Hepatic intra-arterial infusion of biological response modifier (BRM) -activated killer immune lymphocytes to treat liver cancer
Ebina, T.
Gan to Kagaku Ryoho. Cancer and ChemoTherapy 39(12): 1812-1814
2012
ISSN/ISBN: 0385-0684 PMID: 23267895 Document Number: 659488
To enable "life with cancer" while maintaining quality of life(QOL) and freedom from adverse effects, we have devised biological response modifier (BRM)-activated killer (BAK) therapy, a new immune cell therapy using CD56-positive lymphocytes designed to treat advanced solid cancers. This treatment is yet to be applied to liver cancer, because BAK cells administered by intravenous infusion are unlikely to reach lesions via the complex vascular and lymphatic systems. Here, we report a case in which the patient, a surgeon, requested that we attempt to deliver BAK cells to cancer lesions in the liver via hepatic intra-arterial infusion. In 2005, with the patient's consent, we injected autologous lymphocytes intra-arterially into the liver using a catheter and confirmed the absence of adverse effects. In December 2008, we began injecting BAK cells intra-arterially into the liver of the patient, a male physician aged 52 years at the time, after identifying liver metastases following surgery for rectal cancer. We injected 10 billion cells intra-arterially into the liver via a catheter once a month for 6 months, and then undertook conventional BAK therapy by monthly intravenous infusion. Based on images obtained by positron emission tomography-computed tomography, BAK therapy led to complete remission and disappearance of the liver metastases. This case highlights the effectiveness of hepatic intra-arterial infusion of BAK cells in cases of liver cancer.