Immune modulation in cancer patients after adoptive transfer of anti-CD3/anti-CD28-costimulated T cells - Phase I clinical trial

Anti-CD3/anti-CD28 monoclonal antibody-coactivated T cells (COACTs) proliferate, secrete tumoricidal cytokines, and mediate non-major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-restricted cytotoxicity. This phase I study was done to determine the safety. maximum tolerated dose, technical limits of expansion, and modulation of immune functions in cancer patients given COACTs. Coactivated T cells were produced by stimulating peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCS) with OKT3 anti-CD3 and 9.3 (anti-CD28)-coated beads in the presence of 100 IU interleukin (IL)-2 per milliliter for 14 days. The beads were removed after 4 days of culture. Ten courses of COACTs were given to eight patients with renal cell (1), ovarian (2), breast (1), and colorectal (4) carcinomas; two patients received two courses of COACTs. Patients were given up to 10 x 10(9) COACTs twice a week for 3 weeks without dose-limiting toxicities. Patients at the first and second dose levels received a mean total of 17.6 and 42.4 x 10(9) COACTs, respectively. After 14 days of culture, the COACTs contained a mean of 57.5% CD4(+) cells and 42.5% CD8(+) cells. exhibited non-MHC-restricted cytotoxicity. and produced significant amounts of interferon (IFN)-gamma, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Infusions were safe and induced measurable serum levels of IFN-gamma, TNF alpha, and IL-4 in two patients. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients who received COACTs secreted higher amounts of IFN-gamma and GM-CSF on in vitro anti-CD3/anti-CD28 restimulation than PBMCs obtained before immunotherapy. The detection of cytokines in patient sera and enhanced in vitro production of cytokines by anti-CD3/anti-CD28-stimulated patient PBMCs after COACT infusions suggest that COACTs were modulating immune responses in cancer patients.