Selective cytotoxic activity of cyclosporins against tumor cells from patients with B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Abstract

A fluorometric microculture cytotoxicity assay was employed for the study of cyclosporin A induced cytotoxicity in tumor samples from patients with B type chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL). Tumor cells from patients with B-CLL were found to be significantly more sensitive to the cytotoxic actions of cyclosporin A than normal blood mononuclear cells and tumor cells obtained from patients with different types of acute leukemia and solid tumors. The effect of cyclosporin A on B-CLL samples could be reproduced by a non-immunosuppressive cyclosporin A analogue. One B-CLL patient treated with cyclosporin A responded with a significant decrease in tumor mass and alleviation of anemia and B symptoms. The results show that cyclosporin A and its non-immunosuppressive analogues appear selectively toxic to B-CLL cells, an observation which may have clinical implications.