In vitro evaluation of the immunological response in colon cancer patients: effects of IL-2, IL-4 and anti-CD3MoAb

In cancer patients it is important to assess the immunological condition and to establish the best method to stimulate the most specific response of the immune system against the tumor. Our laboratory began an in vitro study which included the evaluation of the proliferative and cytotoxic responses of peripheral blood mymphocytes (PBL) from colon cancer patients, treated with a combination of cytokines, and the possible changes in the serum levels of various cytokines due to the neoplastic disease. The proliferative responses were tested on the PBL stimulated with cytokines various combined. the cytotoxic activity against the K562 and Daudi cell lines was assayed in patients by chromium-51 release assay.