In vitro production of a transfer factor specific for transitional-cell carcinoma of the bladder

Abstract

Human dialysable Transfer Factor (TFd) extracted from lymphocytes of patients with transitional cell carcinoma of bladder (TCCB) was replicated in culture by lymphoblastoid cell lines. The effectiveness of two such TFdLs produced in vitro in transferring sensitivity to TCCB was assessed in the lymphocyte migration test (LMT) using formalin-treated TCCB cells as antigen. The results, showed that one TFdL transferred sensitivity in 5/14 cases and the other in 12/15, not only to leucocytes of healthy individuals but also to leucocytes of TCCB patients. Preliminary results showing an in vivo transfer of sensitivity are discussed.

Transfer Factor in Virus-Associated Malignancies: An Underestimated Weapon in Prevention and Treatment of Cancer

“…Numerous studies have established that TF can transfer cell-mediated immunity from a person with documented CMI to someone lacking evidence of exposure and/or immunity to the antigen. But while the in vitro evidence for its effects is considerable, 12 and the clinical evidence, if less extensive, is still impressive, 12,34,37,40 skepticism because of the lack of significant progress in unraveling its molecular structure and fully understanding its mode of action has been growing. Yet, it is worth noting that no report has ever challenged the in vitro data or that of well controlled clinical or animal studies.…”

“…Since that time, TF preparations for clinical and experimental studies have been obtained by disrupting immune lymphocytes, dialyzing the lysates and using the dialyzed material for in vitro tests or in vivo clinical or animal studies. 12 TF should thus be defined as a dialysate obtained from the lymphocytes of an immune donor capable of transferring cell-mediated immunity (CMI) to a naïve human or animal recipient for a given antigenic specificity. Its activity can be assessed by skin tests in vivo, but also in vitro using assays such as the leukocyte migration inhibition (LMI), 13,14 lymphocyte stimulation (LS) 15,16 or cytotoxicity 17 tests.…”

“…Since the early 1970s, TF has been used more often than not successfully for the treatment of viral, parasitic, and fungal infections, as well as an adjuvant treatment in autoimmune, allergic and malignant disorders, and there're over one thousand reports pertaining to in vitro, animal and clinical research. 12 The fact that CMI plays a crucial role in the control of infectious, parasitic, and autoimmune diseases, as well as cancer appears to account for its success.…”

Soluble cell membrane antigens associated with bladder cancer

“…Whether this should be a specific or a nonspecific form of immunotherapy must be considered. Nonspecific active immunotherapy with intravesical BCG [35] is under study; the use of transfer factor extracted from lymphocytes of patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder [31] is under consideration; and an unusual form of adoptive immunotherapy has been reported [9]. Just as in the field of cancer chemotherapy, in the future there will probably be combined modalities employing different forms of immunotherapy either singly or in combination, to be used with traditional forms of therapy.…”

EFFECT OF IN VITRO PRODUCED TRANSFER FACTOR ON HODGKIN PATIENTS

“…It has been shown by Viza et al(1975) and Pizza et a1 (1976a) that unlimited amounts of specific dialysable transfer factor (TFd) may be produced after induction of certain lymphoblastoid cell lines with conventional TFd. The activity and antigenic speclficity of these lymphoblastoid cell dialysates (TFdL) has been tested in various instances by Pizza et al(1976bPizza et al( , 1977 both in uitro and in viuo for tumour antigens. Since it has previously been reported by Smith et al (1973), Ng et al (1975) and Khan et al (1975) that TFd from Hodgkin patients in remission or from household contacts may sensitize anergic Hodgkin patients in active phase, we have now used TFdL, produced by induction of lymphoblastoid cell lines with a pool of TFd from Hodgkin patients in remission (stages I and 11), to inject anergic Hodgkin patients.…”