Abstract
Multiple myeloma is characterized by a proliferation of clonal B lymphocytes and plasma cells. The idiotypic structure of clonal immunoglobulin (Ig) expressed on the tumour B-cell surface can be regarded as a tumour-specific antigen and, as such, a potential target for anti-idiotypic T and B cells in an immune regulation of the tumour-cell clone. Active immunization using the autologous monoclonal Ig as a 'vaccine' was shown to induce tumour-specific immunity in murine B-cell tumours and in human B-cell lymphoma. With the aim to induce or amplify an antiidiotypic response in multiple myeloma, five stage I-III patients were repeatedly immunized with the autologous monoclonal IgG. Induction of idiotype-specific cellular immunity was analysed in vitro by an enzyme-linked immunospot assay (interferon-γ and interleukin-4 secreting cells). B cells secreting anti-idiotypic IgM antibodies were also analysed. An anti-idiotypic T-cell response was amplified 1.9-5-fold in three of the five patients during immunization. The number of B cells secreting anti-idiotypic antibodies also increased in these three patients. In two of the patients induction of idiotype-specific anmunity was associated with a gradual decrease of blood CD19+ B cells. The induced T-cell response was eliminated during repeated immunization. Further studies are warranted to optimize the immunization schedule in order to achieve a long-lasting T-cell immunity against idiotypic determinants on the tumour clone. A role for immunity in controlling the tumour clone remains to be established.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 840-846 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | British Journal of Haematology |
Volume | 92 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1996 |
Keywords
- B-cell response
- T-cell response
- idiotype
- immunization
- multiple myeloma
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Hematology