In vivo biological response following low-dose interleukin-2 in complete remission B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients. Italian Lymphoma Study Group (GISL).
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.
Vecchi
A
A
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Modena, Italy.
Cavanna
L
L
Avanzini
P
P
Callea
V
V
Velardi
A
A
Albi
N
N
Tartoni
P
P
Bensi
L
L
Valentini
P
P
Longo
R
R
Sacchi
S
S
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
D016207:Cytokines; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins