title: Idiotypic vaccination in B-cell malignancies.
abstract: Immunoglobulins contain unique portions, collectively termed idiotypes, that can be recognized by the immune system. Idiotypes expressed by tumor cells in B-cell malignancies can be regarded as tumor-specific antigens and targets for vaccine immunotherapy. Haptens and adjuvants, including cytokines, have been used in several animal models to increase idiotype immunogenicity and establish protective anti-idiotype immunity. These results have been extended by the use of DNA technology, and this has led to the development of a new generation of immunogens, namely fusion proteins and naked-DNA vaccines. The central role of antigen-presenting cells as initiators of anti-idiotype immune responses has also been recognized. Guided by the experimental data, idiotypic vaccination has come into medical use in patients with lymphoma and multiple myeloma.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina e Oncologia Sperimentale, Azienda Ospedaliera San Giovanni Battista di Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Massaia
mesh_terms: D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D014611:Vaccination / Q000379:methods*; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D019444:Vaccines, DNA