title: The combined administration of partially HLA-matched irradiated allogeneic lymphocytes and thalidomide in advanced renal-cell carcinoma: a case report.
abstract: Renal-cell carcinoma (RCC) is susceptible to immune therapy including the use of the nonmyeloablative allogeneic transplantation (NST). However, NST can produce severe toxicity, might not be appropriate for many patients with metastatic RCC. Other novel allogeneic immunotherapies are designed to induce an autologous immune response directed against the malignancy. In single-arm phase II trials, thalidomide has demonstrated a modest activity in the treatment of advanced RCC. Here we present a case report in which a patient with advanced RCC in the absence of transplant conditioning, that was receiving thalidomide, was infused with partially HLA-matched irradiated allogeneic lymphocytes. In this patient a complete response with weak acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) was observed. No evidence of the disease was present over the subsequent 36 months survival of the patient, suggesting that the infusions may have played a major role in the antineoplastic effect. A potential mechanism of this protocol may involve a host-versus-graft reactions-mediated antitumor effect against the malignancy. In addition, the present results suggest that a combination protocol with alternate treatment (e.g., chemotherapy) schedules merit further investigation in the management of various malignancies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Fujian Provincial Tumor Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350014, People's Republic of China. cqiang8@pub5.fz.fj.cn
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Rong-Bo
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yun-Bin
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Nan-Feng
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Zeng-Qing
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Zhi-Feng
authors.initials: ZF
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Xiao-Jie
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Min-Shui
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Shu-Pin
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jie-Yu
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000528:radiation effects; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D017710:Lymphocyte Transfusion / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens; D013792:Thalidomide