Brain Tumor Surgery | Immunotherapy
| Overview |
Procedures | Results
Dr. Christopher Duma - Hoag Memorial Hospital Clinical Experience with Immunotherapy
In the early 1990s, researchers experimented with
Interleukin-2 (IL-2) -activated lymphocytes and their in vivo effect on
human brain tumors. Some results were excellent, but toxicities could be
high. IL-2 is a "cytokine" -
a type of chemical messenger which can enhance the immune response
toward a foreign antigen (such as a tumor cell).
It was discovered that many cytokines may be automatically
produced when two unlike, foreign, white blood cells come in contact. Thus,
mixing the patients white blood cells with those of an unrelated donor, and
allowing them to incubate in the lab for three days causes enhanced production
of at least 7 different cytokines.
Mixture of host and donor lymphocytes
causing the production of cytokines and the
targeting of a tumor cell.
If these are placed in the tumor
bed at the time of a tumor resection, presumably this "angry" white
cell mixture can break the immunosuppressive barrier that Glioblastoma
Multiforme and Anaplastic Astrocytomas inherently have, and enable
the hosts own immune system to "seek and destroy" the abnormal
tumor cells. This is called a Mixed Lymphocyte Culture or MLC.
The mixed Lymphocyte Culture three days after incubation,
and their instillation into the tumor bed at the time of surgery
Brain Tumor Surgery | Immunotherapy | Overview | Procedures | Results
For consultation appointments with Dr. Duma or
for more information regarding his brain tumor, GammaKnife radiosurgery,
and Parkinson's Disease programs at Hoag Memorial Presbyterian Hospital
in Newport Beach, California (Orange County), please contact:
949-642-6787
Or E-mail Dr. Duma directly: drduma@cduma.com
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