Rachel Stewart

Therapy of bovine ocular squamous-cell carcinoma with local doses of interleukin-2: 67% complete regressions after 20 months of follow-up

We have tested the therapeutic potency of peritumorally injected low doses of interleukin-2(IL-2). Seventy tumours of the bovine ocular squamous-cell carcinoma (BOSCC), 1–3 cm in diameter, were treated with 5000, 20 000 or 200 000 U IL-2 from Eurocetus (Chiron) to find the optimal dose for treatment. Injections were given peritumorally on Monday to Friday on 2 consecutive weeks. The size of the tumours was measured before treatment and 1, 3, 4, 9 and 20 months after treatment. After 9 months complete regression was observed in 89% of the tumours treated with 5000 U IL-2, 80% treated with 20 000 U and 67% treated with 200 000 U. After 20 months, there was complete regression of 35%, 31% and 67% of the tumours respectively. The 9-and 20-month results of the 200 000-U treatment are significantly better than those of the 5000-U and 20 000-U treatments taken together. This protocol may be useful to treat advanced inoperable tumours (e.g. of the nasopharynx or skin) of human patients.

Effective cancer therapy with a single injection of interleukin-2 at the site of the tumour

Abstract Mice with a severe metastasized tumour burden can be cured with a single local injection of interleukin-2. Such a treatment can also be effective against ocular squamous cell carcinoma in cows and transmissible venereal tumours in dogs. We did not notice any toxic effects of this treatment.

Treatment of ocular squamous cell carcinomas in cattle with interleukin-2

In total, 174 bovine ocular squamous cell carcinomas of varying sizes (20 to 2800 mm2 in area) were treated daily with peritumoural injections of solvent, or solvent containing 5000 U, 20,000 U, 200,000 U, 500,000 U, 1 million U or 2 million U interleukin-2 (il-2) for 10 days. The tumours were measured and clinically staged before treatment and at one, three, four, nine and 20 months after treatment. After 20 months, 14 per cent of the tumours treated with the solvent had regressed completely, a significantly smaller proportion than the 55 per cent treated with 5000 U il-2, 52 per cent treated with 20,000 U il-2, 58 per cent treated with 200,000 U il-2, 50 per cent treated with 500,000 U il-2, 69 per cent of tumours treated with 1 million U il-2, 52 per cent treated with 2 million U il-2. The tumours on the third eyelid and limbus were the most responsive.

Local interleukin-2 therapy of bovine vulval papilloma and carcinoma complex

BOVINE vulval papilloma and carcinoma complex (BVPCC) is a common disease in Bos taurus breeds of cattle kept at high altitude and high levels of solar radiation in Africa. It also occurs in other countries and continents with high levels of solar radiation, including Australia, Asia, the USA, and