Mobilization of dendritic cells in cancer patients treated with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and chemotherapy

Abstract

The number of dendritic cells (DC) circulating in the peripheral blood of cancer patients were monitored at multiple time points during chemotherapy and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) support. DC were identified via the lack of expression of standard lineage markers and high expression of HLA-DR (LN-/DR+). The expression of DC-associated markers, including CD83, CD11c, IL-3Rα (CDw123) and CD86, within this LN-/DR+ population was also monitored. Maximal mobilization occurred during recovery on d 12, with a mean 32-fold increase in LN-/DR+ numbers. The most striking increase was observed in the LN-/DR+/CD83+ cell population: 12 d after commencement of treatment, the proportion o..