INTRATUMORAL INJECTION OF OK432 AND LYMPHOKINE-ACTIVATED KILLER ACTIVITY IN PERIPHERAL-BLOOD OF PATIENTS WITH HEPATOCELLULAR-CARCINOMA

Lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) activity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 33 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma was significantly decreased compared with that of healthy volunteers. There was less LAK activity in PBMC from patients with large tumours (5 cm or more in diameter) than in patients with smaller tumours (under 5 cm in diameter). In 8 out of 20 patients with larger tumours there was none or little LAK activity. Flow cytometry revealed that the percentage of Leu11b+ cells in PBMC was lower in patients than in normal volunteers, and was lowest in patients with larger tumours. 10 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma were treated with intratumoral injection of OK432. LAK activity was enhanced after treatment in 7 cases, and the percentage of Leu11b+ cells was increased. Enhancement of LAK activity in response to OK432 was more significant in patients with smaller rather than large tumours. Of the 7 high LAK responders, 4 showed 50-100% tumour regression at 6-9 weeks after injection.