Method of cancer treatment

Abstract

Treatment of solid tumors, including their metastases, without radiation, surgery or standard chemotherapeutic agents is described. Ex vivo stimulation of cells, selection of specific Vβ subsets of stimulated cells and reinfusion of the Vβ subsets of stimulated cells is employed for cancer therapy.

1 . A method for inducing a tumoricidal reaction in vivo comprising contacting cells with superantigens ex vivo, selecting a specific Vβ subset of stimulated cells and infusing them into a tumor-bearing host.  
     
     
         2 . A method of human cancer treatment comprising: 
 a) providing a human cancer patient;    b) obtaining hematopoietic cells from said patient;    c) contacting said cells ex vivo with one or more superantigens to generate stimulated cells;    d) selecting a specific Vβ subset of said cells; and    e) re-introducing said Vβ subset of cells into said patient so as to induce an in vivo therapeutic, tumoricidal reaction.    
     
     
         3 . A reagent for treating cancer, comprising a specific Vβ subset of T cells sensitized to a growing tumor and stimulated with superantigens.  
     
     
         4 . A method of human cancer treatment comprising: 
 a) providing a human cancer patient;    b) obtaining hematopoietic cells from said patient;    c) contacting said cells ex vivo with one or more superantigens to generate stimulated cells;    d) depleting a specific Vβ subset of said cells said Vβ subset having suppressor effects on tumoricidal activity; and    e) re-introducing said stimulated cells depleted of said Vβ subset into said patient so as to induce an in vivo therapeutic, tumoricidal reaction.