title: Attempted reconstruction of the immune system using low doses of interleukin 2 in chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients treated with 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine: results of a pilot study.
abstract: This study was designed to investigate the immunostimulatory effect of low dose Il-2 treatment in B-CLL patients previously treated with 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine (2CdA) in whom severe depletion of T lymphocyte subsets was observed. Four patients enrolled into the study had previously been treated with 3-6 courses of 2CdA. All patients suffered from recurrent infections and showed CD4+ and CD8+ immunosuppression. Recombinant Il-2 was given subcutaneously at a dose of 100 micrograms (1.8 x 10(6)IU) daily for 6 weeks. The drug was administered between 2CdA courses. These preliminary studies showed a marked increase in T cell subsets after Il-2 treatment. All patients displayed an increase of NK cells and there was increased expression of Il-2 receptors (CD 25 and CD 122) on lymphocytes. It is possible that the combination of cytotoxic therapy with 2CdA and low dose rIl-2 could stimulate the T-cell immune system and may be a promising regimen in patients with B-CLL with severe depletion in T-cell subsets.
authors.affiliation: Department Of Hematology, University School of Medecine, Lublin, Poland. Anna5997843@pharmanet.comp.pl
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dmoszyńska
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Legiec
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wach
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000032:analysis; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D017338:Cladribine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D017252:CD3 Complex; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D007376:Interleukin-2; D017338:Cladribine