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In vivo biological response following low‐dose interleukin‐2 in complete remission B‐cell non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma patients
Author(s) -
Vecchi Angela,
Cavanna Luigi,
Avanzini Paolo,
Callea Vincenzo,
Velardi Andrea,
Albi Nicola,
Tartoni Pierluigi,
Bensi Laura,
Valentini Paola,
Longo Rosina,
Sacchi Stefano
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
european journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1600-0609
pISSN - 0902-4441
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0609.1996.tb00486.x
Subject(s) - lymphoma , in vivo , medicine , non hodgkin's lymphoma , interleukin 2 , complete remission , complete response , oncology , cancer research , immunology , chemotherapy , cytokine , biology , genetics
The aim of the present study is to verify whether recombinant interleukin‐2 (rIL‐2) at low doses is well tolerated in aggressive lymphoma in complete remission (CR), and if there may be a biological justification for its use as a remission‐maintenance therapy able to reduce the percentage of relapses. We treated 6 patients with B‐cell non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma (B‐NHL) in CR following PM‐Cytabom with rIL‐2 3 IMU s.c. x 5 d per wk, every other wk for 8 wk. Our results show that this treatment provokes statistically significant changes in the absolute number of lymphocytes, eosinophils, CD25+ and CD122+ cells and soluble IL‐2 receptors; these doses, however, are not sufficient to modify CD3+, CD16+ and CD56+ cell values or natural killer and lymphokine activated killer cell activity. Thus these findings do not appear to constitute a biological rationale for the use of rIL‐2 at this dose and schedule as a remission‐maintenance therapy in B‐cell NHL. Nevertheless, the results are a valid basis for further study of the use of the same rIL‐2 doses for a longer period of time in combination with other cytokines, in the hope that the biological effects can be augmented without increasing the toxic side effects.