title: Biological effect of OK-432 (picibanil) and possible application to dendritic cell therapy.
abstract: OK-432 (Picibanil), a streptococcal preparation with potent biological response modifying activities, was approved in Japan as an anticancer agent in 1975. In the ensuing 30 years, since then, a significant amount of data, including clinical as well as experimental studies, has been accumulated. OK-432 has been reported to induce various cytokines, activate immunological cells and thus augment anticancer immunity. Recently, the interrelation between innate immunity and adaptive immunity has become clear and it was reported that OK-432 acts, at least in part, via Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4-MD2 signaling pathway. In addition, dendritic cells (DCs) are considered to play a pivotal role in immunological response and it is reported that OK-432 induced maturation of DCs both in vitro and in vivo. These results suggest that OK-432 is a useful adjuvant in DC-based anticancer immunotherapy. Clinical studies of DC therapy with OK-432 are under way.
authors.affiliation: Product Lifecycle and Medical Information Division, Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. 2-1-9 Kyobashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan. ryomaysk@chugai-pharm.co.jp
authors.forename: Yoshiki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ryoma
authors.forename: Yoichiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Moriya
authors.forename: Masato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kanaya
authors.forename: Motoo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Mitsunobu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sato
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D016219:Immunotherapy, Adoptive / Q000379:methods*; D010844:Picibanil / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D010844:Picibanil