# IN VIVO EFFECTS OF RECOMBINANT HUMAN INTERLEUKIN

> **NIH NIH R01** · TUFTS MEDICAL CENTER · 1987 · $189,000

## Abstract

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) has been shown to enhance natural cell-mediated
cytotoxicity and other cellular immune functions in vitro and in vivo.  The
gene for the human lymphokine has been cloned, and recombinant IL-2 is now
available for clinical trials.  In the proposed investigation, recombinant
IL-2 will be administered by intravenous injection to patients with
advanced refractory malignancies in order to determine its effect on
cellular immunity, its toxicity, and its potential as an antineoplastic
agent.  The aberrant amino acid sequence of the Interleukin-2 to be used in
clinical trials and other properties of the molecule have raised the
possibility that IL-2 may be immunogenic, and serum from recipient patients
will be monitored for the development of anti-IL-2 antibodies with a
sensitive ELISA.  Moreover, a series of experiments using an adsorbed
affinity-purified neutralizing rabbit anti-IL-2 antiserum is proposed to
determine the biological significance of such antibodies in humans.  The
association between IL-2 and the acute phase response will be documented
and correlated with the dose of IL-2 administered.  The mechanism by which
high doses of IL-2 cause fever in humans and the role of IL-2 in the
induction of IL-1 and prostaglandin E2 synthesis will be investigated.  The
relationship between the induction of the acute phase response and changes
in cellular immune function will be studied and correlated with IL-2 dose
and tumor response, if any, is observed.  This proposal represents a
comprehensive investigation of the in vivo effects of this potent
biological response modifier which will delineate its potential role in the
management of patients with immunodeficiency and neoplastic diseases.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3178525
- **Project number:** 5R01CA039489-03
- **Recipient organization:** TUFTS MEDICAL CENTER
- **SAM.gov UEI:** MY2ERHGDV956
- **Principal Investigator:** JAMES W MIER
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $189,000
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1985-06-01 → 1989-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3178525

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3178525, IN VIVO EFFECTS OF RECOMBINANT HUMAN INTERLEUKIN (5R01CA039489-03). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3178525. Licensed CC0.

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