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  • Letter to the Editor
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Maintained immunogenicity of chronic myeloid leukemia-derived dendritic cells in the presence of Imatinib mesylate: implication for vaccination regimens

Leukemia volume 20, pages 154–157 (2006)Cite this article

TO THE EDITOR

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is characterized by a reciprocal translocation between chromosomes 9 and 22 resulting in the BCR-ABL fusion gene. The resulting BCR-ABL fusion protein has constitutive tyrosine kinase activity and can be targeted by Imatinib mesylate (Glivec, Novartis). Imatinib induces complete cytogenetic remission in a majority of patients. However, molecular remissions are found in 5–15% of Imatinib-treated patients. BCR-ABL is not only a critical oncogene, but a CML-specific antigen that can evoke immune responses as well. Lack of T-cell responses sufficient to protect against CML may be related to many factors including inadequate Ag presentation and costimulation by CML cells. Dendritic cells (DCs), the most potent antigen-presenting cells, can be generated from CML cells in vitro. CML-derived DCs should be able to present leukemia-associated antigens to the immune system. Intradermal vaccination with in vitro generated autologous CML-derived DCs in patients in late chronic phase CML resulted in an antileukemia immune response as demonstrated by a strong delayed type of hypersensitivity response.1 Recently, BCR-ABL-specific peptide vaccination of Imatinib or interferon-α-treated patients resulted in the induction of peptide-specific T-cell responses and even reduction of residual cytogenetic disease.2 Both studies underscore that immunotherapy deserves further exploration to control or eradicate minimal residual disease in CML.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Bijan Moshaver and Marjolein Klaver for technical assistance and Novartis for providing Imatinib mesylate and financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hematology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    T M Westers, J J W M Janssen, I Houtenbos, N C L Snoijs, A A van de Loosdrecht & G J Ossenkoppele

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  1. T M Westers
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  2. J J W M Janssen
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  3. I Houtenbos
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  4. N C L Snoijs
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  5. A A van de Loosdrecht
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  6. G J Ossenkoppele
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Correspondence to T M Westers.

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Westers, T., Janssen, J., Houtenbos, I. et al. Maintained immunogenicity of chronic myeloid leukemia-derived dendritic cells in the presence of Imatinib mesylate: implication for vaccination regimens. Leukemia 20, 154–157 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.leu.2404043

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