Malignant monoblasts can function as effector cells in natural killer cell and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity assays.

This is the first report describing natural killer (NK) and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) of malignant monoblasts. Pure acute monoblastic leukemia was diagnosed in bone marrow aspirations from two patients by use of conventional cytochemical methods as well as multiple immunologic techniques including detection of ALL antigens and terminal transferase. The malignant cells were subsequently found to be potent effectors in NK and ADCC assays. Addition of partially purified alpha-interferon to the in vitro cultures was found to have an enhancing effect on NK activity, whereas no modulation was seen in ADCC. These findings are discussed in the light of our present knowledge of lymphoid NK cells.