Depressed Lymphokine Activated Killer Cell Activity in Mycosis Fungoides

Abstract

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 24 patients with mycosis fungoides were used to generate lymphokine activated killer (LAK) cells in vitro by culturing with recombinant interleukin 2. Patients with stage la mycosis fungoides were capable of generating normal levels of LAK cell activity, while patients with more active disease (stages IB to IV) had depressed LAK activity. The ability of these patients' cells to respond in a proliferation assay to various mitogens was similar to that of controls, with the exception of patients in the terminal phase of their illness. Patients with active disease who were unable to generate LAK activity were capable of responding in a proliferation assay to interleukin 2. The results of this study suggest that depressed LAK cell activity in patients with mycosis fungoides may serve as an indicator of a more aggressive disease state.

Treatment of patients with advanced mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome with alemtuzumab

“…A majority of our patients suffered significant infectious complications. This is not unexpected given both the immunosuppressive effects of alemtuzumab and the altered immune responses associated with advanced stage MF/SS (35, 36). It is noteworthy that HSV and VZV reactivation were observed in two cases despite aciclovir prophylaxis.…”

Phase 2 study of alemtuzumab (anti-CD52 monoclonal antibody) in patients with advanced mycosis fungoides/Sézary syndrome

“…Growth factor support may be recommended in patients with prolonged or recurrent episodes of neutropenia while receiving alemtuzumab treatment. 36 Given the T-cell-suppressive effects of alemtuzumab and the suppression of T-cell-mediated immunity that accompanies CTCL with advancing stage, 3,4 an increased risk for opportunistic and other severe infections was expected during this trial mainly in the patients with advanced, heavily pretreated MF/SS. Even though half our patients completed therapy without any immediate or late-occurring major infectious complications, an increased risk was detected.…”

“…Other tissues and organs, such as peripheral blood, lymph nodes, or viscera, may also be involved. During disease progression, a defect in cell-mediated immunity becomes evident, 3,4 and septicemia and other infections are common causes of death in patients with advanced MF/SS. Transformation to high-grade lymphoma may also occur during the course of the disease and is associated with a poor prognosis.…”

Interaction of cutaneous lymphoma cells with reactive T cells and dendritic cells: implications for dendritic cell-based immunotherapy

“…As the CTCL line used for our experiments, CD4+ CD25+ T reg cells do not proliferate in the absence of IL‐2, secrete IL‐10 and inhibit T‐cell proliferation 24 . Regulatory properties of CTCL cells might explain the pronounced defects in cellular immunity 39 and the loss of CD8+ antitumoral cells 40 during progressive CTCL. Although the CTCL line chosen for these experiments has genotypical, phenotypical and functional properties identical to fresh skin or circulating CTCL tumour cells of the patient from whom it was isolated, 4 we cannot generally conclude on the in vitro properties of malignant CTCL clones, especially as the CTCL line used was dependent on IL‐2 and IL‐7 for growth; further research in this field is clearly necessary.…”