Dynamics of cytotoxic T cell subsets during immunotherapy predicts outcome in acute myeloid leukemia
Journal article, 2016
Preventing relapse after chemotherapy remains a challenge in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Eighty-four non-transplanted AML patients in first complete remission received relapse-preventive immunotherapy with histamine dihydrochloride and low-dose interleukin-2 in an international phase IV trial (ClinicalTrials.gov; NCT01347996). Blood samples were drawn during cycles of immunotherapy and analyzed for CD8(+) (cytotoxic) T cell phenotypes in blood. During the first cycle of therapy, a re-distribution of cytotoxic T cells was observed comprising a reduction of T effector memory cells and a concomitant increase of T effector cells. The dynamics of T cell subtypes during immunotherapy prognosticated relapse and survival, in particular among older patients and remained significantly predictive of clinical outcome after correction for potential confounders. Presence of CD8(+) T cells with specificity for leukemia-associated antigens identified patients with low relapse risk. Our results point to novel aspects of T cell-mediated immunosurveillance in AML and provide conceivable biomarkers in relapse-preventive immunotherapy.
lymphocytes
acute myeloid leukemia
Cell Biology
immunotherapy
histamine dihydrochloride
Oncology
Immunology and
remission
antigen-specific T cells
maintenance
differentiation
effector
transplantation
responses
interleukin-2
cytotoxic T cells
memory
Author
Frida Ewald Sander
University of Gothenburg
Anna Rydström
University of Gothenburg
Elin Bernson
University of Gothenburg
Roberta Kiffin
University of Gothenburg
Rebecca E Riise
University of Gothenburg
Johan Aurelius
University of Gothenburg
H. Anderson
Mats Brune
University of Gothenburg
R. Foa
Kristoffer Hellstrand
University of Gothenburg
Fredrik B Thorén
University of Gothenburg
Anna Martner
University of Gothenburg
Oncotarget
19492553 (eISSN)
Vol. 7 7 7586-7596Subject Categories
Clinical Medicine
DOI
10.18632/oncotarget.7210
PubMed
26863635