New Cancer Immunotherapy Using Autologous Lymphocytes Activated with Trastuzumab

Abstract

It is well known that trastuzumab (TTZ) is molecular target drug for breast cancer overexpressing human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). Novel immunotherapy by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) activated with TTZ were examined. Proliferation of lymphocytes after adding of TTZ was obtained. Furthermore, lymphocytes activated with TTZ inhibited growth of breast cancer cells in vitro. It is noteworthy that remarkably high cellular cytotoxicity in lymphocytes activated with TTZ compared with that of CD3- and lymphokine (interleukin (IL)2)-activated killer (CD3-LAK) cells commonly used in immunotherapy were revealed.