CHRONIC MYELOGENOUS LEUKEMIA - EFFECT OF INTERFERON-ALPHA TREATMENT ON PHAGOCYTIC-ACTIVITY AND CAPACITY OF CIRCULATING NEUTROPHILS

This study focuses on the effect of interferon (IFN)-alpha on phagocyt osis of FITC-labeled Escherichia coil by polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). The phagocytic activity and capacity of PMNs from IFN-alpha treated patients (n=17), untreate d CML patients (n = 9) and from healthy donors (n = 20) were compared using flow cytometry. Both parameters of PMN phagocytosis were reduced in untreated CML and in IFN-alpha treated CML with Phl chromosome per sistence but normal in IFN-alpha treated CML with Phl conversion. Thus , the phagocytic performance of PMNs in patients with chronic phase CM L is significantly improved after successful treatment with IFN-alpha. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.