Adoptive immunotherapy administered via the hepatic artery and intralesional interleukin-2 in hepatocellular carcinoma.

We assessed the feasibility of using lymphokine-activated killer cells (adoptive immunotherapy) with infusions of interleukin-2 when given regionally in three patients with unresectable primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC). In 2 patients, 2 cycles, which included a bolus of LAK (10(7) to 10(8) cells followed by a 4-hourly infusion of IL-2 were administered via selective arterial catheterization of the hepatic artery. One further patient received 3 cycles of IL-2 alone by direct intralesional and perilesional injections.