Gb. Vogelsang et al., Immune modulation in autologous bone marrow transplantation: cyclosporine and gamma-interferon trial, BONE MAR TR, 24(6), 1999, pp. 637-640
Citations number
19
Categorie Soggetti
Hematology,"Medical Research Diagnosis & Treatment
From March 1994 to November 1994, 16 patients with high risk hematological
malignancies were entered in a phase I clinical trial, designed to confirm
the toxicity of cyclosporine and gamma interferon given to induce autologou
s graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after autologous bone marrow transplanta
tion (ABMT). This trial was based on the results in a rodent model, in whic
h cyclosporine given after ABMT induces an autoimmune syndrome tautologous
GVHD) identical to allogeneic GVHD. Further, this autologous GVHD is associ
ated with a graft-versus-tumor effect augmented by interferon that upregula
tes MHC class II expression on normal and tumor cells, the target of the cy
tolytic T cells in autologous GVHD. In this trial, cyclosporine 1 mg/kg/day
was given from the day of bone marrow reinfusion until the completion of t
he interferon and gamma-interferon. Gamma-interferon at 0.025 mg/m(2) every
other day was started when the total white cell count was >200 cells/ml fo
r 2 consecutive days and continued for a total of 10 doses after ABMT. The
preparative regimens were busulfan and cyclophosphamide, or cyclophosphamid
e with total body irradiation. All patients received 4HC-purged marrow graf
ts. Median age was 45 years (range 19-68). The diagnoses included chemo-res
istant non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (10), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (two), che
mo-resistant Hodgkin's disease (two), acute myeloid leukemia tone), and mul
tiple myeloma tone). Median absolute neutrophil count recovery was 25.5 day
s (range 19-46 days). Median platelet count recovery was 40.5 days (range 2
8-279 days). There were nine deaths, two were related to transplant toxicit
y (infection), while the other seven were due to relapse. Event-free surviv
al with a median of 964 days (range 19-1441 days of follow-up was 44%. In c
onclusion, treatment with cyclosporine, and gamma-interferon after ABMT was
well tolerated and did not impair engraftment. Further studies with a larg
er number of patients are required to document any beneficial anti-tumor ef
fect of autologous GVHD induction after ABMT.