Vaccine Weekly

Research results from Medical University of Vienna update knowledge of thyroid cancer

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"The purpose of this Study was to assess the safety, resulting immune responses and clinical activity of the DCs. DCs were injected into a groin lymph node at 3-week intervals. Monitoring included serial calcitonin tumor marker measurements, radiological imaging and immunological in vitro tests (T-cell Interferon-gamma detection assay, T-cell cytotoxicity assay). Ten patients (median age 47 years, range 29-77) were enrolled. DC vaccinations were well-tolerated and safe. After a median follow-up of 11 months, (range 7-26), 3 (30%) of 10 patients had stable disease, while 7 (70%) of the patients progressed during treatment. In 2 patients with stable disease, calcitonin decreased below treatment levels, paralleled by a T-cell-mediated immune response. Notably, treatment with DCs pulsed with a combination of different tumor cell lysates was followed by a calcitonin decrease in 4 patients who had previously experienced it calcitonin increase during monotherapy with DCs pulsed with a single lysate. Allogeneic tumor cell lysate-based DC immunotherapy is well-tolerated and safe," wrote T. Bachleitnerhofmann and colleagues, Medical University of Vienna.

The researchers concluded: "Combined treatment with different tumor cell lysate-pulsed DCs increases the likelihood of a calcitonin tumor marker response and should therefore be preferred over monotherapy with DCs pulsed with a single lysate."

Bachleitnerhofmann and colleagues published their study in Oncology Reports (Pilot trial of autologous dendritic cells loaded with tumor lysate(S) from allogeneic tumor cell lines in patients with metastatic medullary thyroid carcinoma. Oncology Reports, 2009;21(6):1585-1592).

For additional information, contact T. Bachleitnerhofmann, Medical University of Vienna, Dept. of Surgery, Wahringer Gurtel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.

Publisher contact information for the journal Oncology Reports is: Professor D a Spandidos, 1, S Merkouri St., Editorial Office, Athens 116 35, Greece.

Keywords: Austria, Vienna, Biological Therapy, Calcitonin, Drug Development, Drugs, Endocrinology, Immunization, Immunology, Immunotherapy, Interferon, Interferon Gamma, Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma, Oncology, Pharmaceuticals, Therapy, Thyroid Cancer, Thyroid Carcinoma, Treatment, Vaccination, Medical University of Vienna.

This article was prepared by Vaccine Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Vaccine Weekly via NewsRx.com.