Enhanced anti-metastatic efficacy of IL-2 activated NK (A-NK) cells with novel benzothiazoles

Anticancer Res. 1999 May-Jun;19(3A):1663-7.

Abstract

We have previously shown that A-NK cells when locoregionally administered accumulate within established cancer metastases and establish direct contact with both tumor cells and microvascular endothelial cells. Nevertheless, the accumulation of adoptively transferred A-NK cells into established cancer metastases is not sufficient for therapeutic efficacy in the B16 melanoma model. We have therefore attempted to enhance the anti-metastatic therapeutic efficacy of adoptively transferred A-NK cells with standard anticancer chemotherapeutic agents. We have found that chemoimmunotherapy with A-NK cells plus cyclophosphamide to be more effective than A-NK cell adoptive immunotherapy alone. We have now built on these findings, by examining the ability of novel biologic response modifiers (low molecular weight benzothiazole compounds) to augment adoptive immunotherapy with A-NK cells. Two compounds KB-R4107 (4-methoxy-2-(4-t-butylphenyl)benzothiazole) and KB-R4250 (4-methoxy-2-(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)benzothiazole) enhanced reduction of B16 melanoma pulmonary metastases mediated by A-NK cell adoptive immunotherapy. Both compounds were administered for 5 days prior to administration of A-NK cells at 100 mg/kg p.o. All experimental groups initially contained at least 7 animals and were examined for tumor burden on day 10. With B16 melanoma cells administered on day 0 and A-NK cells administered on Day 4, KB-R4107 and KB-R4250 yielded on average a 64% and 52% reduction in metastatic burden, respectively compared to an average 17% reduction using A-NK cells alone. In contrast these compounds did not diminish metastatic burden when administered alone. KB-R4107 and KB-R4250 are therefore low molecular weight, heterocyclic, biological response modifiers which can augment the anti-metastatic therapeutic effect of adoptively transferred A-NK cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Benzothiazoles
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Immunologic Factors / pharmacology
  • Immunologic Factors / therapeutic use*
  • Immunotherapy, Adoptive*
  • Interleukin-2 / pharmacology*
  • Kidney / pathology
  • Killer Cells, Natural / drug effects*
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology
  • Liver / pathology
  • Liver Neoplasms / prevention & control
  • Liver Neoplasms / secondary
  • Lung / pathology
  • Lung Neoplasms / prevention & control
  • Lung Neoplasms / secondary
  • Melanoma, Experimental / prevention & control
  • Melanoma, Experimental / secondary
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Molecular Structure
  • Neoplasm Metastasis / prevention & control*
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Organ Size / drug effects
  • Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms
  • Thiazoles / chemistry
  • Thiazoles / pharmacology
  • Thiazoles / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • 4-methoxy-2-(4-t-butylphenyl)benzothiazole
  • 4-methoxy-2-(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)benzothiazole
  • Benzothiazoles
  • Immunologic Factors
  • Interleukin-2
  • Thiazoles