Natural Killer Cells in Older Patients With Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Descriptive Study Evaluating the Presence and Function of Natural Killer Cells in Elderly Patients With Acute Myeloid Leukemia in First Remission.

RATIONALE: Studying natural killer cells in samples of blood from patients with cancer may help doctors find out how these cells are effected by chemotherapy.

PURPOSE: This clinical trial is studying natural killer cells in older patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

OBJECTIVES:

Primary

• Determine the evolution of functional receptors of natural killer (NK) cells after completion of chemotherapy in elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia in first remission.

Secondary

• Measure the kinetics of cytotoxic functional recovery of NK cells.
• Determine activation markers of NK cells.

OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study.

Patients receive 1 course of consolidation therapy comprising an anthracycline and cytarabine to induce first remission.

Blood is collected on day 0 of the consolidation course and then every 2 weeks for 8 weeks.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia

  • No promyelocytic leukemia
  • No prior therapy

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• Hemoglobin > 10 g/dL

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• See Disease Characteristics