New acute myeloid leukemia immunology study findings recently were reported by researchers at University of Ulm, Department of Internal Medicine III
December 8th, 2008
2008 DEC 8 -- Current study results from the report, 'Leukemia-associated antigens are critical for the proliferation of acute myeloid leukemia cells,' have been published. According to recent research from Ulm, Germany, "Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common acute leukemia in adults. With intensive induction therapy, most patients younger than 60 years achieve complete remission."
"However, even if these younger patients were treated intensively, more than 50% will relapse. Clinical results of patients older than 60 years are more unfavorable. Therefore, in all patients with AML, the overall survival is still low. In the past decade, several leukemia-associated antigens (LAA) have been identified in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. BAGE, BCL-2, OFA-iLRP, FLT3-ITD, G250, hTERT, PRAME, proteinase 3, RHAMM, survivin, and WT-1 are all LAAs that have been shown to induce CD8+ T-cell recognition and for some antigens also humoral immune responses. Interestingly, most of these LAAs are linked to cell cycle or proliferation. This article discusses the balance between LAA-driven leukemia cell expansion and the elimination of these cells through attacks on LAAs by the immune system," wrote J. Greiner and colleagues, University of Ulm, Department of Internal Medicine III.
The researchers concluded: "Current knowledge of the function and CD8+ T-cell recognition of LAAs is reviewed and an outlook is given on how to improve T-cell responses to LAAs in acute myeloid leukemia cells."
Greiner and colleagues published their study in Clinical Cancer Research (Leukemia-associated antigens are critical for the proliferation of acute myeloid leukemia cells. Clinical Cancer Research, 2008;14(22):7161-6).
For additional information, contact J. Greiner, University of Ulm, Dept. of Internal Medicine III, Ulm, Germany.
Publisher contact information for the journal Clinical Cancer Research is: American Association Cancer Research, 615 Chestnut St., 17TH Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19106-4404, USA.
