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INHIBITION OF ADENOSINE-DEAMINASE ACTIVITY RESULTS IN CYTO-TOXICITY TO T-LYMPHOBLASTS INVIVO BLOOD Mitchell, B. S., Koller, C. A., Heyn, R. 1980; 56 (3): 556-559

Abstract

We have treated a patient with refractory T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia with 2'-deoxycoformycin, a potent inhibitor of the enzyme adenosine deaminase. Inhibition of adenosine deaminase activity resulted in (1) an abrupt rise in plasma deoxyadenosine, but not adenosine, concentrations; (2) accumulation of deoxyadenosine triphosphate by lymphoblasts; (3) inhibition of the enzyme S-adenoylhomocysteine hydrolase; and (4) rapid lysis of the leukemic cells. The patient died suddenly 3 days after therapy was discontinued, and postmortem examination revealed a complete absence of leukemic cells in all organs. Pharmacologic inhibition of adenosine deaminase activity can result in the lysis of T lymphoblasts in vivo, and this effect appears to be mediated by deoxyadenosine.

View details for Web of Science ID A1980KG49500034

View details for PubMedID 6967747