title: Cytogenetic remissions induced by interferon alpha and imatinib mesylate are immunologically distinct in chronic myeloid leukemia.
abstract: We compared immunologic parameters of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients in cytogenetic remission receiving imatinib mesylate (STI) treatment, CML patients receiving interferon alpha (IFN-alpha), and healthy volunteers. Each group comprised 14 subjects. Median treatment dosages and durations were 6 x 10(6) IU/week and 174 months, respectively, for IFN-alpha and 400 mg/day and 54 months for STI. The numbers of T-cells were significantly lower in the 2 patient groups (P = .0006), whereas the 3 groups were comparable with respect to the numbers of natural killer cells. Not only the absolute numbers of monocytes and B-cells but also serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgA titers were significantly lower in the STI group than in the IFN-alpha group (P < .0001). For T-cell subsets, the ratio of CD4 T-cells to CD8 T-cells was significantly lower in the IFN-alpha group than in the STI group, but the proportion of CD26(high)CD4+ T-cells among CD4+ cells was significantly higher. Collectively, the 2 therapeutic agents induce a distinct immunologic status in CML patients whose hematopoiesis has returned to normal levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology/Oncology, Research Hospital, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Shin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakayama
authors.forename: Tokiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nagamura-Inoue
authors.forename: Kazuaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yokoyama
authors.forename: Nobuhiro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ohno
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ooi
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Kaoru
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Uchimaru
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iseki
authors.forename: Arinobu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tojo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D001549:Benzamides; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D005260:Female; D006410:Hematopoiesis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology; D010879:Piperazines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D012074:Remission Induction
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D010879:Piperazines; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate