IMMUNE FUNCTION AT DIAGNOSIS IN RELATION TO RESPONSES TO THERAPY IN ACUTE LYMPHOCYTIC LEUKEMIA OF CHILDHOOD

  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 47  (6) , 1011-1021
Abstract
Tests of immune capacity were performed on blood from 49 children with newly diagnosed, untreated acute lymphocytic leukemia, and relation to prognosis was determined. Patients were treated with multiple drug therapy and prophylactic cranial irradiation. Median follow-up time was 16 mo. (range 10-37 mo.). Principal unfavorable findings at diagnosis were absolute numbers of T [thymus-derived] lymphoid cells outside the range 850-2500/.mu. blood, absence of whole blood responses to phytohemagglutinin in vitro, a low titer of complexed antibody and the presence in serum of free leukemic blast cell membrane antigen. Fourteen patients showed 2 or more unfavorable findings at diagnosis. Eleven of these died. Four of the remaining 35 patients died. A shorter duration of 1st remission was found among patients with abnormal numbers of T cells at diagnosis. The findings suggest that the immunologic capacity of the patient at diagnosis is an important determinant in responses to therapy.

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