0000000000735613
AUTHOR
F. Schneller
Dynamics of BCR-ABL mRNA expression in first-line therapy of chronic myelogenous leukemia patients with imatinib or interferon alpha/ara-C.
We sought to determine dynamics of BCR-ABL mRNA expression levels in 139 patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in early chronic phase, randomized to receive imatinib (n=69) or interferon (IFN)/Ara-C (n=70). The response was sequentially monitored by cytogenetics from bone marrow metaphases (n=803) and qualitative and quantitative RT-PCR from peripheral blood samples (n=1117). Complete cytogenetic response (CCR) was achieved in 60 (imatinib, 87%) vs 10 patients (IFN/Ara-C, 14%) after a median observation time of 24 months. Within the first year after CCR, best median ratio BCR-ABL/ABL was 0.087%, (imatinib, n=48) vs 0.27% (IFN/Ara-C, n=9, P=0.025). BCR-ABL was undetectable in 25 c…
Direct Cellular Interaction with Activated CD4+T Cells Overcomes Hyporesponsiveness of B-Cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemiain Vitro
The proliferative response of clonal B cells from patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) is drastically reduced compared to normal B lymphocytes stimulated via the B cell antigen receptor complex or by CD40 ligation. In the present study we demonstrate that hyporesponsiveness of CLL-B cells can be overcome by stimulatory pathways mediated by activated CD4(+) T cells. In contrast to CD40 ligation, costimulation with activated T cells promotes a proliferative response in CLL-B cells identical to that in normal B cells. Furthermore, coculture with activated T cells improved survival of CLL-B cells in vitro. Differentiation of CLL-B cells into IgM producing cells was promoted, as we…