Abstract
PurposeNatural killer (NK) cells are well known to be the most important effector cells mediating antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) which is an important mechanism of action of antibody drugs. We evaluated the effects of chemotherapy on the cell number and activity of NK cells from patients who received the vincristine–cyclophosphamide–doxorubicin–prednisone (VCAP), doxorubicin–ranimustine–prednisone (AMP), and vindesine–etoposide–carboplatin–prednisone (VECP) (mLSG15) or mLSG15-like (-L) regimen, which is one of the standard of cares for newly diagnosed adult T-cell leukemia–lymphoma (ATL), or the cyclophosphamide–doxorubicin–vincristine–prednisone (CHOP) or CHOP-L regimen which is another standard of care for ATL and peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL).MethodsThe number of lymphocytes and NK cells, and NK cell activity, were assessed using flow cytometry and a 51Cr release assay, respectively.ResultsA total of 26 patients with untreated ATL or PTCL were enrolled, and blood samples from 25 patients were evaluable. NK cell number in ATL decreased after mLSG15/-L treatment, and the degree of decrease in the NK cell number was more prominent just before VECP therapy (Day 15–17 of each cycle) than just before VCAP therapy (Day 1 of each cycle). The NK cell number in ATL after CHOP/-L treatment also decreased. Interestingly, the NK cell activity showed a tendency to increase after the treatment. NK cell number in PTCL did not decrease by CHOP/-L regimen, but the activity was slightly decreased after the treatment.ConclusionsThese results indicate that the effects of chemotherapeutic agents on NK cells vary according to the disease type and intensity of chemotherapy.
Highlights
adult T-cell leukemia–lymphoma (ATL) belongs to the category of mature T/Natural killer (NK)-cell neoplasms [1] and occurs secondary to HTLV-1 infection [2,3,4]
These results indicate that the effects of chemotherapeutic agents on NK cells vary according to the disease type and intensity of chemotherapy
The current standard of care for peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) is CHOP therapy including the CHOP-L regimen [10]; it has been reported that PTCL shows a generally poor prognosis, with 5-year overall survival (OS) rates of only 32 % in PTCL-NOS and angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL), except for in anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), which is associated with a 5-year OS rate of 70 % [6]
Summary
ATL belongs to the category of mature T/NK-cell neoplasms [1] and occurs secondary to HTLV-1 infection [2,3,4]. ATL frequently occurs in the HTLV-1 endemic area in Kyushu islands, the western part of Japan [5], and its prognosis is the worst among common subtypes of mature T/ NK-cell neoplasms [6]. Other mature T/NK-cell neoplasms include peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (PTCL-NOS), angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL), and anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL). These disease subtypes are collectively called PTCL [1]. The current standard of care for PTCL is CHOP therapy including the CHOP-L regimen [10]; it has been reported that PTCL shows a generally poor prognosis, with 5-year OS rates of only 32 % in PTCL-NOS and AITL, except for in anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive ALCL, which is associated with a 5-year OS rate of 70 % [6]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
