Cytosine arabinoside induced changes in natural killer and antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity functions in multiple sclerosis patients.

Five multiple sclerosis patients were treated weekly with cytosine arabinoside (araC) on an escalating dose schedule. The dose was initiated at 50 mg/M2 and then increased once each week by 50 mg/M2 (unless toxicity caused delay). Dosage decisions were based on whether or not the antibody-dependent cellular-cytotoxicity (ADCC) or natural killer (NK) cytotoxicity levels had been reduced to a level more than 2 standard deviations below the control range.

Suppression of natural killer cell cytotoxicity in the peripheral blood of patients receiving interferon therapy.

Lymphoblast interferon (IFN-alpha) was administered to patients with advanced stages of cancer in a phase I drug toxicity trial. IFN-alpha was given i.m.

Effector cells in natural cytotoxicity against human bladder cancer cell lines.

Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained by ficoll-hypaque sedimentation were depleted of Fc-receptor-bearing (FcR+) cells. Cytotoxicity (direct killing of target cells by effector cells), tested in a 40 h assay, was significantly decreased against a variety of target cells. Tests in which no FcR+ cells could be detected were also positive for "natural killing" (NK) against a spectrum of target cells from normal donors.