In vitro and in vivo effects of cisplatin on the generation of lymphokine-activated killer cells

Pretreatment of human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) with cisplatin (CDDP) before in vitro culture with interleukin-2 (IL-2) inhibited the generation of lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells and strongly inhibited proliferation. This inhibition was dose dependent, was significant only at concentrations greater than 6 microM, and it required exposure to the drug for more than 1 hour. This period of IL-2 unresponsiveness was maximum at 6 hours, but was spontaneously recovered within 24-48 hours and was more rapidly restored by increasing dosages of IL-2. Because inhibition of the generation of LAK cells by CDDP was observed only at relatively high levels of exposure to the drug (greater than 6 microM for greater than 1 hr), it was important that we explore the in vivo significance of these findings. The peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients bearing ovarian adenocarcinoma collected 1 hour after an iv infusion of 50 mg of CDDP/m2 were not inhibited, compared with those collected immediately before therapy. Relatively high levels of exposure to CDDP are required for inhibition of the generation of new cytotoxic effectors, most likely because of its antiproliferative effect. These results may bear relevance to approaches involving the combined use of CDDP and IL-2-LAK.