title: Immunotherapy with histamine dihydrochloride for the prevention of relapse in acute myeloid leukemia.
abstract: Most patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) achieve complete remission (CR) after induction chemotherapy. Despite ensuing courses of consolidation chemotherapy, a large fraction of patients will experience relapses with poor prospects of long-term survival. Histamine dihydrochloride (HDC) in combination with the T-cell-derived cytokine IL-2 was recently approved within the EU as a remission maintenance immunotherapy in AML. HDC reduces myeloid cell-derived suppression of anti-leukemic lymphocytes, and aims to unravel a therapeutic benefit of IL-2 in AML by improving natural killer and T-cell activation. A randomized Phase III trial with 320 AML patients in CR demonstrated a significant reduction of relapse risk after immunotherapy with HDC plus low-dose IL-2 in the post-consolidation phase. HDC is the first approved therapeutic to target the state of immunosuppression in AML; further development in this area may comprise supplementary or alternative counter-suppressive agents with the aim to improve the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy.
authors.affiliation: University of Gothenburg, Guldhedsgatan 10B, 413 46 Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martner
authors.forename: Fredrik B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Thorén
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aurelius
authors.forename: Jonas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Söderholm
authors.forename: Mats
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brune
authors.forename: Kristoffer
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hellstrand
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006632:Histamine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy*; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D055502:Secondary Prevention
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007376:Interleukin-2; D006632:Histamine