Lymphokine-activated killer cell
In cell biology, a lymphokine-activated killer cell (also known as a LAK cell) is a white blood cell that has been stimulated to kill tumor cells.[1] If lymphocytes are cultured in the presence of Interleukin 2, it results in the development of effector cells which are cytotoxic to tumor cells.[2]
Mechanism
It has been shown that lymphocytes, when exposed to Interleukin 2, are capable of lysing fresh, non-cultured cancer cells, both primary and metastatic.[3] LAK cells respond to these lymphokines, particularly IL-2, by lysing tumor cells that were already known to be resistant to NK cell activity.[4]
The mechanism of LAK cells is distinctive from that of natural killer cells because they can lyse cells that NK cells cannot.[4] LAK cells are also capable of acting against cells that do not display the major histocompatibility complex, as has been shown by the ability to cause lysis in non-immunogenic, allogeneic and syngeneic tumors.[4] LAK cells are specific to tumor cells and do not display activity against normal cells.[4]
Cancer Treatment
LAK cells, along with the administration of IL-2 have been experimentally used to treat cancer in mice and humans, but there is very high toxicity with this treatment.[5]
Notes and references
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<references />, or <references group="..." />External links
- Lymphokine-Activated Killer Cells at the US National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
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