WT1-mRNA dendritic cell vaccination of patients with glioblastoma multiforme, malignant pleural mesothelioma, metastatic breast cancer, and other solid tumors: type 1 T-lymphocyte responses are associated with clinical outcome.

Cell therapies, including tumor antigen-loaded dendritic cells used as therapeutic cancer vaccines, offer treatment options for patients with malignancies. We evaluated the feasibility, safety, immunogenicity, and clinical activity of adjuvant vaccination with Wilms' tumor protein (WT1) mRNA-electroporated autologous dendritic cells (WT1-mRNA/DC) in a single-arm phase I/II clinical study of patients with advanced solid tumors receiving standard therapy. Disease status and immune reactivity were evaluated after 8 weeks and 6 months.

Comparison of the Power of Procalcitonin and C-Reactive Protein to Discriminate between Different Aetiologies of Fever in Prolonged Profound Neutropenia: A Single-Centre Prospective Observational Study.

Management of fever in prolonged, profound neutropenia remains challenging with many possible infectious and non-infectious causes. We investigated whether procalcitonin (PCT) is superior to C-reactive protein (CRP) in discriminating between different aetiologies of fever in this setting. CRP and PCT were tested daily during 93 neutropenic episodes in 66 patients.

Dendritic cell vaccination as postremission treatment to prevent or delay relapse in acute myeloid leukemia.

Relapse is a major problem in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and adversely affects survival. In this phase 2 study, we investigated the effect of vaccination with dendritic cells (DCs) electroporated with Wilms' tumor 1 () messenger RNA (mRNA) as postremission treatment in 30 patients with AML at very high risk of relapse. There was a demonstrable antileukemic response in 13 patients.

Clinical and microbiological impact of discontinuation of fluoroquinolone prophylaxis in patients with prolonged profound neutropenia.

Background: Infections remain a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with reduced immunity caused by haematological disease and chemotherapy-induced neutropenia. We evaluated the clinical and microbiological impact of discontinuing fluoroquinolone prophylaxis in these patients.

Methods: We analysed 154 admissions in three sequential periods of 8 months: long-standing use, discontinuation of prophylaxis and reintroduction of prophylaxis.

Clinical-grade manufacturing of autologous mature mRNA-electroporated dendritic cells and safety testing in acute myeloid leukemia patients in a phase I dose-escalation clinical trial.

Background Aims: RNA-electroporated dendritic cell (DC)-based vaccines are rapidly gaining interest as therapeutic cancer vaccines. We report on a phase I dose-escalation trial using clinical-grade manufactured mature RNA-electroporated DC in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients.

Methods: CD14(+) cells were isolated from leukapheresis products by immunomagnetic CliniMACS separation and differentiated into mature DC (mDC).

Immunotherapy of hematological malignancies using dendritic cells.

The arsenal of therapeutic weapons against hematological malignancies is constantly growing. Unravelling the secrets of tumor immunobiology has allowed researchers to manipulate the immune system in order to stimulate tumor immunity or to bypass tumor-induced immunosuppression. An area of great interest is active specific immunotherapy where dendritic cell (DC)-based therapeutic vaccines for cancer have definitely grabbed the spotlight.

Primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in Bartholin's gland.

Background: Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) may involve the lower female genital tract, most often as a manifestation of systemic disease and rarely as a primarily localisation.

Case: A 73-year-old woman, HIV-negative, presented with a 5-month history of a mass in the left Bartholin's gland. The performed biopsy was reported to be a poorly differentiated carcinoma.