Interferon production in leukaemia.

Leucocyte interferon production in vitro and circulating interferon levels were studied in healthy subjects and in 80 patients with acute or chronic leukaemia. Circulating interferon was not found in either group. Interferon synthesis in response to a virus was normal in patients with acute leukaemia and appeared to be enhanced in some. In chronic leukaemia reduced levels were common particularly in CLL, in which condition normal results were rarely found; lymphocyte transformation to PHA was also depressed in this group. No clinical or haematological correlation with the interferon levels was found and no consistent effect of treatment was shown. The possible factors which could account for these findings and their significance in relation to pathogenesis and treatment of leukaemia are discussed.