Simultaneous cytokine analysis by cytometric bead array for the detection of leukaemia-reactive T cells in patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia.

In order to detect T cells against several chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML)-associated antigens we used: (i) a novel T-cell assay [cytometric bead array (CBA)]; (ii) gamma-interferon enzyme-linked immunoSPOT (gamma-IFN-ELISpot); and (iii) tetramer staining in peripheral blood from CML patients. Peptide-specific cytokine release was detected by CBA in some patients, whereas standard gamma-IFN-ELISpot and tetramer staining were negative in the vast majority of cases. In CBA, peptide-specific cytokine release was predominantly tumour necrosis factor-alpha, raising questions about the responding cells and their functional status. CBA appears to be a new useful tool for the detection of leukaemia-reactive T cells.