title: Idiotype vaccination in multiple myeloma induced a reduction of circulating clonal tumor B cells.
abstract: Myeloma cells express the idiotype (Id)-specific antigen that may be targeted by Id vaccination. Six patients with stage I IgG myeloma were immunized with the autologous purified M component together with the adjuvant cytokines interleukin 12 (IL-12) alone or in combination with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). The effect of Id vaccination on circulating clonal tumor B cells was monitored by a real-time allele-specific oligonucleotide polymerase chain reaction method. No other treatment was given. Reduction of blood tumor mass was observed in 4 of 6 patients, with one patient achieving a complete molecular remission in blood. In 3 of these 4 patients an Id-specific T-cell response was induced. In the remaining 2 patients with an unchanged level of blood tumor cells, one patient mounted a T-cell response, whereas the other did not. No significant change in the serum M protein level was noted. Id vaccination may target clonal B cells, suggesting that this strategy might be conducive to achieving tumor control. The clinical significance of these findings remains to be established.
authors.affiliation: Herlev Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
authors.forename: Lotta
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hansson
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Osterborg
authors.forename: Hans Erik
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Johnsen
authors.forename: Håkan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mellstedt
mesh_terms: D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002999:Clone Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D009194:Myeloma Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012074:Remission Induction / Q000379:methods; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D016207:Cytokines; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes; D009194:Myeloma Proteins