title: Tumour-dendritic hybrid cell vaccination for the treatment of patients with malignant melanoma: immunological effects and clinical results.
abstract: Hybrid cell vaccines of autologous tumour cells fused with allogenic dendritic cells (DC) combine the tumour's antigenicity with the immune-stimulatory capacity of mature dendritic cells and allogenic MHC class II molecules to activate T cell help and induce tumour-specific cytotoxic T cells. This concept was tested in a clinical trial with melanoma stage III and IV patients. Seventeen patients were evaluated: one experienced complete, one partial response and six stable disease with long survival times. Eleven of fourteen patients, clinical responders and non-responders alike, mounted high-frequency T cell responses to various tumour-associated antigens. Failing clinical responses correlated with loss of antigenicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Charité, University Medicine Berlin, Humboldt University, Schumannstr. 20/21, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Trefzer
authors.forename: Gunda
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Herberth
authors.forename: Karolina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wohlan
authors.forename: Annett
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Milling
authors.forename: Max
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thiemann
authors.forename: Tumenjargal
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sharav
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sparbier
authors.forename: Wolfram
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sterry
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Walden
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002459:Cell Fusion; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D006822:Hybrid Cells / Q000276:immunology; D007519:Isoantigens / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008545:Melanoma / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D007519:Isoantigens