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June 28, 2002

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Protective Antitumor Immunity Induced by a Costimulatory Thalidomide Analog in Conjunction With Whole Tumor Cell Vaccination Is Mediated by..." Journal of Immunology Online (www.jimmunol.org) (05/15/02) Vol. 168, No. 10, P. 4914; Dredge, Keith; Marriott, J. Blake; Todryk, Stephen M.

Scientists are looking at the usefulness of thalidomide and its novel T cell costimulatory analogs for the treatment of advanced cancer, but they have been unable to show tumor-specific T cell costimulation or effective antitumor activity in vivo.  An experimental immunomodulatory drug, called CC-4047, was studied for its ability to cause a tumor-specific immune response after tumor cell vaccination.  The researchers found that CC-4047's presence in the priming phase helped increase antitumor immunity in the vaccinated group, resulting in better protection from later live tumor challenges--up to 60 days after immunization. Both CD8+ and CD4+ splenocyte fraction reactions were increased as well.  The study indicates that thalidomide and its analogs can produce responses in vivo and that research on the subject should be continued.

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