that although tumoral lesions did not increase in size, they did not disappear and, thus, they were classified as clinical stables. Clinical and analytical toxicity were null. The immunological study showed changes in immunological parameters, however these changes were not statistically significant.