Evidence that specific T lymphocytes may participate in the elimination of chronic myelogenous leukemia.

Abstract

Although the immune system has long been implicated in the control of cancer, evidence for specific and efficacious immune responses in human cancer has been lacking. In the case of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), either allogeneic bone marrow transplant (BMT) or interferon-alpha2b (IFN-alpha2b) therapy can result in complete remission, but the mechanism for prolonged disease control is unknown and may involve immune anti-leukemic responses. We previously demonstrated that PR1, a peptide derived from proteinase 3, is a potential target for CML-specific T cells. Here we studied 38 CML patients treated with allogeneic BMT, IFN- alpha2b or chemotherapy to look for PR1-specific T cells using PR1/HLA-A*0201 tetrameric complexes. There was a strong correlation between the presence of PR1-specific T cells and clinical responses after IFN-alpha and allogeneic BMT. This provides for the first time direct evidence of a role for T-cell immunity in clearing malignant cells.

• Authors: J J Molldrem, P P Lee, C Wang, K Felio, H M Kantarjian, R E Champlin, M M Davis
• Journal: Nature medicine (Nat Med) Vol. 6 Issue 9 Pg. 1018-23 (Sep 2000) ISSN: 1078-8956 [Print] United States
• PMID: 10973322 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Interferon-alpha
• Peptide Fragments
• Serine Endopeptidases
• Myeloblastin

Topics

• Blood Circulation
• Bone Marrow Transplantation
• Cytotoxicity, Immunologic
• Graft vs Leukemia Effect
• Humans
• Interferon-alpha (therapeutic use)
• Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive (immunology, therapy)
• Myeloblastin
• Peptide Fragments (immunology)
• Remission Induction
• Serine Endopeptidases (immunology)
• T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic (immunology)