Clinical development of anti‐CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T‐cell therapy for B‐cell non‐Hodgkin lymphoma

B‐cell non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (B‐NHL) is the most frequent hematological malignancy. Although refined chemotherapy regimens and several new therapeutics including rituximab, a chimeric anti‐CD20 monoclonal antibody, have improved its prognosis in recent decades, there are still a substantial number of patients with chemorefractory B‐NHL. Anti‐CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T‐cell therapy is expected to be an effective adoptive cell treatment and has the potential to overcome the chemorefractoriness of B‐cell leukemia and lymphoma. Recently, several clinical trials have shown remarkable efficacy of anti‐CD19 CAR T‐cell therapy, not only in B‐acute lymphoblastic leukemia but also in B‐NHL. Nonetheless, there are several challenges to overcome before introduction into clinical practice, such as: (i) further refinement of the manufacturing process, (ii) further improvement of efficacy, (iii) finding the optimal infusion cell dose, (iv) optimization of lymphocyte‐depleting chemotherapy, (v) identification of the best CAR structure, and (vi) optimization of toxicity management including cytokine release syndrome, neurologic toxicity, and on‐target off‐tumor toxicity. Several ways to solve these problems are currently under study. In this review, we describe the updated clinical data regarding anti‐CD19 CAR T‐cell therapy, with a focus on B‐NHL, and discuss the clinical implications and perspectives of CAR T‐cell therapy.     

Peripheral blood sCD3− CD4+ T cells: a useful diagnostic tool in angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma

Angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma (AITL) belongs to the subgroup of mature T cell lymphomas according to the World Health Organization and is one of the common T cell lymphomas in Western countries. Particularly in cases in which histological confirmation cannot be easily achieved, immunophenotyping of peripheral blood can give important information for the differential diagnosis of AITL. sCD3^? CD4⁺ T cells are a typical feature of AILT in flow cytometry of peripheral blood. In this retrospective study, the diagnostic value of flow cytometry for the diagnosis ‘AITL’ was assessed by comparing the frequency of sCD3^? CD4⁺ T cells in leukemic AITL patients and in patients with other leukemic CD4⁺ T cell lymphomas. Immunophenotyping of peripheral blood by flow cytometry was performed in a lymphocyte gate using fluorochrome‐labelled antibodies against CD3, CD2, CD4, CD5, CD7, CD8, CD10, CD14, CD16, CD19, CD56, CD57 and T cell receptor. In 17/17 leukemic AITL patients, a small but distinct population of sCD3^? CD4⁺ T cells was detected (mean percentage of sCD3^? CD4⁺ T cells in the lymphocyte gate: 11.9 ± 15.4%, range 0.1–51.8%). In contrast, sCD3^? CD4⁺ T cells were found in only 1/40 patients with other leukemic CD4⁺ T cell lymphomas (one patient with mycosis fungoides). sCD3^? CD4⁺ T cells have a high positive predictive value (94%) for the diagnosis ‘AITL’. Flow cytometry is particularly useful in the differential diagnosis of AITL, even if the aberrant T cell population has a very low frequency. Further biological characterization of this subfraction of lymphoma cells is warranted. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基于CD19/IgM亚群分析套细胞淋巴瘤骨髓中T细胞的构比异常

目的:研究T细胞在初诊IV期套细胞淋巴瘤(mantle cell lymphoma, MCL)骨髓单个核细胞中的差异表达。方法:首先流式检测健康供者及MCL组中CD19^-/IgM^-,CD19^-/IgM⁺,CD19⁺/IgM^-,CD19⁺/IgM⁺亚群的比例;其次检测CD45⁺CD3⁺T细胞在两组中的总比例;最后检测T细胞在两组四个亚群中的占比。结果:四个亚群在组内有极其显著的差异(P<0.000 1),两组间无统计学差异。T细胞在MCL组占(0.46±0.13)%较健康供者组(1.10±0.06)%显著减少(P=0.025 1)。四个亚群中T细胞占比在健康供者组内有极其显著的差异(P<0.000 1),而MCL组内差异消失(P=0.329 4)。T细胞在MCL组CD19^-/IgM^-亚组中占(0.02±0.01)%较...     

嵌合抗原受体T细胞在B细胞淋巴瘤中的研究进展

B细胞淋巴瘤的预后在利妥昔单抗出现之后有了明显改善,但仍有一部分患者会复发进展.嵌合抗原受体T细胞（CAR T细胞）是通过基因修饰的方法获得的针对肿瘤细胞表面特定抗原的特异性T细胞,在复发难治B细胞淋巴瘤的治疗中取得了很好疗效,目前研究最多的是针对B细胞淋巴瘤表面的CD19抗原.文章综述了抗CD19 CAR T细胞在复发难治B细胞淋巴瘤中的疗效、不良反应及目前存在的问题.     

Humanized anti‐CD19 chimeric antigen receptor‐T cell therapy is safe and effective in lymphoma and leukemia patients with chronic and resolved hepatitis B virus infection

Chimeric antigen receptor‐T (CAR‐T) cell therapy is a promising treatment for CD19⁺ B‐cell malignancies. However, elimination of B cells by anti‐CD19 CAR‐T cells may lead to the reactivation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and related hepatitis in patients with HBV infection. This study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of humanized anti‐CD19 CAR‐T (hCAR‐T) therapy in B‐cell malignancies with HBV infection. Twenty relapsed/refractory (r/r) diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients with HBV infection were treated with hCAR‐T therapy. Among them, five hepatitis B antigen‐positive patients who received antiviral prophylaxis did not develop HBV reactivation, including two patients who received both hCAR‐T and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo‐HSCT). Among 15 patients with resolved HBV infection, two received antiviral prophylaxis, and the other 13 did not experience HBV reactivation without antiviral prophylaxis. One patient with resolved HBV infection experienced HBV reactivation 6 months after hCAR‐T therapy and sequential allo‐HSCT. Moreover, HBV infection did not affect in vivo expansion of hCAR‐T cells or increase the risk of severe cytokine release syndrome. In conclusion, hCAR‐T therapy is safe and effective in DLBCL and ALL patients with chronic and resolved HBV infection under proper antiviral prophylaxis.     

The therapeutic effect of rituximab on CD5‐positive and CD5‐negative diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma

The prognosis of diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) has improved markedly in recent years of rituximab era. The prognosis of de novo CD5‐positive DLBCL is reported to be poor, but the effect of rituximab on this type of lymphoma remains unclear. To investigate the effect of rituximab on CD5‐positive DLBCL, we collected DLBCL patients and analysed prognostic factors. A total of 157 patients with DLBCL who were immunophenotyped with flow‐cytometry (FCM) and treated with chemotherapy were subjected to analysis. Those treated with radiotherapy alone or with supportive therapy only were not included. Patients diagnosed in 2003 or later were treated with rituximab combined chemotherapy. There were 95 males and 62 females. Their age ranged from 20 to 91 years old, and the median was 65 years. Nineteen patients were diagnosed as having de novo CD5‐positive DLBCL. Rituximab was given alongside chemotherapy in 85 patients. Of these, 11 were positive for CD5 and 74 were negative. The addition of rituximab improved the overall survival (OS) of DLBCL patients (2‐year OS: 82% vs. 70%, p = 0.01). For CD5‐negative DLBCL, patients treated with rituximab showed 2‐year OS of 84%, which was significantly better than those treated without rituximab (70%, p = 0.008). However, for CD5‐positive DLBCL, the prognosis was not statistically different between the patients treated with and without rituximab (59% vs. 50%, p = 0.72). Although rituximab improved the prognosis of DLBCL, such improvement was restricted to the CD5‐negative group. Further investigation is required to improve the prognosis of patients with CD5‐positive DLBCL. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Identification of NY‐BR‐1‐specific CD4+ T cell epitopes using HLA‐transgenic mice

Breast cancer represents the second most common cancer type worldwide and has remained the leading cause of cancer‐related deaths among women. The differentiation antigen NY‐BR‐1 appears overexpressed in invasive mammary carcinomas compared to healthy breast tissue, thus representing a promising target antigen for T cell based tumor immunotherapy approaches. Since efficient immune attack of tumors depends on the activity of tumor antigen‐specific CD4⁺ effector T cells, NY‐BR‐1 was screened for the presence of HLA‐restricted CD4⁺ T cell epitopes that could be included in immunological treatment approaches. Upon NY‐BR‐1‐specific DNA immunization of HLA‐transgenic mice and functional ex vivo analysis, a panel of NY‐BR‐1‐derived library peptides was determined that specifically stimulated IFNγ secretion among splenocytes of immunized mice. Following in silico analyses, four candidate epitopes were determined which were successfully used for peptide immunization to establish NY‐BR‐1‐specific, HLA‐DRB1*0301– or HLA‐DRB1*0401‐restricted CD4⁺ T cell lines from splenocytes of peptide immunized HLA‐transgenic mice. Notably, all four CD4⁺ T cell lines recognized human HLA‐DR‐matched dendritic cells (DC) pulsed with lysates of NY‐BR‐1 expressing human tumor cells, demonstrating natural processing of these epitopes also within the human system. Finally, CD4⁺ T cells specific for all four CD4⁺ T cell epitopes were detectable among PBMC of breast cancer patients, showing that CD4⁺ T cell responses against the new epitopes are not deleted nor inactivated by self‐tolerance mechanisms. Our results present the first NY‐BR‐1‐specific HLA‐DRB1*0301– and HLA‐DRB1*0401‐restricted T cell epitopes that could be exploited for therapeutic intervention against breast cancer.     

Evidence of long‐lasting anti‐CD19 activity of engrafted CD19 chimeric antigen receptor–modified T cells in a phase I study targeting pediatrics with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Ninety percent of relapse/refractory B‐cell acute lymphatic leukemia (R/R B‐ALL) patients can achieve complete remission (CR) after CD19‐targeting chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR‐T) cell therapy. However, around 50% of them relapse in 1 year. Persistent CAR‐T cell engraftment is considered as the key to remain durable remission. Here, we initiated a phase I study to treat 10 pediatric B‐ALL patients using a CD19‐targeted second generation CAR with a 4‐1BB intracellular costimulatory domain. All patients received a standard fludarabine and cyclophosphamide (FC) preconditioning regiment, followed by a CAR‐T infusion with a median number of 0.5 (0.3‐1.58) × 10⁶ CAR+ T cells/kg. The pretreatment tumor burdens were high with a median bone marrow (BM) blasts percentage of 59.2% (7.31%‐86.2%), excluding one patient only with brain infiltration of leukemia cells (0% BM blasts). The initial CR rate was 80% (n = 8/10). Four patients (40%) experienced serious (grade > 2) cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and three patients (30%) with obvious neurotoxicity. Monthly assessments of CD19+ minimal residual disease (MRD) and CAR‐T engraftment demonstrated the anti‐CD19 activity of long‐term engrafted CAR‐T cell clones in one patient for more than 2 years.     

Gemcitabine enhances rituximab‐mediated complement‐dependent cytotoxicity to B cell lymphoma by CD20 upregulation

Although rituximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody that specifically binds to CD20, has significantly improved the prognosis for diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), one‐third of DLBCL patients demonstrate resistance to rituximab or relapse after rituximab treatment. Thus, a novel approach to rituximab‐based treatment is likely to be required to improve the efficacy of DLBCL treatment. As complement dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) is a key mechanism mediating rituximab's tumoricidal activity, rituximab binding to CD20 on tumor cells is a critical factor for effective rituximab‐based treatments against DLBCL. We found that gemcitabine (GEM), but not lenalidomide (LEN) or azacitidine (AZA), can upregulate CD20 expression in TK and KML‐1 cells, two human DLBCL cell lines. Treatment of TK and KML‐1 cells with GEM enhanced CD20 expression at both the mRNA and protein levels. CD20 upregulation by GEM treatment was accompanied by increased rituximab binding to CD20. In TK cells, GEM treatment synergistically increased rituximab‐mediated CDC activity in a dose‐dependent manner. In KML cells, GEM treatment also induced upregulation of complement regulatory proteins, possibly leading to resistance to CDC. Treatment with LEN, a drug that did not upregulate CD20, did not enhance rituximab‐mediated CDC activity. GEM treatment activated nuclear factor‐kappa B (NF‐kB) signaling in these cells. Furthermore, a specific inhibitor to NF‐kB suppressed GEM‐induced CD20 upregulation, indicating that GEM‐induced NF‐kB activation is closely associated with CD20 upregulation. These results suggest that when used in combination, GEM might enhance the antitumor efficacy of rituximab against DLBCL due to its unique ability to upregulate CD20.     

Negative prognostic impact of low absolute CD4+ T cell counts in peripheral blood in mantle cell lymphoma

Tumor microenvironment and host immunity are closely related to outcome in patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). However, few researchers have focused on the prognostic value of peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets counts. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of lymphocyte subsets and absolute monocyte counts. Sixty‐eight patients were analyzed retrospectively. Absolute CD4⁺ T cell counts (ACD4C), CD8⁺ T cell counts, nature killer cell counts, and CD4/CD8 ratios were assessed by peripheral blood flow cytometry and correlated with clinical parameters and long‐term outcomes. The median follow‐up for all patients was 21 months and the median survival time was 44 months. The overall survival (OS) rate at 1, 3, and 5 years was 80%, 51%, and 41%, respectively. In our cohort, high absolute monocyte count, and low ACD4C and CD4/CD8 ratio were associated with unfavorable OS (P = 0.029, P = 0.027, and P = 0.045, respectively) by univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis indicated that low ACD4C was a significant predictor of unfavorable OS (P = 0.004) independent of the simplified MCL International Prognostic Index (P = 0.048) in patients treated with or without rituximab (P = 0.011). Low CD4⁺ T cell counts proved to be a significant predictor of unfavorable OS in patients with MCL.     

非霍奇金淋巴瘤患者血中CD+4 CD+25 T细胞/CD+4 T细胞比率意义初探

  目的 探讨非霍奇金淋巴瘤（NHL）患者外周血中CD+4 CD+25 T细胞／CD+4 T细胞比率的意义。方法 应用流式细胞技术检测15例健康人、41例初诊NHL患者、16例CTOP方案化疗后完全缓解后的NHL患者及25例化疗后未达到完全缓解的患者单位体积内外周血中CD+4 CD+25 T细胞数量和CD+4 T细胞,计算CD+4 CD+25 T细胞占CD+4 T细胞的比率。结果 初诊NHL患者CD+4 CD+25 T细胞／CD+4 T细胞的比率为（7.54±2.31）％,高于健康者的（4.13±1.25）％（P＜0.05）;化疗完全缓解后NHL患者外周血CD+4 CD+25 T细胞／CD+4 T细胞的比率为（6.26±2.28）％,低于初诊化疗前患者的（7.54±2.31％）（P＜0.05）。化疗后未达到完全缓解患者CD+4 CD+25 T细胞／CD+4 T细胞的比率为（7.85±2.12）％,高于化疗后完全缓解的患者的比率（6.26±2.28）％（P＜0.05）。结论 化疗缓解后的NHL患者外周血中CD+4 CD+25 T细胞／CD+4 T细胞的比率较化疗前及化疗未缓解的患者降低,提示CD+4 CD+25 T细胞／CD+4 T细胞的比率可能与NHL患者免疫功能及治疗效果有关。     

Aggressive large B‐cell lymphoma triggered by a parvovirus B19 infection in a previously healthy child

In absence of red blood cells disease or immune defect, parvovirus B19 (PVB‐19) is usually considered as a benign condition. Here, we report the case of a 10‐year‐old boy, previously healthy, presenting with a PVB‐19 infection revealed by a bicytopenia and a voluminous axillary adenopathy. Pathophysiology examination showed reactional lymphoid population. Nine months later and in the absence of remission, a new biopsy of the same adenopathy revealed a Hodgkin lymphoma with area of T‐cell rich aggressive large B‐cell lymphoma. This case suggests PVB‐19 as potential trigger of this malignant childhood hemopathy. Although no definitive conclusion can be drawn, our clinical case questions the role of PVB‐19 in lymphomagenesis.     

Reactivation of hepatitis B virus after rituximab‐containing treatment in patients with CD20‐positive B‐cell lymphoma

BACKGROUND:

Reactivation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) after rituximab‐containing chemotherapy in patients with B‐cell lymphoma has been recognized as a potentially serious complication in HBV immune patients.

METHODS:

To determine the HBV reactivation in patients treated with rituximab, a retrospective study of HBV‐related markers was performed before and after rituximab‐containing treatment in 261 consecutive patients with CD20‐positive B‐cell lymphoma.

RESULTS:

Of the 261 patients, 230 patients were tested for both hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti‐HBc) before treatment. Fifty‐six (24.3%) of 230 patients were anti‐HBc positive, and the remaining 174 (75.6%) patients were anti‐HBc negative. Among the 56 anti‐HBc–positive patients, 5 (8.9%) became HBsAg positive (HBV reactivation), whereas none of the 174 anti‐HBc–negative patients became HBsAg positive with a median follow‐up of 24 months (P = .001). Among the 5 patients with HBV reactivation, 4 were negative for antibody to HBsAg (anti‐HBs), and 1 patient was positive for anti‐HBs. All 5 of these patients were treated successfully with entecavir on detection of HBsAg, although 4 of the 5 patients exhibited mild to moderate elevation of alanine aminotransferase. Among 56 anti‐HBc–positive patients, those negative for anti‐HBs had a higher probability of developing HBV reactivation compared with those positive for anti‐HBs (4 of 19; 21.1% vs 1 of 37; 2.7%, P = .014).

CONCLUSIONS:

Patients with isolated anti‐HBc are at high risk of HBV reactivation and should be monitored closely for HBsAg, anti‐HBs, HBV‐DNA, and transaminase levels during and after rituximab‐containing treatment. Although preemptive use of entecavir enabled successful management of HBV reactivation, mild to moderate hepatic flare was still observed. These approaches should be further evaluated in a prospective study with regard to clinical usefulness, safety, and cost‐effectiveness. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society.     

Frequent expression of CD30 in extranodal NK/T‐cell lymphoma: Potential therapeutic target for anti‐CD30 antibody‐based therapy

Extranodal NK/T‐cell lymphoma, nasal type (ENKTL) is a subtype of non‐Hodgkin lymphoma with a poor prognosis. Although first‐line treatments for patients with localized ENKTL have been established, there is no gold standard treatment for patients with advanced ENKTL and refractory and/or relapsed disease. Anti‐CD30 antibody‐based therapy, including brentuximab vedotin (BV), has been shown to target malignant lymphomas with CD30 expression. In particular, this therapeutic agent has recently been suggested to be effective for Hodgkin lymphoma and mature T‐cell lymphoma. However, the efficacy of BV toward ENKTL has not yet been established. Therefore, we investigated the expression of CD30 in a large cohort to evaluate BV as a potential treatment for ENKTL. In this study, 97 Japanese patients with newly diagnosed ENKTL between January 2007 and December 2015 were enrolled. Flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry were performed for the evaluation of CD30 expression. If the cut‐off value of CD30 expression is 1% or more, there were 55 positive cases (56.5%). According to the localization of lesion, the frequency of CD30 expression was significantly higher in the non‐nasal type than in the nasal type (P = .0394). No differences were observed in almost all clinical characteristics between CD30‐positive cases and CD30‐negative cases. In addition, the expression of CD30 was not a prognostic factor for either overall survival or progression‐free survival. In conclusion, frequent expression of CD30 in ENKTL suggests anti‐CD30 antibody‐based therapy may be an effective treatment.     

非霍奇金淋巴瘤患者外周血CD4+CD25high Treg细胞的变化及临床意义

目的 观察非霍奇金B细胞淋巴瘤(B-NHL)患者外周血CD4+ CD25high调节性T细胞(Treg细胞)水平的变化,初步探讨其临床意义.方法采用流式细胞术检测35例B-NHL患者及20名健康人外周血中Treg细胞,并进行统计分析.结果在35例B-NHL患者的外周血中Treg细胞的比例为(5.29±2.17)％,高于...     

Macrophages in T cell/histiocyte rich large B cell lymphoma strongly express metal‐binding proteins and show a bi‐activated phenotype

Abundant macrophage infiltration in tumors often correlates with a poor prognosis. T cell/histiocyte rich large B cell lymphoma (THRLBCL) is a distinct aggressive B cell lymphoma entity showing a high macrophage content. To further elucidate the role of tumor‐associated macrophages in THRLBCL, we performed gene expression profiling of microdissected histiocyte subsets of THRLBCL, nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL), Piringer lymphadenitis, sarcoidosis, nonspecific lymphadenitis and monocytes from peripheral blood. In a supervised principal component analysis, histiocytes from THRLBCL were most closely related to epithelioid cells from NLPHL, with both types of cells expressing genes related to proinflammatory and regulatory macrophage activity. Moreover, histiocytes from THRLBCL strongly expressed metal‐binding proteins like MT2A, by which histiocytes of THRLBCL can be distinguished from the other histiocyte subsets investigated. Interestingly, the validation at the protein level showed a strong expression of TXN, CXCL9, MT2A and SOD2 not only in macrophages of THRLBCL but also in the tumor cells of NLPHL and classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL). Overall, the present findings indicate that macrophages in the microenvironment of THRLBCL have acquired a distinct gene expression pattern that is characterized by a mixed M1/M2 phenotype and a strong expression of several metal binding proteins. The microenvironments in NLPHL and THRLBCL appear to have a similar influence on the macrophage phenotype. The high expression of metal binding proteins in histiocytes of THRLBCL may be diagnostically useful, but a potential pathophysiological role remains to be identified.     

CD20 alternative splicing isoform generates immunogenic CD4 helper T epitopes

Cancer‐specific splice variants gain significant interest as they generate neo‐antigens that could be targeted by immune cells. CD20, a membrane antigen broadly expressed in mature B cells and in B cell lymphomas, is subject to an alternative splicing named D393‐CD20 leading to loss of membrane expression of the spliced isoform. D393‐CD20 expression is detectable in transformed B cells and upregulated in various lymphoma B cells. In this study, we show that D393‐CD20 is translated in malignant B cells and that D393‐CD20 specific CD4 T cells producing IFN‐γ are present in B‐cell lymphoma patients. Then, we have investigated whether the 20mer D393‐CD20 peptide spanning the splicing site might be targeted by the immune system and we have shown that D393‐CD20‐specific CD4 Th1 clones could directly recognize malignant B cell lines and kill autologous lymphoma B cells indicating that D393‐CD20‐derived epitopes are naturally processed and presented on tumor cells. Finally, D393‐CD20 peptide‐based vaccination induced specific CD8 and CD4 T cell responses in HLA‐humanized transgenic mice suggesting the presentation of D393‐CD20 derived peptides on both HLA Class‐I and ‐II. These findings support further investigations on the potential use of D393‐CD20 directed specific immunotherapy in B cell malignancies.     

Vav‐1 expression correlates with NFκB activation and CD40‐mediated cell death in diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma cell lines

Diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is an aggressive malignancy with a variable response to therapy. We have previously shown that DLBCL cell lines differ in their susceptibility to CD40‐mediated cell death, and that resistance to CD40‐targeted antibodies correlated with increased expression of markers of immature B‐cell and absence of Vav‐1 mRNA. We used gene expression profiling to investigate the mechanism of CD40 resistance in these cell lines, and found that resistance correlated with lack of Vav‐1 and inability to activate NFκB upon CD40 ligation. Analysis of tissue microarrays of 213 DLBCL cases revealed that Vav‐1 expression correlated with a higher proliferative index and the presence of the post‐germinal centre marker Irf‐4. Our results suggest that Vav‐1 expression may be associated with activated B‐cell DLBCL origin and higher proliferative activity, and indicate Vav‐1 as a potential marker to identify tumours likely to respond to CD40‐targeted therapies. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

监测肾癌患者外周血CD4~+CD25~+调节性T细胞在术后免疫治疗中的作用

目的:探讨肾癌患者外周血CD4+CD25+T淋巴细胞的监测在术后辅助免疫治疗中的作用。方法:将24例肾癌患者随机分为两组:A组,根治性肾切除术后行IFN-α辅助免疫治疗;B组,单纯行根治性肾切除术;C组,10例健康对照。分别在术前、术后1周以及术后3个月免疫治疗结束时采集外周血样本,流式细胞仪检测CD4+、CD8+、CD4+CD25、CD4+CD25high T淋巴细胞亚群含量,并计算各部分比值。结果:A、B组术前CD4+CD25+、CD4+CD25high T淋巴细胞亚群总体上增加,并且其含量随肿瘤分期的进展而增加(P<0.05),但部分患者并不高于健康对照组。免疫治疗后,肾癌患者CD4+CD25+T淋巴细胞总体略有上升,但术前较高的患者中,约2/3下降。结论:利用流式细胞仪监测肾癌患者外周血CD4+CD25+T淋巴细胞亚群可反映机体抗肿瘤免疫状态,有助于预测免疫治疗的预后,为肾癌尤其是早期肾癌术后辅助免疫治疗的选择提供参考。