Antibody response to poliovirus immunization in childhood leukemia.

Polio antibody titers were determined in 29 children with ALL in various clinical stages, including a group of five patients in continuous remission for over five years and who, at the time of study, were off all therapy for at least six months. Regardless of the stage of disease, no detectable gamma M response was elicited. The five children described above displayed the same depressed response as did the other children with ALL. This strongly suggests an inherent defect in the immune system of these children with ALL unrelated to therapy.