Erythropoiesis in cancer patients undergoing immunotherapy.
We studied ten patients with various types of cancer who were being treated with Interleukin-2 (IL-2) and lymphokine activated killer cells (LAK). All patients developed a reticulocytopenic, normochromic, normocytic anemia. We noted some variability but no significant suppression of circulating erythroid progenitors. The levels of erythropoietin were lower than expected for the hemoglobin/hematocrit values. We could not detect Interferon or Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) in the serum of these patients; however, the supernatant of LAK cells did contain Interferon and TNF which could be neutralized with appropriate antibodies. These results suggest that the etiology of this anemia is multi-factorial. Administration of recombinant erythropoietin (Ep) may be of benefit in some of these patients.
Ascensao
J L
JL
Department of Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington.
Liu
S J
SJ
Caro
J
J
Podack
E
E
Mittelman
A
A
Zanjani
E D
ED
Zhao
Y L
YL
D000740:Anemia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000209:etiology; D015672:Erythroid Precursor Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D004920:Erythropoiesis; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000494:pharmacology; D006410:Hematopoiesis; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation*; D007964:Leukocytosis / Q000209:etiology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
D007376:Interleukin-2; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D004921:Erythropoietin; D007371:Interferon-gamma