Glucocorticoid receptors and response to chemotherapy in lymphoproliferative malignancy

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted upon 98 subjects, 20 acted as controls and 78 patients having lympho-proliferative malignancies. The patients group included 31 cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia [ALL], 10 cases of chronic lymphatic leukemia [CLL], 15 patients having Hodgkin disease [HD]. 16 subjects with non-Hodgkin lymphoma [LPL]. The number of glucocorticoid receptors [GR] on peripheral blood lymphoid cells were determined before any therapy. After receiving chemotherapy, that included steroids, patients were followed for a maximum of one year to evaluate the response to treatment by examining both peripheral blood and bone marrow cells. The study revealed that, in lympho- proliferative malignancy, GR number on peripheral blood cells has no significant difference from those of normal controls except in NHL where there was a significant increase in the receptor content of peripheral lymphocytes. In addition the number of these GR was not correlated to the response to various chemotherapies given in lymphatic leukemias and lymphomas