Long-term survival in multiple myeloma is associated with a distinct immunological profile, which includes proliferative cytotoxic T-cell clones and a favourable Treg/Th17 balance
Bryant, C
Suen, H
Brown, R
Yang, S
Favaloro, J
Aklilu, E
Gibson, J
Ho, PJ
Iland, H
Fromm, P
Woodland, N
Nassif, N
Hart, D
Joshua, DE
Hart, D
Joshua, DE
- Publication Type:
- Journal Article
- Citation:
- Blood Cancer Journal, 2013, 3 (9)
- Issue Date:
- 2013-09-01
Open Access
Copyright Clearance Process
- Recently Added
- In Progress
- Open Access
This item is open access.
Despite improved outcomes in multiple myeloma (MM), a cure remains elusive. However, even before the current therapeutic era, 5% of patients survived 410 years and we propose that immune factors contribute to this longer survival. We identified patients attending our clinic, who had survived 410 years (n>20) and analysed their blood for the presence of T-cell clones, T-regulatory cells (Tregs) and T helper 17 (Th17) cells. These results were compared with MM patients with shorter follow-up and age-matched healthy control donors. The frequency of cytotoxic T-cell clonal expansions in patients with o10 years follow-up (MM patients) was 54% (n>144), whereas it was 100% (n>19/19) in the long-survivors (LTS-MM). T-cell clones from MM patients proliferated poorly in vitro, whereas those from LTS-MM patients proliferated readily (median proliferations 6.1% and 61.5%, respectively (Po0.0001)). In addition, we found significantly higher Th17 cells and lower Tregs in the LTS-MM group when compared with the MM group. These results indicate that long-term survival in MM is associated with a distinct immunological profile, which is consistent with decreased immune suppression. © 2013 Macmillan Publishers Limited.
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: