Ex Vivo Induction of Multiple Myeloma-specific Immune Responses by Monocyte-derived Dendritic Cells Following Stimulation by Whole-tumor Antigen of Autologous Myeloma Cells.

The introduction of novel agents has significantly expanded treatment options for multiple myeloma (MM), albeit long-term disease control cannot be achieved in the majority of patients. Vaccination with MM antigen-loaded dendritic cells (DCs) represents an alternative strategy that is currently being explored. The aim of this study was to assess the immunogenic potential of ex vivo-generated monocyte-derived DCs (moDCs), following stimulation with the whole-antigen array of autologous myeloma cells (AMC).

BCR-ABL fusion protein detection in peripheral blood and bone marrow samples of adult precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients using the flow cytometric immunobead assay.

Background: The ability to detect the BCR-ABL fusion gene in precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (pB-ALL) is essential for making accurate treatment decisions.

Methods: We used a new flow cytometric immunobead assay for BCR-ABL fusion protein detection in peripheral blood and/or bone marrow samples from 38 adult pB-ALL patients and the results were compared with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection of BCR-ABL transcript.

Results: The fusion protein was detected in peripheral blood and bone marrow samples from seven of the 38 (18%) patients, and results for both the p190 and p210 were confirmed by PCR.