BACKGROUND: Imatinib is the current standard frontline therapy for chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). In the majority of patients, imatinib induces a complete cytogenetic response (CCyR); however, complete molecular responses are infrequent. The Bcr-Abl fusion creates a unique sequence of amino acids that could constitute a target for immunomodulation. METHODS: A mixture of heteroclitic and native peptides derived from both b3a2 and b2a2 sequences was used to vaccinate patients with CML in CCyR who were receiving imatinib therapy and who had stable Bcr-Abl transcript levels. RESULTS: Ten patients were enrolled, all with b2a2 transcripts (including 2 patients who had coexpression of b2a2 and b3a2). Patients had received imatinib for a median of 62 months. Three of 10 patients achieved 1-log reduction in Bcr-Abl transcript levels, including the 2 patients who had received previous interferon therapy, and 3 other patients achieved a major molecular response. The vaccine was tolerated well, and there were no grade > or =3 adverse events. Vaccination did not affect the leukocyte profiles in peripheral blood except for regulatory T cells, which were down-regulated briefly during the late stage of vaccination in patients who achieved approximately 1-log reduction in Bcr-Abl transcript levels. CONCLUSIONS: The current data suggested that vaccination-related transient disruption of immune tolerance may contribute to the reduction in Bcr-Abl transcripts. Clinically, this Bcr-Abl peptide vaccine may transiently improve the molecular response in a subset of patients with CML.
BACKGROUND:Imatinib is the current standard frontline therapy for chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). In the majority of patients, imatinib induces a complete cytogenetic response (CCyR); however, complete molecular responses are infrequent. The Bcr-Abl fusion creates a unique sequence of amino acids that could constitute a target for immunomodulation. METHODS: A mixture of heteroclitic and native peptides derived from both b3a2 and b2a2 sequences was used to vaccinate patients with CML in CCyR who were receiving imatinib therapy and who had stable Bcr-Abl transcript levels. RESULTS: Ten patients were enrolled, all with b2a2 transcripts (including 2 patients who had coexpression of b2a2 and b3a2). Patients had received imatinib for a median of 62 months. Three of 10 patients achieved 1-log reduction in Bcr-Abl transcript levels, including the 2 patients who had received previous interferon therapy, and 3 other patients achieved a major molecular response. The vaccine was tolerated well, and there were no grade > or =3 adverse events. Vaccination did not affect the leukocyte profiles in peripheral blood except for regulatory T cells, which were down-regulated briefly during the late stage of vaccination in patients who achieved approximately 1-log reduction in Bcr-Abl transcript levels. CONCLUSIONS: The current data suggested that vaccination-related transient disruption of immune tolerance may contribute to the reduction in Bcr-Abl transcripts. Clinically, this Bcr-Abl peptide vaccine may transiently improve the molecular response in a subset of patients with CML.
Authors: Kathleen Cathcart; Javier Pinilla-Ibarz; Tatyana Korontsvit; Joseph Schwartz; Victoriya Zakhaleva; Esperanza B Papadopoulos; David A Scheinberg Journal: Blood Date: 2003-09-22 Impact factor: 22.113
Authors: A de Klein; A G van Kessel; G Grosveld; C R Bartram; A Hagemeijer; D Bootsma; N K Spurr; N Heisterkamp; J Groffen; J R Stephenson Journal: Nature Date: 1982-12-23 Impact factor: 49.962
Authors: Tim P Hughes; Jaspal Kaeda; Susan Branford; Zbigniew Rudzki; Andreas Hochhaus; Martee L Hensley; Insa Gathmann; Ann E Bolton; Iris C van Hoomissen; John M Goldman; Jerald P Radich Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2003-10-09 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: R Dyall; W B Bowne; L W Weber; J LeMaoult; P Szabo; Y Moroi; G Piskun; J J Lewis; A N Houghton; J Nikolić-Zugić Journal: J Exp Med Date: 1998-11-02 Impact factor: 14.307