Karmanos Cancer Institute Researchers Show Phase I Immunotherapy with Armed T Cells Improve Overall Survival of Metastatic Breast Cance...( CHICAGO June 1 /- Researchers at ...),Health

CHICAGO, June 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Researchers at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit today presented findings that show immunotherapy with armed targeted T cells may improve the overall survival of women with metastatic breast cancer.

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http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20071106/KARMANOSCANCERINSTITUTELOG O )

Abstract 3034, Phase I immunotherapy in women with metastatic breast cancer with activated T cells targeted with anti-CD-3 x anti-Her2/neu bispecific antibody, was given at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting in Chicago.

The study's goal was to determine whether the patients' T cells, armed with an antibody, could be expanded and used safely to attack the tumor, said Lawrence Lum, M.D., D.Sc., Scientific Director of BMT and Immunotherapy, Professor of Medicine at Karmanos Cancer Institute and the Wayne State University School of Medicine.

According to Dr. Lum, preclinical studies showed that anti-CD3 activated T cells (ATC) can be expanded and retargeted or armed with anti-CD3x anti-Her2 bispecific antibody (HER2Bi). The studies demonstrated that Her2B-armed ATC expand, divide, and exhibit high levels of cytotoxicity directed at breast cancer cells and secrete cytokines essential for boosting immune responses to tumors.

Seventeen patients, aged 31 - 86, were treated with eight infusions twice a week for four weeks with 5, 10, 20 and 40 billion ATC doses (armed with Her2Bi) to determine the maximum dosage tolerated. T cells from leukopheresis were activated and expanded with anti-CD3/IL-2 for 14 days, harvested, armed with Her2Bi, and cryopreserved. IL-2 (3 x 105 IU/m2/daily) and GM-CSF (250 micrograms/m2 twice a week) were given three days prior to the first infusion and ended one week after the last infusion.

"The results suggest that this treatment modality may im
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