Characterization and sensitivity to interleukin 2 and interferon alpha of leukemic cells from a patient with large granular lymphocytic leukemia associated with chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection.
A patient presented with chronic large granular lymphocyte leukemia associated with chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection (CAEBV). Cell cycle analysis revealed a minimal growth compatible with chronic lymphocytic leukemia After 5 months of treatment, the patient died from acute transformation of the leukemia. Cell harvested during chronic phase were analyzed for sensitivity to interleukin 2 (IL-2) and interferon alpha (IFN alpha) in vitro by means of surface phenotyping and cell cycle assay. IL-2 induced remarkable growth of the cells, whereas IFN alpha did not confer a growth advantage. Since IFN alpha was expected to have no growth induction effect on the leukemia cells, it was administered to the patient to treat the CAEBV.
Toba
K
K
First Department of Internal Medicine, Niigata University School of Medicine, Japan.
Koike
T
T
Takahashi
M
M
Kishi
K
K
Hashimoto
S
S
Takahashi
H
H
Uesugi
Y
Y
Ishikawa
T
T
Aoki
S
S
Maeo
S
S
Naito
M
M
Aizawa
Y
Y
Shibata
A
A
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002453:Cell Cycle; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000150:complications*; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000150:complications / Q000821:virology*; D010641:Phenotype; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000150:complications*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D007376:Interleukin-2