Hematologic and immunologic effects of the systemic administration of
recombinant interleukin-2 after autologous bone marrow transplantation
D Blaise, D Olive, AM Stoppa, P Viens, C Pourreau, M Lopez, M Attal, C Jasmin, G Monges and C Mawas
Marrow Transplant Unit, Institut Paoli Calmettes, Marseille, France.
T cells from allogeneic bone marrow grafts are responsible for a graft
versus leukemia effect. Use of recombinant Interleukin-2 (rIL-2) after
autologous bone marrow transplantation (BMT) may enhance immune function
and hopefully reproduce the allogeneic reaction. We report here the
hematologic and immunologic changes observed in the first 10 patients of a
phase 1 trial studying the infusion of IL-2 after autologous BMT. All
patients had high-risk malignancies and received 6 days of a constant
infusion of IL-2 (Eurocetus, Amsterdam, The Netherlands) at dose of 3 x
10(6) Cetus Units/m2/d, 79 +/- 12 days after autologous BMT. Clinical
toxicities involving cutaneous, cholestatic, gastrointestinal, and
hemodynamic effects occurred during IL-2 treatment but reversed in all
cases. Completion of treatment was 91% of the scheduled dose of IL-2.
Hematologic toxicity was moderate and transient with no graft failure.
Increases in eosinophil and lymphocyte counts were significant (P less than
.05). Stimulation of the immune system was intense and prolonged,
manifested by increase numbers of CD3+, CD3+DR+, CD3+ CD25+ lymphocytes,
and natural killer (NK) cells (all P less than .01), and increase of
Lymphokine-activated killers (LAK) and NK activities (P less than .01 and P
less than .05). This study establishes the feasibility of a 6-day
administration of rIL- 2 after autologous BMT leading to a major immune
activation 2.5 months after BMT.
Volume 76,
Issue 6,
pp. 1092-1097,
09/15/1990
Copyright © 1990 by The American Society of Hematology
