Immunological response after therapeutic vaccination with WT1 mRNA-loaded dendritic cells in end-stage endometrial carcinoma.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Wilms' tumour gene 1 (WT1), a highly ranked immunotherapeutic target, is expressed in uterine cancer and therefore WT1 immunotherapy may present an attractive treatment option.

PATIENT AND METHODS:

An HLA-A2.1-positive 46-year-old woman with end-stage serous endometrial cancer received 4 weekly injections of WT1-RNA-loaded dendritic cells. Response was measured clinically (CT scan), biochemically (CA125) and immunologically (WT1-specific T cells).

RESULTS:

The patient showed WT1 positivity in 10% of tumour cells and diffusely in the intratumoural endothelial cells of the recurrent disease. After 2 injections, CA125 started to decrease and WT1-specific T-cells increased 2.5-fold. The treatment was feasible and there were no treatment-related side-effects. However, the patient, suffering from diffuse disease which became progressive again, died 8 months later.

CONCLUSION:

This is the first patient with a WT1-positive endometrial carcinoma, to receive immunotherapy with WT1-RNA-loaded dendritic cells, resulting in a vaccine-specific T cell response.

• Authors: Ann Coosemans, Matthias Wölfl, Zwi N Berneman, Viggo Van Tendeloo, Ignace Vergote, Frédéric Amant, Stefaan W Van Gool
• Journal: Anticancer research (Anticancer Res) Vol. 30 Issue 9 Pg. 3709-14 (Sep 2010) ISSN: 1791-7530 [Electronic] Greece
• PMID: 20944158 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Cancer Vaccines
• RNA, Messenger
• WT1 Proteins

Topics

• Cancer Vaccines (immunology, therapeutic use)
• Dendritic Cells (immunology)
• Endometrial Neoplasms (immunology, pathology, therapy)
• Female
• Humans
• Immunotherapy (methods)
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasm Recurrence, Local (therapy)
• Neoplasm Staging
• RNA, Messenger (immunology)
• T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic (immunology)
• WT1 Proteins (immunology)