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Tumor‐related immunity in prostate cancer patients treated with human recombinant granulocyte monocyte‐colony stimulating factor (GM‐CSF)
Author(s) -
Schwaab Thomas,
Tretter Christopher P.G.,
Gibson Jennifer J.,
Cole Bernard F.,
Schned Alan R.,
Harris Robert,
Fisher Jan L.,
Crosby Nancy,
Stempkowski Laura M.,
Heaney John A.,
Ernstoff Marc S.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the prostate
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.295
H-Index - 123
eISSN - 1097-0045
pISSN - 0270-4137
DOI - 10.1002/pros.20266
Subject(s) - medicine , prostate cancer , prostate , monocyte , granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor , myeloid , immunotherapy , oncology , cd8 , granulocyte colony stimulating factor , immunology , cancer , prostate specific antigen , granulocyte , cancer research , antigen , cytokine , chemotherapy
BACKGROUND Granulocyte monocyte‐colony stimulating factor (GM‐CSF) supports the survival, expansion, and differentiation of lymphoid and myeloid derived dendritic cells (DCs). We hypothesized that systemic therapy with GM‐CSF in prostate cancer patients could augment prostate cancer‐related immunity and induce clinical response. METHODS Eligible patients were randomly assigned to receive either 125 or 250 µg/m 2 GM‐CSF subcutaneously three times a week until clinical progression. Prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) T cell precursor frequencies were determined by a flow cytometric method. RESULTS We were able to show, for the first time, a statistically significant correlation between pre‐treatment PSA level and PSA‐specific CD4 + T cell precursors and a trend between pre‐treatment PSA level and PSA‐specific CD8 + T cell precursors ( P <0.0001 and P = 0.059, respectively). CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that existent immunity to PSA in prostate cancer patients may be a promising target for future immunotherapeutic approaches to prostate cancer. Prostate 66:667–674, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.