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Impaired lymphocyte transformation in leukemic patients after intensive therapy
Author(s) -
Humphrey G. B.,
Nesbit M. E.,
Chary K. K. N.,
Krivit W.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(197202)29:2<402::aid-cncr2820290222>3.0.co;2-a
Subject(s) - medicine , lymphocyte , chemotherapy , leukemia , immunology , radiation therapy , lymphatic system , gastroenterology , oncology
Lymphocyte transformation was measured to assess immunologic competence in acute lymphatic leukemia. The in vitro lymphocyte transformation in response to pokeweed mitogen was studied in 3 groups of children: 1. 11 normal controls, 2. 9 leukemic children in remission who had not received intensive therapy, and 3. 9 leukemic children who had completed intensive x‐ray and chemotherapy. The responses of the first and second groups were similar. In the third group, lymphocyte transformation was impaired one month after all therapy had been discontinued in 8/9 patients. Six of these 9 patients were studied 2 months after cessation of therapy and the lymphocyte transformation was still impaired (6/6). Serial monthly studies in 3 patients demonstrated that this impaired transformation persisted for 3 months or longer. Intensive forms of chemotherapy‐radiotherapy used to treat acute lymphatic leukemia can cause prolonged impairment of lymphocyte transformation.