Xian Ming Liu

Epirubicin inhibits soluble CD25 secretion by Treg cells isolated from diffuse large B-cell lymphoma patients.

OBJECTIVEnTo investigate the effect of epirubicin on soluble CD25 (sCD25) secretion by CD4+CD25+ regulatory T (Treg) cells isolated from diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients.nnnMETHODSnTreg cells were isolated from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from the newly diagnosed DBLCL patients. The concentration of sCD25 in the supernatant was determined with a commercial sCD25 (IL-2R) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. The fluorescence intensity of CD25 was detected by flow cytometry.nnnRESULTSnCell survival rate was significantly decreased along with the increase of epirubicin concentration after treatment for 24 h. There was also a significant difference in the concentration of sCD25 between the epirubicin group and the control group (P<0.01). A positive correlation between the Treg cells survival rate and the concentration of sCD25 was detected (r=0.993, P<0.01). When equal numbers of CD4+CD25+ Treg cells of the epirubicin group and the control group were cultured for another 24 h without epirubicin the CD25 fluorescence intensity on the surface of Treg cells was obviously higher in the epirubicin group than that in the control group (P<0.01), while the sCD25 concentration in the supernatant in the epirubicin group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05).nnnCONCLUSIONnEpirubicin may improve the bodys immune functions by inhibiting the sCD25 secretion by Treg cells in DLBCL patients.

[Efficacy and survival status of retuximab-NCE regimen treatment in patients with relapsed or refractory B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma].

OBJECTIVEnThe aim of this study was to analyze the efficacy and toxicity of RNCE regimen in the treatment of relapsed or refractory B cell non-Hodgkins lymphoma (NHL).nnnMETHODSnFrom January 2000 to December 2005, 46 patients with relapsed or refractory B cell NHL were treated by RNCE regimen with or without radiotherapy for the involved field. The clinical characteristics, response, toxicity and long-term survival results were analyzed retrospectively.nnnRESULTSnA total of 46 patients were eligible. The complete response rate of second-line therapy was 52.17% (24/46), and the overall response rate was 82.61% (38/46). The median follow-up duration in this series was 69 months (range:6 to 102 months). The overall 1, 3, 5-year survival rate was 74.8%, 48.3%, 40.1%, respectively, with a median survival time of 30.2 months (5 to 65 months), and median progression free survival time of 10.9 months (2 to 31 months). The major toxicities were myelosuppression, GI toxicity, fatigue, fever and alopecia.nnnCONCLUSIONnOur data show that RNCE regimen treatment is effective and well tolerated in patients with relapsed or refractory B cell non-Hodgkins lymphoma.