Interleukin-2 (IL-2) in the treatment of malignant brain tumors (glioblastomas).

Abstract

The present study is aimed to provide a new possible approach to the treatment of glioblastomas, in an effort to control the extremely severe evolution of these tumors. Thus, from May 28, 1991, we started the administration of IL-2 (produced at the "Victor Babeş" Institute, Bucharest) in 9 glioblastoma patients (operated on at the Neurosurgery department VII of the "G. Marinescu" Hospital, Bucharest) by repeated intraoperative and postoperative local injections. The survival period from the first IL-2 administration was 7 months (1 case), 8 months (2 cases), 11 months (2 cases), 14 months (1 case) and 17 months (1 case). There are only 2 survivors: one 4 months and the other 23 months following the first injection of IL-2. The survivor whose condition 23 months following introduction of IL-2 therapy is very good, demonstrates that IL-2 offers some chance to these hopeless patients.