Vaccine therapy for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and other B-cell malignancies

Abstract

Immunity against tumor antigens, including the passive transfer of humoral (antibody-based) immunity or cellular immunity in the form of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte clones, has been exploited for the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and other B-cell malignancies in recent years. In many strategies, the idiotype expressed on B-cell malignancies is the antigen used to induce active immunity. Early studies using purified idiotype, immune adjuvant and cytokines to induce anti-idiotype immunity have demonstrated that these methods are safe and potentially effective, and they are now being tested in prospective, randomized clinical trials. Methods for improvement include recombinant sources of idiotype, DNA vectors, enhancement of antigen delivery and presentation by using dendritic cells, boosting immune help through the use of cytokine delivery or foreign antigens, and blocking negative regulators. The goal of this approach is to induce lasting and individualized immunity against B-cell malignancies that is readily available and cost-effective.