Hepatic arterial administration of activated leukocytes in patients with liver metastases.

Background: Liver is the most common site of metastatic disease. Hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) of cytotoxic drugs may achieve high objective response rate. Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were obtained by leukapheresis after stimulation with subcutaneous GM-CSF in six patients and with subcutaneous interleukin-2 (IL-2) in four patients, all with nonresectable hepatic metastases not responsive to conventional regimens. After the cytokine stimulation, the cells were administered by HAI either alone, or after HAI of melphalan (50 mg). Results: Mean number of 23.1 ± 4.6 × 109 and 19.0 ± 9.7 × 109 mononuclear cells were obtained through leukapheresis after GM-CSF and IL-2 priming, respectively. Significant cytotoxic activity was observed only after short IL-2 stimulation. A marked decrease in tumor markers was observed in two patients treated by combination of melphalan and activated leukocytes. Conclusions: HAI is a technically feasible way of regional delivery of a high number of activated leuk...