Abstract |
Most patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) achieve complete remission (CR) after induction chemotherapy. Despite ensuing courses of consolidation chemotherapy, a large fraction of patients will experience relapses with poor prospects of long-term survival. Histamine dihydrochloride (HDC) in combination with the T-cell-derived cytokine IL-2 was recently approved within the EU as a remission maintenance immunotherapy in AML. HDC reduces myeloid cell-derived suppression of anti-leukemic lymphocytes, and aims to unravel a therapeutic benefit of IL-2 in AML by improving natural killer and T-cell activation. A randomized Phase III trial with 320 AML patients in CR demonstrated a significant reduction of relapse risk after immunotherapy with HDC plus low-dose IL-2 in the post-consolidation phase. HDC is the first approved therapeutic to target the state of immunosuppression in AML; further development in this area may comprise supplementary or alternative counter-suppressive agents with the aim to improve the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy.
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Authors | Anna Martner, Fredrik B Thorén, Johan Aurelius, Jonas Söderholm, Mats Brune, Kristoffer Hellstrand |
Journal | Expert review of hematology
(Expert Rev Hematol)
Vol. 3
Issue 4
Pg. 381-91
(Aug 2010)
ISSN: 1747-4094 [Electronic] England |
PMID | 21083028
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)
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Chemical References |
- Antineoplastic Agents
- Interleukin-2
- Histamine
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Topics |
- Antineoplastic Agents
(adverse effects, immunology, therapeutic use)
- Histamine
(adverse effects, immunology, therapeutic use)
- Humans
- Immunotherapy
- Interleukin-2
(adverse effects, immunology, therapeutic use)
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute
(drug therapy)
- Molecular Targeted Therapy
- Secondary Prevention
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