Therapeutic clonotypic vaccines

Article Abstract:

A research study reported the results of vaccinating patients with B-cell lymphoma against their own cancer cells. B-cell lymphoma is a form of cancer that affects B-cells, or cells of the immune system that produce antibodies. Antibodies produced by lymphoma, or malignant, B-cells, were removed from each of the patients and fused with a protein that would cause an immune response. The protein-conjugate was suspended in a solution and injected into each of patient from whom the B-cell antibodies had been removed. Three out of nine patients produced antibodies that were capable of binding and clearing malignant B-cells from circulation. Five patients produced increased amounts of CD4 T-cells, or cells of the immune system, after injection of the vaccine. A similar type of vaccine is being developed to treat patients with autoimmune diseases involving T-cells.

Care and treatment, Research, Usage, Vaccines, Lymphomas, Tumor antigens

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The new immunology -- the end of immunosuppressive drug therapy?

Article Abstract:

Research on immunology has led to the possibility of inactivating specific T cells while leaving others unaffected. T cells become activated against a foreign protein when antigen-presenting cells bind to them. However, if the binding is impaired in some way, the T cell enters a dormant state called anergy. In this state, it is incapable of responding to the foreign protein. A 1999 study of 12 leukemia patients found that exposing both donor and recipient T cells to a chemical that causes T cells to become anergic to donor cells significantly reduced the need for immunosuppressive drugs following bone marrow transplantation.

Health aspects, Prevention, Bone marrow, Bone marrow transplantation, Immunosuppression, Graft versus host reaction, Graft vs. host disease

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Hodgkin's disease - time for a change

Article Abstract:

Research is needed to discover why Reed-Sternberg cells survive even though they have gene rearrangements that should kill them. Reed-Sternberg cells are found in patients with Hodgkin's disease and are thought to originate from B cells. Studies have shown that Reed-Sternberg cells in some biopsy samples all have the same gene rearrangements, indicating that they developed from a single cell. Many of the gene rearrangements are not compatible with life, yet the cells still survive. Infection with the Epstein-Barr virus may prevent the cells from dying.

Hodgkin's disease, Physiological aspects, Genetic aspects, Cancer cells

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