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Biomedical subjects

E C Russell

Publications and source records attributed to E C Russell.

25 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Immunologic evaluation of long-term effects of childhood ALL chemotherapy: analysis of in vitro NK- and K-cell activities of peripheral blood lymphocytes.

Twenty-five children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) were tested for natural killer (NK) and K-cell activity in vitro using the nonsensitized myeloid/erythroid cell line K562 and the K562 sensitized with rabbit antithymocyte globulin, respectively. The patients consisted of two groups: 1) 13 patients in continuous first remission undergoing maintenance chemotherapy and 2) 12 patients in remission for at least five years in whom chemotherapy had been discontinued at least six months before this study. The first group consistently demonstrated a marked depression in their NK activity and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (K-cell activity), as compared with normal controls. In contrast, normal levels of cytotoxicity were found in the second group of patients off of all chemotherapy. One patient studied while on chemotherapy and on two occasions following discontinuation of maintenance medications demonstrated that while NK and K-cell activity was depressed during therapy, normal activity returned within days when immunosuppressive therapy was stopped. Thus, present modes of chemotherapy clearly had a profound effect on the in vitro NK and K-cell activity; however, no long-term effect on these functions was noted in our studies.

Adolescent↗

Vindesine: a phase II study in childhood malignancies-a report for cancer and leukemia group B.

Vindesine, a semisynthetic derivative of vinblastine sulfate, was tested for antitumor activity and clinical toxicity in 36 children. The drug was administered to the initial 13 patients entered into the study a 2 mg/m2/day for five days by IV bolus. Because of severe neurotoxicity and life-threatening gastrointestinal toxicity, the regimen in 23 patients was modified to 4mg/m2 IV infusion over four hours, weekly. This latter regimen was well tolerated, with acceptable gastrointestinal, hematological, and neurotoxicity. One child with acute lymphocytic leukemia resistant to vincristine had a transient M1 remission bone marrow. Improvement or stable disease was noted in one patient each with Ewing's sarcoma, neuroblastoma, and Hodgkin's disease.

Adolescent↗

Receptors for peanut agglutinin (Arachus hypogea) in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia: possible clinical significance.

The presence of lymphocyte receptors for peanut agglutinin in significant numbers (greater than 15%) was identified on leukemic cells from T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) (3/4), B-cell ALL (B-ALL) (2/4), null cell ALL (8/17), and on normal fetal thymic lymphocytes but not on normal human peripheral blood lymphocytes. Peanut agglutinin (PNA) binding was blocked specifically on leukemia lymphoblasts and thymic lymphocytes by the addition of galactose to the medium. When all immunologic subgroups of ALL are combined, preliminary data suggest that of the 13 ALL patients having greater than 15% PNA-positive lymphoblasts, 8 had relapsed, whereas none of the 12 ALL patients with less than 15% PNA-positive cells have recurrent disease at this time. It is likely that analysis of PNA receptors on ALL lymphoblasts may be a useful adjunct to the existing clinical and immunologic prognostic indicators.

Adolescent↗

Human acute myelogenous leukemia antigens defined by simian antisera: evidence for leukemia-associated antigens distinct from immune response-associated alloantigens.

Leukemic blasts from a patient with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and peripheral blood T- and B-lymphocyte subpopulations from his genetically identical normal twin were analyzed with the use of the simian antiserum-defining AML antigens and a rabbit antiserum to immune response-associated (la)-like antigens. Blast cells from the patient consistently reacted with both reagents, whereas the B-lymphocyte populations from the patient's normal identical twin reacted only with the rabbit anti-la serum and in no instances reacted with the antiserum to AML cell antigens. Blast cells from the AML patient significantly stimulated the lymphocytes of his normal twin and his own remission leukocytes, whereas the cells from the normal twin failed to stimulate the cells of the patient. These results suggested the existence on AML cells of tumor-associated antigens that are distinct from various other well-characterized normal human alloantigens and differentiation antigens including B-cell antigens. Changes were reported in the expression of leukemia-associated antigens and Ia-like antigens on the cells of an AML patient undergoing chemotherapy as well as in the ability of the simian antisera to distinguish antigens specific for myeloid leukemias from lymphocytic types of leukemias.

Animals↗