Erythropoiesis in cancer patients undergoing immunotherapy

Adv Exp Med Biol. 1989:271:197-204. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4613-0623-8_20.

Abstract

We studied ten patients with various types of cancer who were being treated with Interleukin-2 (IL-2) and lymphokine activated killer cells (LAK). All patients developed a reticulocytopenic, normochromic, normocytic anemia. We noted some variability but no significant suppression of circulating erythroid progenitors. The levels of erythropoietin were lower than expected for the hemoglobin/hematocrit values. We could not detect Interferon or Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) in the serum of these patients; however, the supernatant of LAK cells did contain Interferon and TNF which could be neutralized with appropriate antibodies. These results suggest that the etiology of this anemia is multi-factorial. Administration of recombinant erythropoietin (Ep) may be of benefit in some of these patients.

MeSH terms

  • Anemia / etiology*
  • Anemia / physiopathology
  • Eosinophilia / etiology
  • Erythroid Precursor Cells / drug effects
  • Erythroid Precursor Cells / pathology
  • Erythropoiesis*
  • Erythropoietin / pharmacology
  • Hematopoiesis
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy / adverse effects*
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism
  • Interleukin-2 / therapeutic use*
  • Killer Cells, Natural / metabolism
  • Killer Cells, Natural / transplantation*
  • Leukocytosis / etiology
  • Neoplasms / physiopathology*
  • Neoplasms / therapy
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism

Substances

  • Interleukin-2
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Erythropoietin
  • Interferon-gamma