The yin and yang of interleukin-2–mediated immunotherapy

JA Bluestone - New England Journal of Medicine, 2011 - Mass Medical Soc
New England Journal of Medicine, 2011Mass Medical Soc
In this issue of the Journal, the findings of two case series suggest that in vivo treatment with
interleukin-2 can suppress immune-mediated diseases. In one study, Koreth et al. 1 found
that low-dose interleukin-2 was associated with reversal of glucocorticoid-refractory chronic
graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in patients who had undergone allogeneic hematopoietic
stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) for the treatment of lymphomas and leukemias. The control
of chronic GVHD was not accompanied by the relapse of cancer in any patient. 1 In a …
In this issue of the Journal, the findings of two case series suggest that in vivo treatment with interleukin-2 can suppress immune-mediated diseases. In one study, Koreth et al.1 found that low-dose interleukin-2 was associated with reversal of glucocorticoid-refractory chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in patients who had undergone allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) for the treatment of lymphomas and leukemias. The control of chronic GVHD was not accompanied by the relapse of cancer in any patient.1 In a second small case series, Saadoun et al.2 found that treatment of patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)–related vasculitis with low-dose interleukin-2 led . . .
The New England Journal Of Medicine