CML vaccines as a paradigm of the specific immunotherapy of cancer.
T cells are implicated in the effective control of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Recently, several clinical observations supported by laboratory data, indicate the presence of CML-specific T cells. Many proteins potentially act as leukemia-specific antigens for MHC-restricted cytotoxicity in CML. These include the bcr-abl fusion protein, myeloid-specific differentiation antigens and minor histocompatibility antigens. There is recent evidence to suggest that bcr-abl junctional peptides are capable of eliciting both CD4 and CD8 responses in normal healthy donors and in patients with CML. Moreover, T cell lines can be generated that react with autologous or HLA-matched fresh CML cells, suggesting that the bcr-abl fusion protein can be processed and expressed in the MHC cell surface molecules. Clinical trials exploiting the new understanding of the immunology of CML are underway.
Pinilla-Ibarz
J
J
Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021, USA.
Cathcart
K
K
Scheinberg
D A
DA
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016219:Immunotherapy, Adoptive; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl