GENERATION OF LYMPHOKINE-ACTIVATED KILLER (LAK) CELLS IN PATIENTS WITH NON-HODGKINS-LYMPHOMAS (NHL)

It is shown that LAK activity against both NK-sensitive (K562) and NK- resistant (Raji) targets could be generated in patients with different stages and histological types of NHL. Patients with leukemic, stage o f NHL (>25% tumor cells in myelogram) exhibit significantly low LAK ac tivity. In contrast, patients with bone marrow involvement (<25% of tu mor cells in myelogram) were characterized by strong cytotoxicity of L AK cells from peripheral blood and especially from bone marrow. In low -grade NHL a high level of spontaneous cytotoxicity against Raji was r evealed. In addition, cytolytic capacity of bone marrow LAK effecters was shown to be strong. The data obtained confirmed heterogeneity of L AK cell generation in different patients and may be used as an eligibl e prognostic criterion of IL-2 therapy efficiency. A possible stimulat ory role of tumor cells in generation of LAK activity in patients with bone marrow involvement is discussed.