Correlation of morpho-cytometric analysis of lymphoid subtypes with clinical response in chronic B-lymphocytic leukemia patients treated with IFN-(2b.

The aim of this study was to correlate the modifications of the various morphologic subtypes of blood lymphoid cells (i.e small lymphocytes, large lymphocytes, immunoblasts, prolymphocytes, blasts, large granular lymphocytes) with the clinical response in twenty-nine previously untreated chronic B - lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL) patients treated in vivo with alpha-2b interferon (IFN-α2b) (3x106 U intramuscolar three times a week for 12 months). These findings were correlated with standard laboratory, immunophenotypic, and cytometric characteristics of peripheral lymphocytes. After 6 months of therapy the response rates were 27% partial remission, 52% minor response, 21% stable disease. Among responding patients, a significant reduction in the lymphocyte count, the number of CD 19+/CD23+, surface immunoglobulin+ (sIg+) B cells, and the extent (if any) of splenomegaly and/or lymphoadenopathies was documented. The maximum therapeutic effect was observed after 6 months of therapy, since th...