Idiotype immunity (natural and vaccine-induced) in early stage multiple myeloma.

Idiotypic structures expressed on the myeloma immunoglobulin (Ig) protein (M-component) might be regarded as tumor-specific antigens. Naturally occurring, idiotype-specific type I T-cell immunity has been observed preferentially in patients with early stage myeloma. The idiotypic structures on the clonal myeloma B-cells (B lymphocytes and plasma cells) may serve as targets for active immunization. Vaccination using the autologous monoclonal Ig as a vaccine has conferred resistance to tumor cell challenge in murine myeloma. The autologous myeloma Ig protein was used for immunization in patients with progressive stage I and early stage II multiple myeloma. When the idiotype (emulsified in aluminium phosphate) was used alone for immunization, a weak and transient idiotype-specific T-cell response was observed with no clinical effects. In our second series, the idiotype (in alum) was combined with GM-CSF. In all five patients, a specific T-cell response was induced consisting preferentially of MHC class I restricted (CD8+) T-cells. Ig-specific CD4+ T-cells were also induced. A clinical response ( > 50% reduction of the M-component concentration) was observed in one patient. These results indicate that idiotype-specific T-cell immunity may be induced or enhanced by idiotype Ig vaccination in patients with early stage multiple myeloma, in which the tumor load is relatively low and the immune system is functionally less compromized than in patients with chemotherapy-treated, advanced stages of the disease. The use of GM-CSF seems to be mandatory for the frequency and magnitude of the induced T-cell response. The optimal route, schedule and cytokine combination for idiotype immunization remains to be established.