Steel, JC ORCiD: 0000-0003-3608-7542Introduction. Interleukin-15 (IL-15), a member of the 4-α-helix
bundle family of cytokines is a powerful activator and inducer of
maturation of both NK and CD8+ cytolytic T cells. It also activates
and expands CD8+ T memory cell populations without stimulating
immunosuppressive CD4+CD25+ T-regulatory cells. This suggests
that IL-15 may be useful as an immunotherapy for the treatment of
cancer. In a phase I clinical trial, infusions of recombinant human
IL-15 achieved tumor regressions; however, treatment was associated
with a systemic inflammatory response syndrome.†
In an effort to
enhance antitumor activity and reduce systemic side effects, we
studied an approach using a vaccine enriched for cancer stem cells
(CSCs) genetically altered to express murine (m) IL-15 and its receptor
(mIL-15Ralpha)
