Patent ID: 8920790

Claim:
A method for protecting or restoring hematopoiesis or enhancing peripheral blood cell counts in a mammal having a hematopoietic malignancy, said method comprising: (a) administering a treatment which comprises chemotherapy to the mammal, wherein the treatment targets the hematopoietic malignancy and has an associated hematopoietic toxicity; and (b) administering one therapeutically effective dose of IL-12 near the time of administration of the treatment, wherein the administration of IL-12 to the mammal reduces the hematopoietic toxicity of the treatment; wherein IL-12 is administered without the addition of other cytokines; wherein the dose of IL-12 is between 1 ng/kg and 2000 ng/kg; wherein the mammal does not have a solid tumor; and wherein the therapeutically effective dose of IL-12 is administered (1) at 48 hours before the treatment, (2) less than 48 hours before the treatment, (3) less than 48 hours after the treatment, or (4) at 48 hours after the treatment.