Synergy of radiation therapy and immunotherapy in murine renal cell carcinoma

• Published in: The Journal of urology Vol. 148; no. 4; p. 1331
• Main Authors: Dybal, E J, Haas, G P, Maughan, R L, Sud, S, Pontes, J E, Hillman, G G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.10.1992
• Subjects: Animals; Carcinoma, Renal Cell - mortality; Carcinoma, Renal Cell - radiotherapy; Carcinoma, Renal Cell - secondary; Carcinoma, Renal Cell - therapy; Combined Modality Therapy; Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; Female; Immunotherapy; Interleukin-2 - therapeutic use; Kidney Neoplasms - mortality; Kidney Neoplasms - pathology; Kidney Neoplasms - radiotherapy; Kidney Neoplasms - therapy; Killer Cells, Lymphokine-Activated; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Survival Rate; Whole-Body Irradiation
• ISSN: 0022-5347; 1527-3792
• DOI: 10.1016/S0022-5347(17)36903-3

The treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma with immunotherapy has resulted in objective anti-tumor responses in 15-30% of patients. To enhance the therapeutic effects of immunotherapy, it is becoming evident that this approach should be combined with other treatment modalities. In this study, a spontaneously metastasizing murine renal adenocarcinoma (Renca), transplanted under the renal capsule, was treated with either radiation therapy, immunotherapy or a combination of both. In order to distinguish between the local and systemic effects of radiation therapy, total body irradiation was compared to irradiation of the tumor-bearing kidney only, or irradiation of the whole mouse with the tumor-bearing kidney shielded. Immunotherapy was administered with interleukin-2 (IL-2) alone or with IL-2 and lymphokine activated killer (LAK) cells. Combined radiation and immunotherapy induced a better anti-tumor response than either modality alone. The best response was obtained by local tumor irradiation and IL-2 therapy and resulted in a significant reduction in primary tumor size, elimination of lung metastases and a significant increase in survival.