title: Genetically modified T lymphocytes: more than just direct effectors.
abstract: Evaluation of: Russo V, Pilla L, Lunghi F et al. Clinical and immunologic responses in melanoma patients vaccinated with MAGE-A3-genetically modified lymphocytes. Int. J. Cancer 132(11), 2557-2566 (2012). When one mentions T lymphocytes, one easily recognizes the effective and antigen-specific manner by which T lymphocytes execute cellular immune responses towards pathogen-infected or cancerous cells. Russo and coworkers recognized the other side of the coin and exploited the potency of T cells to act as a cellular vaccine, to which end they used T cells transduced with the cancer-testis antigen MAGE-A3. Twenty-three patients with MAGE-A3-expressing melanoma were treated and six patients developed MAGE-A3-specific immune responses and showed clinical benefit, whereas patients without a MAGE-A3-specific immune response did not show clinical benefit. This report includes and extends on results from a pilot study including ten patients, of which three developed MAGE-A3-specific immune responses. The present study further explores a potential beneficial application of the observed immunogenicity of genetically modified T cells.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Tumor Immunology, Department of Medical Oncology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, PO Box 5201, 3008 AE Rotterdam, The Netherlands. c.lamers@erasmusmc.nl
authors.forename: Cor H J
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lamers
authors.forename: Reno
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Debets
mesh_terms: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology*; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000276:immunology*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins