Chronic phase CML patients possess T cells capable of recognising autologous tumour cells.
Much circumstantial evidence points to the immunogenicity of chronic myloid leukemia (CML) cells, most impressively the well-established T cell-dependent GvL effect seen in bone marrow transplantation. However, only a small number of shared antigens expressed by CML cells have been identified as potential targets for T cell-mediated immune responses which might be exploited for immunotherapy. It may be that unique antigens expressed by individual tumours are more potent rejection antigens if the patient's own T cells could be encouraged to react against them. Work is reviewed here which documents that in vitro mixed cultures between autologous T cells and dendritic cells of chronic-phase CML patients can give rise to sensitised T cells capable of recognising the patient's tumour cells. Additionally, mixed autologous tumour cell/lymphocyte cultures, modified by the addition of cytokine cocktails, may also result in the generation of similarly sensitised T cells. These results could be exploited for adoptive immunotherapy, and possibly, after identification of the antigens recognised, also for active immunotherapy, i.e. including therapeutic vaccination.