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The Swiss Blood Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Group (SBST) leads a mandatory national registry for all hematopoietic stem cell transplants (HCT) and cellular therapies. After 25 years, information was available for 11,226 patients receiving an HCT (4031 allogeneic and 7195 autologous), including 925 pediatric patients. We compared patient characteristics and outcome by quinquennia 1997–2001, 2002–2006, 2007–2011, 2012–2016, and 2017–2021. There were numerous changes over time. Allogeneic transplant recipients became older (median age 33.7 vs. 54.3) and had more frequently unrelated donors and reduced intensity conditioning in later quinquennia. Similarly, age increased for recipients of autologous HCT (median 48.3 vs. 59.9). We did not see a significant drop in transplant activity during the SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic. Analysis of outcome showed overall survival (relative risk (RR) of death 0.664 (0.529–0.832) and progression free survival (RR 0.708 (0.577–0.870) being improved over time comparing the latest to the first quinquennium adjusting for risk factors. Non‐relapse mortality decreased in recipients of allogeneic HCT (RR: 0.371 (0.270–0.509)) over time but relapse risks did not. Outcome of autologous HCT improved as well across quinquennia, this improvement was mainly due to decreased relapse risks (RR 0.681 (0.597–0.777)), possibly related to maintenance treatment or rescue treatment for relapse mainly in myeloma patients. Cellular therapies other than allogeneic or autologous HCT, particularly chimeric antigen receptor T‐cells (CAR‐T) treatment have started to increase after 2019, year of approval of the first commercial CAR‐T product in Switzerland. Data on chimeric antigen receptor T‐cell treatment are too early for comparative analyses. Detailed analyses of changes over time are presented. This study includes all HCTs, and cellular therapies, data useful for quality assurance programs, health care cost estimation and benchmarking. Between 50% and 60% of patients are long‐term survivors after both types of HCT, indicating growing populations of surviving patients requiring long‐term care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BRAF mutations are present in a variety of cancers and cause constitutive activation of the Ras-Raf-MEK-ERK signaling pathway. In cutaneous malignant melanoma, combined treatment with BRAF and MEK inhibitors is associated with high response rates and has been shown to improve progression free as well as overall survival compared to BRAF inhibition alone. In multiple myeloma, BRAF mutations are detectable only in a minority of patients. Only few data are available regarding the clinical activity of BRAF inhibitors in BRAF-positive multiple myeloma patients, including some anecdotal reports on remarkable responses in individuals being resistant to all other available anti-myeloma treatment approaches. We here present the first report on the combination of vemurafenib and cobimetinib in a young patient with highly resistant and rapidly progressing multiple myeloma harboring the BRAF V600E mutation who achieved a rapid and sustained response to this combination therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biosimilars are increasingly being licensed as equipotent drugs, although efficacy and safety data are not available for all clinical indications. Accordingly, the efficacy of the biosimilar filgrastim Zarzio® combined with vinorelbine for chemo-mobilization of CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC) in patients with multiple myeloma has not been evaluated yet. We compared the efficacy of vinorelbine combined with this biosimilar filgrastim for HPC mobilization to vinorelbine plus original filgrastim (Neupogen®). Overall, 105 multiple myeloma patients received vinorelbine 35 mg/m2 intravenously on day 1 and either original filgrastim ( n = 61;58%) or biosimilar filgrastim ( n = 44;42%) at a dose of 5 µg per kg body weight (BW) twice daily subcutaneously starting day 4 until the end of the collection procedure. Leukapheresis was scheduled to start on day 8 and performed for a maximum of three consecutive days until at least 4 × 106 HPC/kg BW were collected. All patients proceeded to leukapheresis. In 102 (97%) patients the leukapheresis sessions were started as planned at day 8. The median number of collected HPC was 7.3 × 106/kg BW (0.2-18.3) with original filgrastim compared to 9 × 106/kg BW (4.2-23.8) with the biosimilar filgrastim ( P = 0.16). HPC collection was successful in 57 (93%) of 61 patients of the original group and in all 44 (100%) patients of the biosimilar group ( P = 0.14). No differences were observed regarding side effects. Duration of neutrophil engraftment after autologous HPC transplantation was similar between the two groups ( P = 0.17). Biosimilar and original filgrastim achieve comparable results in combination with vinorelbine regarding HPC mobilization and transplantation outcome in multiple myeloma patients. J. Clin. Apheresis 32:21-26, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Spondylarthritides (SpA), including ankylosing spondylitis (AS), are common inflammatory rheumatic diseases that are strongly associated with positivity for the HLA class I allotype B27. HLA-B27 normally forms complexes with β2-microglobulin (β2m) and peptide to form heterotrimers. However, an unusual characteristic of HLA-B27 is its ability to form β2m-free heavy chain homodimers (HLA-B272), which, unlike classic HLA-B27, bind to killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor 3DL2 (KIR-3DL2). Binding of HLA-B272 to KIR-3DL2-positive CD4+ T and natural killer (NK) cells stimulates cell survival and modulates cytokine production. This study was undertaken to produce an antibody to HLA-B272 in order to confirm its expression in SpA and to inhibit its proinflammatory properties. Methods We generated monoclonal antibodies by screening a human phage display library positively against B272 and negatively against B27 heterotrimers. Specificity was tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), surface plasmon resonance (SPR) assay, and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis of B272-expressing cell lines and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and synovial fluid mononuclear cells (SFMCs) from patients with SpA. Functional inhibition of KIR-3DL2-B272 interactions was tested using cell lines and PBMCs from patients with SpA. Results Monoclonal antibody HD6 specifically recognized recombinant HLA-B272 by ELISA and by SPR assay. HD6 bound to cell lines expressing B272. FACS revealed binding of HD6 to PBMCs and SFMCs from patients with AS but not from controls. HD6 inhibited both the binding of HLA-B272 to KIR-3DL2 and the survival and proliferation of KIR-3DL2-positive NK cells. Finally, HD6 inhibited production of the proinflammatory disease-associated cytokine interleukin-17 by PBMCs from patients with AS. Conclusion These results demonstrate that antibody HD6 has potential for use in both the investigation and the treatment of AS and other B27-associated spondylarthritides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vaccine strategies that target dendritic cells to elicit potent cellular immunity are the subject of intense research. Here we report that the genetically engineered yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, expressing the full-length tumour-associated antigen NY-ESO-1, is a versatile host for protein production. Exposing dendritic cells (DCs) to soluble NY-ESO-1 protein linked to the yeast a-agglutinin 2 protein (Aga2p) protein resulted in protein uptake, processing and MHC class I cross-presentation of NY-ESO-1-derived peptides. The process of antigen uptake and cross-presentation was dependent on the glycosylation pattern of NY-ESO-1-Aga2p protein and the presence of accessible mannose receptors. In addition, NY-ESO-1-Aga2p protein uptake by dendritic cells resulted in recognition by HLA-DP4 NY-ESO-1-specific CD4+ T cells, indicating MHC class II presentation. Finally, vaccination of mice with yeast-derived NY-ESO-1-Aga2p protein led to an enhanced humoral and cellular immune response, when compared to the bacterially expressed NY-ESO-1 protein. Together, these data demonstrate that yeast-derived full-length NY-ESO-1-Aga2p protein is processed and presented efficiently by MHC class I and II complexes and warrants clinical trials to determine the potential value of S. cerevisiae as a host for cancer vaccine development. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which analyzes the role of fibroblast activation protein (FAP) and dipeptidylpeptidase 4 (DPP-4)/CD26 in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synovial fibroblasts (RASFs) invasion in cartilage. The study evaluated the expression of FAP and DPP-4/CD26 by RASFs through fluorescence-activated cell sorting and immunocytochemistry. Results indicate inhibition of the activity of the enzymes has encouraged invasion of xenotransplanted RASFs in the contransplanted cartilage of human.

Costimulation is a fundamental principle of T-cell activation. In addition to T-cell receptor engagement, the interaction between CD80 and/or CD86 with CD28 and/or cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) receptors is required to regulate T-cell activation and tolerance. While the importance of costimulation is clearly established, the exact molecular mechanism is unknown. We demonstrate that T-cell proliferation and the ability of CD8+ T-effector cells to kill were enhanced slightly by CD80 but dramatically by CD86 costimulation. To further analyse the cellular process of costimulation, we developed a single-cell assay to analyse Ca2+ signals following costimulation with bi-specific antibodies. We found that this stimulation method worked in every human T-cell that was analysed, making it one of the most efficient T-cell activation methods to date for primary human T cells. The enhanced proliferation and killing by costimulation was paralleled by an increase of Ca2+ influx following CD86 costimulation and it was dependent on CD28/CTLA-4 expression. The enhanced Ca2+ influx following CD86 costimulation was abrogated by an antibody that interfered with CD28 function. The differences in Ca2+ influx between CD80 and CD86 costimulation were not dependent on the depletion of Ca2+ stores but were eliminated by the application of 10 μm 2-aminoethyldiphenyl borate which has recently been shown to enhance stromal interaction molecule 2 (STIM2)-dependent Ca2+ entry while reducing STIM1-dependent Ca2+ entry. Our data indicate that differences in the efficiency of costimulation are linked to differences in Ca2+ entry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SSX2 is a member of the family of cancer/testis antigens. The SSX2 derived peptide SSX2 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is among the most aggressive human malignancies, being responsible for the majority of thyroid cancer-related deaths. Despite multimodal therapy including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, the outcome of ATC is poor. The human ATC cell line MB1, derived from tumor tissue of a 57-year-old man with thyroid cancer and pronounced neutrophilia, was established from surgically excised tumor tissue. The karyotype of the cell line shows many chromosomal abnormalities. Preclinical investigations have shown antitumor activity and effectiveness of the BRAF kinase inhibitor Sorafenib and the proteasome inhibitor Bortezomib. After establishment of the MB1 cell line these agents were applied in vitro and, showing activity in a cell culture model, were also used for in vivo treatment. Sorafenib had some clinical effect, namely normalization of leucocytosis, but had no sustained impact on subsequent tumor growth and development of distant metastasis. Molecular diagnostics of the tumor demonstrated no BRAF mutations in exons 11 and 15 concordant with a rather modest effect of Sorafenib on MB1 cell growth. Clinical benefit was seen with subsequent bortezomib therapy inducing a temporary halt to lymph node growth and a progression-free interval of 7 weeks. Our observations together with previous data from preclinical models could serve as a rationale for selecting those patients suffering from ATC most likely to benefit from targeted therapy. A prospective controlled randomized trial integrating kinase and proteasome inhibitors into a therapeutic regime for ATC is warranted. ( Cancer Sci 2008; 99: 1847–1852) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MHC-peptide-specific Fab antibodies binding to HLA-A*0201 complexes presenting the wild-type EAAGIGILTV (EAA) or analogue Melan-A 10-mer ELAGIGILTV (ELA) peptide were generated to study efficacy of peptide processing and presentation. None of the selected Fab antibodies detected the naturally processed EAA/HLA-A*0201 complex on melanoma tumor cells, confirming the known low peptide number on the cell surface. To study the effect of peptide presentation and processing in more detail, genes coding for the A27L-mutated Melan-A protein or the processed ELA peptide were introduced into HLA-A*0201 B cells by infection with the respective recombinant vaccinia virus construct producing equimolar amounts of GFP-ubiquitin directly linked to the fragment of interest. Correlating GFP expression to actual numbers of peptide presented, 110-260 ELA peptides had to be synthesized to be presented by a single MHC class I antigen-peptide complex. This number increased 10- to 20-fold when ELA peptide presentation from the A27L-mutated full length Melan-A protein was studied, since 1600-5200 GFP molecules needed to be synthesized for the detection of one ELA peptide. Our results indicate that peptide processing rather than presentation is the rate-limiting step in our experimental setting and is much more ineffective for Melan-A than has been previously shown for other MHC class I-restricted epitopes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serological screening approaches have allowed for the identification of a large number of potentially relevant tumor antigens in cancer patients. Within this group, cancer testis antigens represent promising targets for cancer immunotherapy, since they are widely expressed in a variety of human cancer entities. In pancreatic cancer, however, there are only few data available about the expression pattern and serological response to cancer testis antigens and other serological-defined tumor antigens. Therefore, we investigated the IgG antibody response against 11 cancer testis antigens (SCP-1, GAGE, LAGE-1a,-1b, CT-7, NY-ESO-1, SSX-1-5) recombinantly expressed on yeast surface (RAYS) in patients with pancreatic cancer ( n = 96), chronic pancreatitis ( n = 18) and healthy donors ( n = 48). We found in 14% of all patients antibody responses to SCP-1, but not to other cancer testis antigens (GAGE, LAGE-1a,-1b, CT-7, NY-ESO-1, SSX-1-5). Antibody response correlated with the expression of SCP-1 in the primary tumor of the respective patient as shown by RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry and Western blot. In contrast, no serological response to cancer testis antigens was observed in healthy donors. The humoral immune response against SCP-1 was associated with the size of tumor, but not with other clinico-pathological parameters such as histology, stage, presence of lymph node metastases, grading, age, gender or gemcitabine treatment. In conclusion, antibody response to cancer testis antigen SCP-1 is found in a proportion of pancreatic carcinoma patients. These results indicate that identification of additional tumor antigens by serological screening of tumor cDNA expression libraries by RAYS is a promising goal in pancreatic cancer. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A yeast cell surface display technology was used for the isolation and characterization of tumor antigens recognised by autologous or allogeneic breast cancer serum. More than 100 clones recognized by patient serum were isolated using high-through-put fluorescence activated cell sorting. Combined serological and sequence analysis confirmed that a number of proteins known to be overexpressed in breast cancer tissue could be detected. A recently identified small breast epithelial mucin almost exclusively expressed in mammary gland tissue was isolated as a mutated protein variant. Subsequent serological analysis using the yeast expression system for the wild-type and mutant form showed a strong recognition by patient sera, whereas no significant recognition was observed for the respective prokaryotically expressed proteins. The small breast epithelial mucin is present to a large extent in a membrane bound format and might be used for tumor targeting strategies. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NY-ESO-1 is a germ cell antigen aberrantly expressed by different tumor types that elicits strong humoral and cellular immune responses, representing one of the most promising candidates for vaccination of cancer patients. A detailed analysis of CD8 T cells generated in vaccine trials using NY-ESO-1-derived peptides (157-165 and 157-167) revealed that the dominant immune response was directed against a cryptic epitope (159-167) diverting the immune response from tumor recognition. Only CTL reactivity to the NY-ESO-1 peptide appeared to be capable of lysing NY-ESO-1/HLA-A0201-expressing tumor cells. To study the process of NY-ESO-1 peptide presentation by tumor cells in more detail we generated a high-affinity (K=60 nM) antibody fragment that specifically recognizes the NY-ESO-1 peptide/HLA-A0201 complex. Peptide variants such as the NY-ESO-1 peptide or the cryptic NY-ESO-1 peptide were not recognized. The antibody fragment blocked in a dose-dependent fashion the recognition of NY-ESO-1/HLA-A2-positive tumor cells by NY-ESO-1 peptide-specific CD8 T cells. This antibody fragment is a novel reagent that binds with TCR-like specificity to the NY-ESO-1/HLA-A2 complex thus distinguishing between CTL responses against immunological meaningful or cryptic NY-ESO-1-derived peptides. It may therefore become a useful monitoring tool for the development of NY-ESO-1-based cancer vaccines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Inhibition of Fibroblast Activation Protein and Dipeptidylpeptidase 4 Increases Cartilage Invasion by Rheumatoid Arthritis Synovial Fibroblasts," by C. Ospelt and colleagues in a 2010 issue.