Evidence for a graft-versus-tumor effect in a patient treated with marrow ablative chemotherapy and allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for breast cancer

Blood. 1996 Aug 15;88(4):1501-8.

Abstract

Graft-versus-leukemia (GvL) has been shown to be an important immune-mediated antitumor effect in hematologic malignancies. It is still unknown whether such an immunemediated antitumor effect has clinical implications in patients with solid tumors. A 32-year-old woman with inflammatory breast cancer received a bone marrow transplant (BMT) from her HLA-identical sibling. During graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) cytotoxic T lymphocytes were grown and tested in a chromium-release assay against B and T lymphocytes of the patient and donor and against a panel of breast cancer cell lines. Resolution of liver metastases was observed simultaneously with clinical GvHD in the first weeks after transplant. In addition, minor histocompatibility antigen (MiHA)-specific and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I antigen-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes recognizing breast carcinoma target cells were isolated from the blood of the patient. Pretreatment of such target cells with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha but not with interferon (IFN)-alpha or IFN-gamma increased susceptibility of these cells to lysis by cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Clinical course and in vitro results suggest that a graft-versus-tumor (GvT) effect might exist after allogeneic BMT for breast cancer. However, clinical experience on a larger scale would be required to determine the clinical efficacy of GvT effects in patients with solid tumors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / immunology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation*
  • Breast Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / therapy*
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Cytokines / physiology
  • Cytotoxicity, Immunologic
  • Female
  • Graft vs Host Disease / immunology*
  • HLA Antigens / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Cellular
  • Liver Neoplasms / secondary
  • Liver Neoplasms / therapy
  • Mastectomy
  • Nuclear Family
  • Pregnancy
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Cytokines
  • HLA Antigens