Abstract
The present study analyses the influence of high-dose chemotherapy (HD) and autologous stem cell transplantation on natural and vaccine-induced specific immunity in breast cancer patients. Peripheral blood was collected from five breast cancer patients at serial time points in connection with treatment and in a follow-up period of 1 year. The frequencies of CD8+ and CD4+ T cells responsive to cytomegalovirus (CMV), varicella zoster virus (VZV), and tetanus in antigen-activated whole blood were determined by flow cytometric analysis of CD69, TNF alpha, IFN gamma and IL-4 expression. Mononuclear cells were labelled with PKH26 dye and the CMV, VZV, and tetanus toxoid-specific proliferation of T cell subpopulations was analysed by flow cytometry. In none of the patients did the treatment result in loss of overall T cell reactivity for any of the antigens. Prior to chemotherapy 5/5 patients possessed TNF alpha expressing T cells specific for CMV, 4/5 for VZV, and 3/5 for tetanus. One year after stem cell transplantation all patients possessed TNF alpha expressing T cells specific for CMV, VZV and tetanus. The highest percentages of cytokine-responding T cells were seen after stimulation with CMV antigen. In general, the lowest reactivity (close to zero) was measured in G-CSF-mobilised blood at the time of leukapheresis. In spite of a continuously reduced CD4 to CD8 ratio after transplantation, recovery of CD4+ T cells usually occurred prior to CD8+ recovery and often to a higher level. The study demonstrates that natural as well as vaccine-induced specific immunity established prior to HD can be regained after stem cell transplantation. These data indicate that introduction of a preventive cancer vaccination in combination with intensive chemotherapy may be a realistic treatment option.
Original language | English |
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Book series | Bone Marrow Transplantation. Supplement |
Volume | 29 |
Issue number | 8 |
Pages (from-to) | 659-66 |
Number of pages | 8 |
ISSN | 0268-3369 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Apr 2002 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Antigens, Bacterial
- Antigens, CD2
- Antigens, Viral
- Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols
- Breast Neoplasms
- CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes
- CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes
- Cytomegalovirus
- Female
- Flow Cytometry
- Herpes Zoster
- Herpesvirus 3, Human
- Humans
- Lymphocyte Activation
- T-Lymphocytes
- Tetanus Toxoid
- Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha