Effects of interferon-alpha therapy on lymphocyte subpopulations in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia.
The mechanism of action of interferon-alpha (IFN-A) in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is not known, but some evidence points at the immune modulation properties of IFN-A. We conducted a prospective analysis on 49 patients with CML in chronic phase treated with IFN-A in order to identify the effect of therapy on different lymphocyte subpopulations as determined by flow cytometric quantification and whether this effect is associated with the response to IFN-A. The absolute number of lymphocytes was similar in all patients regardless of response to IFN-A. In patients achieving a complete cytogenetic response (CCGR) there was a rebound of the absolute count of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, and CD19+ lymphocytes after discontinuation of therapy with IFN-A. Patients with resistant disease, as well as patients with hematologic response but no cytogenetic response, showed a lower absolute number of CD19+ cells than patients with any cytogenetic response. Patients who achieved a CCGR had a higher absolute number of CD56+ cells than patients with lesser response or no response to IFN-A, and this persisted after discontinuation of therapy. We conclude that an increase in absolute number of CD19+ and CD56+ lymphocytes is observed in CML patients achieving a CCGR with IFN-A compared to patients with lesser responses. These changes could have functional consequences in the control of the disease.
Sacchi
S
S
Department of Hematology, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
Cortes
J
J
Kantarjian
H
H
Talpaz
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007370:Interferon Type I; D011994:Recombinant Proteins