Use of cytokines in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Placebo-controlled and/or historically controlled trials have shown that granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) enhance neutrophil recovery rates and occasionally reduce the rate and duration of infection. Some data appear to support an advantage with GM-CSF in reducing the incidence of fungal infections. Immunomodulation with cytokines such as interferon or interleukin-2 may prove to be of benefit in the management of acute leukemia when used in combination or sequence with chemotherapy.