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Abraham Mittelman, MD; Zalmen A. Arlin, MD; E. Podack, MD
New York Medical College Valhalla

JAMA. 1987;257(13):1729-1730.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

To the Editor.—

In the Dec 12 issue of JAMA, Lotze et al¹ described the National Cancer Institute's experience with high-dose recombinant interleukin 2 (IL-2) therapy without lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells in patients with advanced melanoma and colon and ovarian carcinoma. This trial demonstrated antitumor activity of recombinant IL-2 alone in patients with malignant melanoma, but it was associated with considerable toxicity. In the same issue, Dr Moertel² stated that IL-2 therapy as administered in these studies is associated with unacceptably severe toxicity and astronomical costs. These are not balanced by any persuasive evidence of true net therapeutic gain. This specific treatment approach would not seem to merit further application in the compassionate management of patients with cancer.

He suggested that general use is not justified. We agree that recombinant IL-2-LAK therapy as practiced by Rosenberg et al³ and as adopted by six other centers funded by . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

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