Autologous immunotherapy for human leukemias

Immunotherapy for human leukemias has the potential to contribute to the long-term control or cure of these diseases. Our work demonstrates that cells from the majority of adult acute myelogenous leukemia cases can be induced to differentiate into dendritic cells that are effective at antigen presentation. Both interleukin-4 and CD40 ligand are important for optimal dendritic cell differentiation and maturation. Granulocyte–monocyte colony-stimulating factor, interleukin-4, and CD40 ligand in combination are capable of yielding dendritic cells from at least some cases of acute lymphocytic leukemia. Efforts to clone autologous, cytotoxic effector cells will permit the identification of target antigens in the future. With information concerning potential antigens, protocols inducing antileukemic immunity should be possible. Prior to that time, with the availability of suitable reagents for clinical scale differentiation of leukemia-derived dendritic cells, such cells might prove potent as vaccines for the therapy of acute leukemias.