Depressed natural killer cell activity in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in vitro effects of interferon and levamisole

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Abstract
Enriched lymphocytes from patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma showed considerably reduced natural cytotoxicity against 2 established hepatoma cell lines [PLC/PRF/5 cells, Mahlavu cells] and against the [human] myelogenous [leukemia] derived cell line K562, compared to lymphocytes from normal volunteers or from patients with various nonmalignant liver diseases. The serum of hepatoma patients did not effect normal or patient NK cell activity. When lymphocytes from patients or controls were treated for 3 h with human leukocyte interferon, NK cell activity was significantly improved. Levamisole did not produce a significant increase in normal NK cytotoxicity but did improve the killing of lymphocytes from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.