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Cytogenetic Remissions Induced by Interferon α and Imatinib Mesylate are Immunologically Distinct in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

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Abstract

We compared immunologic parameters of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients in cytogenetic remission receiving imatinib mesylate (STI) treatment, CML patients receiving interferon α (IFN-α), and healthy volunteers. Each group comprised 14 subjects. Median treatment dosages and durations were 6 × 106 IU/week and 174 months, respectively, for IFN-α and 400 mg/day and 54 months for STI. The numbers of T-cells were significantly lower in the 2 patient groups (P = .0006), whereas the 3 groups were comparable with respect to the numbers of natural killer cells. Not only the absolute numbers of monocytes and B-cells but also serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgA titers were significantly lower in the STI group than in the IFN-α group (P < .0001). For T-cell subsets, the ratio of CD4 T-cells to CD8 T-cells was significantly lower in the IFN-α group than in the STI group, but the proportion of CD26highCD4+ T-cells among CD4+ cells was significantly higher. Collectively, the 2 therapeutic agents induce a distinct immunologic status in CML patients whose hematopoiesis has returned to normal levels.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hematology/Oncology, Research Hospital, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

    Shin Nakayama, Kazuaki Yokoyama, Nobuhiro Ohno, Jun Ooi, Satoshi Takahashi, Kaoru Uchimaru, Toru Iseki & Arinobu Tojo

  2. Department of Cell Processing and Transfusion, Research Hospital, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, 108-8639, Tokyo, Japan

    Shin Nakayama, Tokiko Nagamura-Inoue, Kazuaki Yokoyama & Arinobu Tojo

  3. Department of Blood Transfusion, Chiba University School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan

    Toru Iseki

Authors
  1. Shin Nakayama
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  2. Tokiko Nagamura-Inoue
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  3. Kazuaki Yokoyama
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  4. Nobuhiro Ohno
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  5. Jun Ooi
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  6. Satoshi Takahashi
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  7. Kaoru Uchimaru
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  8. Toru Iseki
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  9. Arinobu Tojo
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Correspondence to Tokiko Nagamura-Inoue.

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Nakayama, S., Nagamura-Inoue, T., Yokoyama, K. et al. Cytogenetic Remissions Induced by Interferon α and Imatinib Mesylate are Immunologically Distinct in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia. Int J Hematol 86, 208–211 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1532/IJH97.07099

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1532/IJH97.07099

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