METHOD FOR TREATING CERTAIN PEDIATRIC ACUTE LEUKEMIAS

摘要

Applicants purge leukemia cells from pediatric patients having certain acute leukemias, by contacting cells with a conjugate of a cellular toxin and a cell binding agent specific for such leukemia cells, such as fusion protein IL-6-PE, which binds to cells with large quantities of cell surface IL-6 receptor. Various procedures can be used in such treatment, including ex vivo bone marrow purging, autologous bone marrow transplantation, and in vivo treatment of minimal residual disease after such transplantation.