Depressed lymphokine activated killer cell activity in mycosis fungoides. A possible marker for aggressive disease.

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 24 patients with mycosis fungoides were used to generate lymphokine activated killer (LAK) cells in vitro by culturing with recombinant interleukin 2. Patients with stage la mycosis fungoides were capable of generating normal levels of LAK cell activity, while patients with more active disease (stages IB to IV) had depressed LAK activity. The ability of these patients' cells to respond in a proliferation assay to various mitogens was similar to that of controls, with the exception of patients in the terminal phase of their illness. Patients with active disease who were unable to generate LAK activity were capable of responding in a proliferation assay to interleukin 2. The results of this study suggest that depressed LAK cell activity in patients with mycosis fungoides may serve as an indicator of a more aggressive disease state.