The T cell in Myeloma

Publication date: Available online 10 August 2016 Source:Clinical Lymphoma Myeloma and Leukemia Author(s): Douglas Joshua, Hayley Suen, Ross Brown, Christian Bryant, P Joy Ho, Derek Hart, John Gibson An active role for the immune system in controlling the malignant plasma cell clone in myeloma has been postulated for many years. The clinical states of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, plateau phase disease and smoldering myeloma all suggest that a significant host-tumor interaction is taking place. The fundamental role of the cytotoxic T cell in tumor elimination and control has been exemplified by the dramatic efficacy of adoptive T cell therapies in many hemopoietic malignancies. However, tumor-host cross-talk results in suppression of the endogenous cytotoxic T cell response against the malignant plasma cell. Whilst patients with myeloma do not clinically exhibit a T cell immunodeficiency state, with, for example, increased mycobacterial infections, a number of abnormalities of T cell function are evident. The major abnormalities of T cells include clonal expansions and associated immunosenescence, alterations of regulatory T cells/T helper 17 cells (Treg /Th17 ratio) and acquired membrane abnormalities, due to trogocytosis, which result in acquired Treg cells. Dendritic cell dysfunction associated with impaired antigen processing and presentation caused by abnormalities of the bone marrow microenvironment plays an additional role. In this perspe...
Source: Clinical Lymphoma Myeloma and Leukemia - Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research