title: Treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma with Epstein-Barr virus--specific T lymphocytes.
abstract: Conventional treatment for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) frequently fails and is accompanied by severe long-term side effects. Since virtually all undifferentiated NPCs are associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), this tumor is an attractive candidate for cellular immunotherapy targeted against tumor-associated viral antigens. We now demonstrate that EBV-specific cytotoxic T-cell (CTL) lines can readily be generated from individuals with NPC, notwithstanding the patients' prior exposure to chemotherapy/radiation. A total of 10 patients diagnosed with advanced NPC were treated with autologous CTLs. All patients tolerated the CTLs, although one developed increased swelling at the site of pre-existing disease. At 19 to 27 months after infusion, 4 patients treated in remission from locally advanced disease remain disease free. Of 6 patients with refractory disease prior to treatment, 2 had complete responses, and remain in remission over 11 to 23 months after treatment; 1 had a partial remission that persisted for 12 months; 1 has had stable disease for more than 14 months; and 2 had no response. These results demonstrate that administration of EBV-specific CTLs to patients with advanced NPC is feasible, appears to be safe, and can be associated with significant antitumor activity.
authors.affiliation: Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, 1102 Bates St, Suite 1120, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Karin C M
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Straathof
authors.forename: Catherine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Bollard
authors.forename: Uday
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Popat
authors.forename: M Helen
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Huls
authors.forename: Teresita
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.forename: M Craig
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Morriss
authors.forename: Mary V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Gresik
authors.forename: Adrian P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Gee
authors.forename: Heidi V
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: Malcolm K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Brenner
authors.forename: Cliona M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Rooney
authors.forename: Helen E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Heslop
mesh_terms: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity; D016219:Immunotherapy, Adoptive / Q000379:methods*; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D012074:Remission Induction; D037182:T-Cell Antigen Receptor Specificity; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000637:transplantation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral