Keyhole limpet hemocyanin potentiates standard immunotherapy for melanoma.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Our hypothesis was that keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) would augment the effects of standard immunotherapies for melanoma including interferon-alpha (AIFN) and interleukin (IL)-2.

METHODS:

The HTB68 melanoma cell line was treated with KLH, AIFN, and IL-2 as single and combined agents. Cell viability, apoptotic activity, and vascular endothelial growth factor levels were all evaluated.

RESULTS:

Cell growth was reduced with KLH (28%), AIFN (54%), and IL-2 (29%) (all P < .001). KLH and IL-2 combined exhibited a 47% inhibition of cell growth, whereas KLH and AIFN combined yielded a 67% reduction in cell growth (both P < .001). KLH and AIFN combined significantly increased both early (10%) and late (14%) apoptotic activity compared with controls (5% and 7%, P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS:

The additive effects exhibited by the combination of KLH with AIFN or IL-2 are encouraging and support combination therapy as an effective treatment for this aggressive disease.

• Authors: David W McFadden, Dale R Riggs, Barbara J Jackson, Alex Ng, Cynthia Cunningham
• Journal: American journal of surgery (Am J Surg) Vol. 193 Issue 2 Pg. 284-7 (Feb 2007) ISSN: 1879-1883 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 17236863 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Adjuvants, Immunologic
• Antineoplastic Agents
• Interferon-alpha
• Interleukin-2
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
• Hemocyanins
• keyhole-limpet hemocyanin

Topics

• Adjuvants, Immunologic (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Antineoplastic Agents (therapeutic use)
• Apoptosis (drug effects)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Cell Proliferation (drug effects)
• Cell Survival (drug effects)
• Drug Synergism
• Hemocyanins (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Immunotherapy
• Interferon-alpha (therapeutic use)
• Interleukin-2 (therapeutic use)
• Melanoma (drug therapy, metabolism)
• Skin Neoplasms (drug therapy, metabolism)
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (biosynthesis)