Cytokines in the pathophysiology and treatment of chronic B-cell malignancies. A review.
Chronic B-cell malignancies are characterized by accumulation of transformed B cells of low proliferative index in lymphatic and extralymphatic tissues. Cytokines do not appear to play a role in the primary step of transformation. However, proliferation as well as inhibition of apoptosis of malignant B cells can readily be explained by cytokine effects. Clinical trials of interferons (IFN) and interleukin-2 alone or in combination have been performed in patients with hairy cell leukemia (HCL), CLL, and low- and intermediate-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. While IFN alpha became standard therapy of HCL, responses in other entities were variable, ranging from 0 to 70% in selected populations. Combination of IFN and cytotoxic chemotherapy in general revealed no additional benefit as compared to chemotherapy alone. Perspectives for future clinical testing of cytokines in low-grade B-cell lymphomas are discussed.
Schuler
M
M
Department of Medicine III, Johannes Gutenberg University Hospital, Mainz, Germany.
Huber
C
C
Peschel
C
C
D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D007943:Leukemia, Hairy Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology
D016207:Cytokines