title: In vivo biological response following low-dose interleukin-2 in complete remission B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients. Italian Lymphoma Study Group (GISL).
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vecchi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cavanna
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Avanzini
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Callea
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Velardi
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Albi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tartoni
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bensi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Valentini
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Longo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sacchi
mesh_terms: D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D004804:Eosinophils; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015979:Killer Cells, Lymphokine-Activated / Q000276:immunology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012074:Remission Induction
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins