Impact of hypoxia on chemoresistance of mesothelioma mediated by the proton-coupled folate transporter, and preclinical activity of new anti-LDH-A compounds.
Abstract Background Expression of proton-coupled folate transporter (PCFT) is associated with survival of mesothelioma patients treated with pemetrexed, and is reduced by hypoxia, prompting studies to elucidate their correlation. Methods Modulation of glycolytic gene expression was evaluated by PCR arrays in tumour cells and primary cultures growing under hypoxia, in spheroids and after PCFT silencing. Inhibitors of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH-A) were tested in vitro and in vivo. LDH-A expression was determined in tissue microarrays of radically resected malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM, N = 33) and diffuse peritoneal mesothelioma (DMPM, N = 56) patients. Results Overexpression of hypoxia…
Treatment with an Allogeneic Leukemia-Derived Dendritic Cell Vaccine in AML Patients Shows MRD Conversion and Improved Survival
Abstract Background. Persistence of measurable residual disease (MRD) is a poor prognostic factor and predicts relapse in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In a phase I study, the allogeneic leukemia-derived dendritic cell vaccine, DCP-001, has shown safety and humoral and cellular immune responses (A.A. van de Loosdrecht, et al. Cancer Immunol. Immunother. 2018;67:1505). In the current phase II study, (Clintrials.gov: NCT03697707) we report on progress and evaluation of MRD conversion, as primary endpoint, relapse free and overall survival. Methods. AML-patients, ineligible at screening for HSCT, who are in first complete remission (CR1) but with MRD receive 4 biweekly doses of 25e6 or 50e6 ce…