Dendritic cell-based immunotherapy in multiple myeloma

Leuk Lymphoma. 2003 Dec;44(12):2031-8. doi: 10.1080/1042819031000116599.

Abstract

Most patients with multiple myeloma (MM) cannot be cured with currently available therapies. Although complete remission could be achieved in about 50% of newly diagnosed patients with high-dose chemotherapy and tandem transplantation, relapses of the underlying disease occur frequently. To realize long-term disease-free survival, it will be necessary to develop complementary therapies that are non-cross-resistant with chemotherapy. To this end, immunotherapy aimed at inducing or enhancing tumor-specific immunity that may control or eradicate remaining tumor cells may be an appealing method. Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen-presenting cells and considered the best natural adjuvants for immunotherapy in malignancies. Vaccination with tumor antigen-pulsed DCs has been shown to be protective and therapeutic in animal tumor models, and induced a strong tumor-specific immunity and durable tumor regression in human solid tumors and B-cell lymphoma. As a result, clinical trials in various human malignancies have been initiated. This review will focus on DC-based immunotherapy in MM. I will discuss myeloma antigens and antigen-specific immune responses, the capacity of DCs to present myeloma antigens and induce cytotoxic T-cell responses, and clinical experience of DC vaccination in myeloma patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antigen-Presenting Cells / immunology
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / immunology
  • Cancer Vaccines
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Dendritic Cells / cytology*
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy / methods*
  • Multiple Myeloma / therapy*
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • Cancer Vaccines