Effect of BM 12 531 on in vitro induction of suppressor cells by concanavalin A in cancer patients and normal healthy donors.

The effects of BM 12 531, a 2-cyanaziridinyl derivative, on in vitro generation of Con A induced suppressor cells as well as generation of spontaneous suppressor cells in peripheral blood lymphocytes of 9 chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients in remission, 9 patients with active Hodgkin's disease (HD) and 12 normal healthy donors were studied. The suppressor cells generated spontaneously and with Con A, in the presence and absence of the drug, were tested for their modulating effect on mitogenic (PHA) response of autologous lymphocytes. The results indicate that the addition of the drug at the time of generation of suppressor cells decreased the spontaneous suppressor cell activity in 2/4 healthy donors, 3/7 CML patients and 4/6 HD patients. Con A induced suppressor cell activity generated in presence of the drug was significantly reduced in 7/12 healthy donors, 6/9 CML patients and 3/9 HD patients.