Cellular immune reconstitution after subcutaneous alemtuzumab (anti-CD52 monoclonal antibody, CAMPATH-1H) treatment as first-line therapy for B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

Leukemia. 2004 Mar;18(3):484-90. doi: 10.1038/sj.leu.2403258.

Abstract

Little information is available on long-term immune reconstitution after therapy with alemtuzumab in B-CLL patients. We present long-term follow-up data for blood lymphocyte subsets analysed by flow cytometry in previously untreated B-CLL patients who received alemtuzumab subcutaneously as first-line therapy. All lymphoid subsets were significantly (P<0.001) and profoundly reduced; the median end-of-treatment counts for CD4(+), CD8(+), CD3(-)56(+) (natural killer (NK)), CD3(+)56(+) (NK-T) and CD19(+)5(-) (normal B) cells were 43, 20, 4, 1 and 8 cells/microl, respectively. The median cell count of all subsets remained at <25% of the baseline values for >9 months post-treatment. CD4(+) and CD8(+) levels in blood had reached >100 cells/microl in >50% of the patients at 4 months after the end of treatment. One patient had a cytomegalovirus reactivation and one patient developed Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia during therapy. No opportunistic or other major infections were recorded during unmaintained, long-term follow-up. There was no correlation between the cumulative dose of alemtuzumab and the severity or length of immunosuppression. CD52(-) T-cell subsets occurred during the treatment and comprised >80% of all CD4(+) and CD8(+) cells in the blood at the end of therapy. These subpopulations declined gradually during unmaintained follow-up. The relationship between these observations and the safety/antitumour effects of alemtuzumab is discussed.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Alemtuzumab
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / administration & dosage*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antibodies, Neoplasm / administration & dosage*
  • Antigens, CD / immunology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Cellular
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Injections, Subcutaneous
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology*
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / drug therapy*
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / immunology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Remission Induction
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antibodies, Neoplasm
  • Antigens, CD
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Alemtuzumab