Selective cytotoxic activity of cyclosporins against tumor cells from patients with B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
A fluorometric microculture cytotoxicity assay was employed for the study of cyclosporin A induced cytotoxicity in tumor samples from patients with B type chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL). Tumor cells from patients with B-CLL were found to be significantly more sensitive to the cytotoxic actions of cyclosporin A than normal blood mononuclear cells and tumor cells obtained from patients with different types of acute leukemia and solid tumors. The effect of cyclosporin A on B-CLL samples could be reproduced by a non-immunosuppressive cyclosporin A analogue. One B-CLL patient treated with cyclosporin A responded with a significant decrease in tumor mass and alleviation of anemia and B symptoms. The results show that cyclosporin A and its non-immunosuppressive analogues appear selectively toxic to B-CLL cells, an observation which may have clinical implications.
Larsson
R
R
Division of Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital, Uppsala University, Sweden.
Jonsson
B
B
Csoka
K
K
Kristensen
J
J
Nilsson
K
K
Nygren
P
P
D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D016572:Cyclosporine