Granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor in acute non-lymphocytic leukaemia.
BACKGROUND
Granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is required to maintain and to regulate granulocyte and monocyte productions. It is potentially useful for accelerating and enhancing haemopoietic recovery and neutrophil function.


RESULTS
In acute non-lymphocytic leukaemia (ANLL) the dependence of blast cells on GM-CSF and its role in the development and maintenance of leukaemia are still poorly defined. In vitro exposure of fresh leukaemic blast cells to a wide range of concentrations of GM-CSF leads to a stimulation of cell proliferation in the majority of cases but does not induce any detectable maturation.


CONCLUSIONS
Granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor may be used in the management of ANLL and the myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) with the aim of: (i) accelerating the recovery of normal haemopoiesis; (ii) increasing cell killing by chemotherapy; and (iii) inducing cell maturation. Therefore the application of GM-CSF can potentially improve treatment outcome in ANLL and is worth testing in a clinical setting.
Department of Medical and Morphological Research, Udine University Hospital, Italy.
R
R
Fanin
M
M
Baccarani
D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006410:Hematopoiesis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009190:Myelodysplastic Syndromes / Q000188:drug therapy
D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor