MURINE MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODY THERAPY IN 2 PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC LYMPHOCYTIC-LEUKEMIA

Abstract

The murine monoclonal antibody T101 was infused into 2 patients with advanced refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) after confirming its reactivity with their CLL cells. One patient received doses of 1, 3 and 12 mg; the 2nd patient received 10 mg. Antibody was delivered over 10-15 min. T101 murine monoclonal antibody did bind to cells with T65 surface antigen and saturated these cells in vivo; cells that bound T101 disappeared from the circulation by 2 h after treatment, as evidenced by a marked drop in lymphocyte counts. T101 serotherapy resulted in some intravascular cell injury associated with sequestration and probably destruction in the liver and lung. Free serum T101 was demonstrable, but disappeared by 2-4 h after infusion. Rapid infusion of T101 did not induce significant modulation of T65; rapid infusion of > 10 mg of T101 was associated significant systemic reactions. Monoclonal antibodies may someday have an applicatdion in leukemia therapy, but additional experimental trials are clearly indicated.