IDIOTYPIC PROTEIN-PULSED ADHERENT PERIPHERAL-BLOOD MONONUCLEAR CELL-DERIVED DENDRITIC CELLS PRIME IMMUNE-SYSTEM IN MULTIPLE-MYELOMA

Adherent peripheral blood mononuclear cell-derived dendritic cells pul sed with autologous idiotypic protein (Id) were given to a patient wit h advanced-stage refractory myeloma. Potentially beneficial antimyelom a Id-specific immune responses were produced, characterized by MHC-dep endent T-cell-proliferative responses with cytokine release and the pr oduction of anti-Id antibodies. A T-cell line generated after vaccinat ion was also able to lyse autologous Id-pulsed targets and recognize f resh autologous myeloma cells, The immune responses were associated wi th a transient minor fall in the serum Id level and were not ablated b y high-dose myeloablative chemotherapy. This report therefore demonstr ates the clinical use of adherent peripheral blood mononuclear cell-de rived dendritic cells for vaccination in cancer and the persistence of immune responses after high-dose chemotherapy, Such a therapeutic app roach may be useful in reducing the relapse rate in patients who have minimal residual disease after chemotherapy.