# NK CELL ROLE IN RESISTANCE TO LEUKEMIA

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR · 1990 · $75,655

## Abstract

The overall aim of this proposal is to study natural killer (NK) cells'
role in the course of leukemic disease, and their regulatory activity over
proliferation and differentiation of normal hemopoietic cells in man.
Specifically, we plan to investigate peripheral blood NK-cell anti-leukemia
reactivity of normal donors and leukemic patients with active disease and
in remission against:  (1) freshly derived clonogenic leukemia cells in
clonogenic assay for leukemic cell growth in vitro, and (2) against
heterogeneous population of leukemia cells in a single cell assay,
51chromium-release assay, and competitive inhibition assay.  We will
further investigate the relationship between the stage of leukemic cell
differentiation (as determined by morphological, phenotypic cytochemical,
and cytogenetic criteria) and their sensitivity to NK cell attack. The
mechanism(s) of NK-cell anti-leukemia reactivity will be also studied.
Endogenous and activated NK cells will be tested. NK cells will be
activated primarily by interleukin-2 and various species of interferons.
We will also study the effect of cloned NK cells (or the cytotoxic factor
from these cells) from normal donors and patients with leukemia to mediate
anti-leukemia effect.

Since leukemia is a disease of hemopoietic system and NK cells have been
shown to exert regulatory activities over hemopoiesis, it is imperative to
study the mechanism of NK-cell regulatory functions over growth and
differentiation of normal hemopoietic progenitors.  The effect of NK cells
on the following hemopoietic progenitors will be studied:  GM-CFC, BFU-E,
and GMME-CFC.

These studies may provide insight into the mechanism of disregulation of
hemopoiesis in leukemia, and may lead to the development of new protocols
for treatment of leukemia-diseased patients. (IS)

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3178866
- **Project number:** 3R01CA039632-04S2
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR
- **SAM.gov UEI:** S3GMKS8ELA16
- **Principal Investigator:** EVA LOTZOVA
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1990
- **Award amount:** $75,655
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 1985-04-01 → 1991-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3178866

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3178866, NK CELL ROLE IN RESISTANCE TO LEUKEMIA (3R01CA039632-04S2). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3178866. Licensed CC0.

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