Hu-Mik-beta1 to Treat T-Cell Large Granular Lymphocytic Leukemia

* INCLUSION CRITERIA

All patients must have histologically or cytologically confirmed T-LGL leukemia as defined by:

i. A peripheral blood smear or bone marrow biopsy/aspirate with morphological findings consistent with LGL as determined by Hematopathology section, the NIH Clinical Center, or the Laboratory of Pathology, NCI, and;

ii. An absolute C3+, CD8+, usually CD57+ cell (T-LGL) count greater than or equal to 1000/uL in the peripheral blood or bone marrow as measured by flow cytometry.

iii. At least 50% of the CD3+/CD8+ cells must also express CD122 (IL-2/15RB plus).

iv. Clonal T cell receptor (TcR) rearrangement while desirable, is not a requirement for eligibility. TcR rearrangement may be determined by Southern blotting or polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Patients must have T-LGL-associated hemocytopenia(s)\* as defined by an absolute granulocyte count (AGC) less than 1000/uL, platelet count less than100,000/uL or hemoglobin less than 9.0 gm/dL, or have required transfusion of 3 or more units of red blood cell products in the last 6 months, or any combination of these.

\*Patients being treated with a stable dose of hemopoietic growth factors for greater than 4-weeks whose peripheral blood counts exceed these values are eligible for the study. A stable dose of a hematopoeitic growth factor(s) may be continued while the patient is on the study.

Patients requiring antibiotic or treatment with antiviral drugs on more than two occasions over the previous 12 months for bacterial or viral infections associated with their LGL are eligible.

Patients must be greater than or equal to 18 years of age.

Untreated patients as well as those previously treated with cyclosporine A (CsA), chemotherapy, corticosteroids, interferon, erythropoietin, IL-11, G-CSF or GM-CSF, murine MiK-Beta-1 (or having undergone splenectomy are eligible for study.

Omission of cyclosporine A, chemotherapy and interferon is required for at least 4 weeks prior to entry onto the trial. Patients on stable doses (greater than 4 weeks) of commercial erythropoietin, G-CSF, GM-CSF or IL-11 products are eligible for the study. Patients receiving corticosteroids will not be excluded. Patients receiving corticosteroids must be on a stable dose of prednisone (less than 25 mg/day) or equivalent dose steroid for at least 3 weeks before receiving MiK-B -1 on the study.

Patients must have normal renal function (serum creatinine less than or equal to 1.5 mg/dL) and hepatic function (bilirubin less than or equal to 2.0 mg/dL, SGOT, SGPT less than or equal to 2.5 fold greater than the upper limit of normal).

Patients must have a Karnofsky performance status of greater than or equal to 70%.

Patients must have a life expectancy greater than 2 months.

Patients must be able to understand and sign the Informed Consent Document.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA

Patients must have none of the following at the time of enrollment:

Symptomatic central nervous system (CNS) involvement with LGL leukemia.

Pregnant or actively nursing patients are ineligible. The effects of Hu-MiK-Beta-1 on the developing fetus and nursing infant are unknown. Female patients of childbearing potential will be tested for pregnancy within 72 hours of initiating the study.

Patients with CTC grade 4 granulocytopenia or anemia.

Patients requiring platelet transfusions in the preceding 12-months for platelet counts of less than or equal to 10,000/mm(3) or spontaneous bleeding episodes.

Patients testing positive for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or human T cell lymphotrophic virus (HTLV-I/II) are ineligible, because the toxicity may be different in this population.

Patients testing positive for hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HbsAg) or antibodies to hepatitis C virus are ineligible because Hu-MiK-Beta-1 therapy might be associated with increased viral replication.

Patients receiving prior therapy with murine MiK-Beta-1 that have developed human anti-mouse (HAMA) or human anti-human (HAHA) antibodies, or that have experienced CTC grade III or greater toxicity attributable to the antibody are ineligible.

Patients with a prior history of a Grade III or greater allergic reaction related to a previously administered humanized monoclonal antibody are ineligible.

Patients with other serious concurrent medical conditions (e.g., acute myocardial infarction within 6 months, unstable angina, NYHA Class II/IV congestive heart failure, respiratory insufficiency requiring oxygen therapy, uncontrolled hypertension, symptomatic cerebrovascular disease or stroke within 6 months, receiving immunosuppression for an organ graft, etc.) that may otherwise limit their survival are not eligible.

Other malignancy within five years, unless the probability of recurrence of the prior malignancy is less than or equal to 10 percent at 5-years. Patient's curatively treated for squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma of the skin and carcinoma in situ of the uterine cervix (CIN) or patients with a history of malignant tumor in the past that have been disease free for at least five years are also eligible for this study.

Patients with serious active infection requiring systemic anti-infective therapy.

Any physical or psychological condition that would preclude drug administration or patient compliance with the protocol or that in the opinion of the investigator may pose an additional risk in administering the study drug to the patient or that would not permit the patient to complete the study or give Informed Consent.