Possible Application of Ascites-infiltrating Gamma-delta T Cells for Adoptive Immunotherapy

Background/Aim: Malignant ascites contain many tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes. gamma delta T cells with antitumour activity have attracted attention as effector cells in cancer immunotherapy. V delta(+)(2) T cells were cultured from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and ascites-infiltrating lymphocytes (AILs) to compare the differences in response to 2-methyl-3-butenyl-1-pyrophosphate (2M3B1-PP) and zoledronate (Zol) as antigens in vitro. Materials and Methods: To expand V delta(+)(2) T cells from PBMCs and AILs from 29 patients with cancer, these cells were cultured and subjected to analysis. Results: The proliferation rate of V delta(+)(2) T cells was higher in both PBMCs and AILs when cultured with Zol than with 2M3B1-PP. Although V delta(+)(2) T cells show a higher rate of expansion in AILs compared to PBMCs, the number of mixed tumour cells in ascites was decreased when cultured with Zol. Conclusion: V delta(+)(2) T cells in AILs are cytotoxic to tumour cells in ascites and may be considered in adoptive immunotherapy.