New leukemia gene therapy data have been reported by S. Kaneko and co-authors

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March 16th, 2009

   2009 MAR 16 -- "Long-term clinical remissions of leukemia, after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, depend on alloreactive memory T cells able to self-renew and differentiate into antileukemia effectors. This is counterbalanced by detrimental graft-versus-host disease (GVHD)," investigators in Milan, Italy report.

   "Induction of a selective suicide in donor T cells is a current gene therapy approach to abrogate GVHD. Unfortunately, genetic modification reduces alloreactivity of lymphocytes. This associates with an effector memory (T-EM) phenotype of gene-modified lymphocytes and may limit antileukemia effect. We hypothesized that alloreactivity of gene-modified lymphocytes segregates with the central memory (T-CM) phenotype. To this, we generated suicide gene-modified T-CM lymphocytes with a retroviral vector after CD28 costimulation and culture with IL-2, IL-7, or a combination of IL-7 and IL-15. In vitro, suicide gene-modified T-CM cells self-renewed upon alloantigen stimulation and resisted activation-induced cell death. In a humanized mouse model, only suicide gene -modified T cells cultured with IL-7 and IL-15 persisted, differentiated in T-EM cells, and were as potent as unmanipulated lymphocytes in causing GVHD. GVHD was halted through the activation of the suicide gene machinery," wrote S. Kaneko and colleagues.

   The researchers concluded: "These results warrant the use of suicide gene modified T-CM cells cultured with IL-7 and IL-15 for the safe exploitation of the alloreactive response against cancer. (Blood. 2009;113:1006-1015)'."

   Kaneko and colleagues published their study in Blood (IL-7 and IL-15 allow the generation of suicide gene-modified alloreactive self-renewing central memory human T lymphocytes. Blood, 2009;113(5):1006-1015).

   For additional information, contact A. Bondanza, Ist Science San Raffaele, Cancer Immunotherapy & Gene Therapy Program, Experimental Hematology Unit, Dept. of Oncology, Via Olgettina 58, I-20132 Milan, Italy.

   The publisher of the journal Blood can be contacted at: American Society Hematology, 1900 M Street. NW Suite 200, Washington, DC 20036, USA.

   Keywords: Italy, Milan, Biotechnology, Cancer Gene Therapy, Cell Transplantation, Genetic Modification, Genetics, Genomics, Graft-Versus-Host Disease, Hematology, Hematopoietic, Leukemia Gene Therapy, Medical Device, Mental Health, Oncology, Stem Cell Research, Suicide, Treatment.

   This article was prepared by Biotech Business Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Biotech Business Week via NewsRx.com.

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