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Methods: Thirty three children aged between 2 and 19 were included in the study. Their immunophenotypes, related risk groups, and clinical characteristics were recorded. According to ALL TRALL 2000 protocol patients were classified into three groups: Group 1 (patients who fulfilled requirements of protocol M), Group 2 (patients still on maintenance chemotherapy) and Group 3 (patients who completed therapy). Control group (group 4) consisted of eleven healthy children aged between 2 and 13. NK cytotoxicity test, flow cytometric analysis of NK subgroups, cytokine analysis were performed in blood samples taken with informed consent from parents of the patients and the controls. Clinical characteristics of the patients were evaluated based on these results. Analysis was performed with "one way ANOVA" statistical test using SPSS 14.0. Results: In 1: 1 E: T ratio, Group 2's NK cytotoxicity was significantly higher than any other group (p<0.05). As the receptor expressions evaluated, in Group 2 expressions of CD16+CD56+, CD16+NKG2D+, CD94+NKp46+ subgroups were at a significantly lower level than group 4 (p<0.05). NK cells (CD16+CD56+ cell positivity) were more populated in the standard risk group without any significant difference between Groups 2, and 4 (p>0.05). When the effect of time after treatment discontinuation is evaluated, there was no significant difference between groups. In Group 3, there was a significant difference between B and T cell leukemia patients in terms of CD16 and CD56 positivities (p<0.05). Only in samples which weren't stimulated by tumor cells, IFNγ and IL-15 was found significantly lower in Groups 2 and 3 compared with the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Intensity of chemotherapy determined by the risk groups may affect NK cells quantitatively. Time passed since the completion of the therapy is important for NK cells to regain their functions. Improved comprehension of the changes occurring in NK cells by chemotherapy and by this way developing treatment modalities that reinforce functions of NK cells will contribute to the quality of life of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Chemotherapy may induce changes in NK cells which are important componnets of the immune system in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who are are on chemotherapy or have completed therapy. Methods: Thirty three children aged between 2 and 19 were included in the study. Their immunophenotypes, related risk groups, and clinical characteristics were recorded. According to ALL TRALL 2000 protocol patients were classified into three groups: Group 1 (patients who fulfilled requirements of protocol M), Group 2 (patients still on maintenance chemotherapy) and Group 3 (patients who completed therapy). Control group (group 4) consisted of eleven healthy children aged between 2 and 13. NK cytotoxicity test, flow cytometric analysis of NK subgroups, cytokine analysis were performed in blood samples taken with informed consent from parents of the patients and the controls. Clinical characteristics of the patients were evaluated based on these results. Analysis was performed with "one way ANOVA" statistical test using SPSS 14.0. Results: In 1: 1 E: T ratio, Group 2's NK cytotoxicity was significantly higher than any other group (p<0.05). As the receptor expressions evaluated, in Group 2 expressions of CD16+CD56+, CD16+NKG2D+, CD94+NKp46+ subgroups were at a significantly lower level than group 4 (p<0.05). NK cells (CD16+CD56+ cell positivity) were more populated in the standard risk group without any significant difference between Groups 2, and 4 (p>0.05). When the effect of time after treatment discontinuation is evaluated, there was no significant difference between groups. In Group 3, there was a significant difference between B and T cell leukemia patients in terms of CD16 and CD56 positivities (p<0.05). Only in samples which weren't stimulated by tumor cells, IFNγ and IL-15 was found significantly lower in Groups 2 and 3 compared with the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Intensity of chemotherapy determined by the risk groups may affect NK cells quantitatively. Time passed since the completion of the therapy is important for NK cells to regain their functions. Improved comprehension of the changes occurring in NK cells by chemotherapy and by this way developing treatment modalities that reinforce functions of NK cells will contribute to the quality of life of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]