Ex vivo elimination of neoplastic T-cells from human marrow using an anti-Mr 41,000 protein immunotoxin: potentiation by ASTA Z 7557.

ASTA Z 7557 potentiated the ex vivo efficiency of a T-cell directed immunotoxin containing pokeweed antiviral protein (PAP). We used an immunotoxin of pan-T monoclonal antibody 3-A1 directed against p41 antigen expressed both on normal and leukemic T-cells. Treatment with 3A1-PAP in combination with ASTA Z 7557 produced 7-8 logs elimination of target lymphoblastic leukemia cells. Our data suggest that this new strategy shows potential for more effective ex vivo marrow purging in autologous marrow transplantation for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.