Adoptive immunotherapy of malignant glioma using tumor-sensitized T lymphocytes.
Malignant glioma remains one disease for which there is no curative therapy. Clearly there is a need to explore new and innovative approaches for their treatment. In this report, we review our preclinical trial of a new adoptive immunotherapy protocol using cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) which had been sensitized to glioma in vivo and then activated and their number expanded ex vivo using compounds which enhance signal transduction. These glioma-sensitized lymphocytes, when introduced systemically into rats with either an intracerebral or intradermal glioma, eradicated or slowed the progression of their tumor. These results indicate for the first time that a reproducible and sustained eradication of a malignant glioma could be achieved by the adoptive transfer of tumor-sensitized, ex vivo expanded CTL. A Phase I clinical trial is now underway to test the safety and potential efficacy of this immunotherapy in patients with recurrent malignant glioma.
Merchant
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RE
Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical College of Virginia, Richmond 23298-0631, USA.
Baldwin
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NG
Rice
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CD
Bear
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HD
D000818:Animals; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005910:Glioma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D016219:Immunotherapy, Adoptive; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000637:transplantation*