Background: Follicular lymphoma (FL) is a common indolent lymphoma associated with a relapsing course. Preclinical models and clinical studies demonstrate that immunizing FL patients against their own tumor idiotype induces humoral and cellular immunity and supresses tumor growth.
Methods: We review idiotype vaccine strategies that have been tested in FL patients in frontline and relapsed settings to examine the safety and efficacy of this approach.
Results: Several Phase II trials of recombinant or hybridoma-produced vaccines or vaccines combined with other immunotherapy demonstrate cellular and humoral anti-idiotype responses and clinical responses, indicating that idiotype vaccines provide promise for improving FL outcomes.
Conclusion: These strategies are now being evaluated in Phase III trials but have yet to demonstrate clear advantages in progression-free survival.