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Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology

Published in:

01-09-2009 | Original Paper

Spontaneous high-titered IgG antibody responses against BCL-2 in patients with aggressive lymphomas

Authors: Carsten Zwick, Gerhard Held, Vera Hammermeister, Adnan AlAhmad, Boris Kubuschok, Joerg Bittenbring, Manfred Ahlgrimm, Frank Neumann, Klaus-Dieter Preuss, Michael Pfreundschuh

Published in: Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology | Issue 9/2009

Abstract

Purpose

Molecules which are exclusively or preferentially expressed by malignant cells are potential targets for immunotherapeutic approaches to the treatment of cancer.

Methods

We therefore tested serum samples of 95 patients with aggressive B-cell lymphomas for antibodies against lymphoma-associated molecules using SEREX for antibodies against BCL-2, BCL-XL, MCL-1, survivin, BCL-6, CD20, LM02, PDE4B, cyclin-D2, actinin-α1, SCYA3, PKCβ2, E2IG3, and HGAL.

Results

One patient had low-titered (1:100) antibodies against PKCβ2. Antibodies against BCL-2 were detected in the sera of five patients (5.3%), with responses found more frequently in follicular lymphoma grade 3 (3/26 or 11.5%) than in diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (2/67 or 3%). Anti-BCL-2 antibodies were of the IgG class and titers ranged from 1:1,000 to 1:100,000 with highest titers before treatment and decreasing slowly during remission.

Conclusion

The spontaneous immunogenicity of BCL-2 makes this molecule a prime candidate for vaccine approaches in BCL-2 positive B-cell lymphomas.

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Title: Spontaneous high-titered IgG antibody responses against BCL-2 in patients with aggressive lymphomas
Authors: Carsten Zwick
Gerhard Held
Vera Hammermeister
Adnan AlAhmad
Boris Kubuschok
Joerg Bittenbring
Manfred Ahlgrimm
Frank Neumann
Klaus-Dieter Preuss
Michael Pfreundschuh
Publication date: 01-09-2009
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology / Issue 9/2009
Print ISSN: 0171-5216
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1335
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-009-0561-0

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