ABSTRACT
Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation [HSCT] offers potentially curative therapy for many hematologic and nonhematologic conditions. As a successful outcome of Qatar's National Cancer Strategy, the HSCT program was started in the National Center for Cancer Care and Research [NCCCR] in October 2015. The HSCT program in NCCCR is the only transplant program in Qatar and self-sufficient with all three core components: the stem cell collection facility, the stem cell processing facility, and the clinical program, which are locally available at Hamad Medical Corporation. In this paper, we report on the outcomes of the first 16 patients who underwent autologous stem cell transplantations [ASCTs] in our center. A total of 17 ASCT have been performed for 16 adult [>/=14 years] patients. Thirteen of the 16 patients were eligible for disease evaluation at Day 100 post-ASCT. Among these patients, the overall response rate on Day 100 was 92% [complete remission, 61%; very good partial remission/partial remission, 31%] and stable disease occurred in 6%. The procedure was very well tolerated by all patients. At the time of writing this report, all patients are alive; however, one patient [6%] had disease relapse. The Day 100 post-ASCT nonrelapse mortality rate was 0%. Launching the HSCT program represents a historic milestone in the development of the health-care sector in Qatar. The 1st year of this program was very fruitful with the accomplishment of 17 successful transplants. We are in the process of starting the allogenic HSCT early next year. This would represent the next significant milestone for cancer care in Qatar
ABSTRACT
Over expression of B7-H1 [also named PDL-1 or CD 274] molecule in cancer has been linked to worse prognosis and resistance to anti-cancer therapies in several malignancies. In this review, we update on the expression of B7-H1 molecule in solid and hematological malignancies. We also describe the possible mechanisms by which this molecule inhibits/downregulates the immune response to cancer cells. Finally, we highlight current and future potential therapeutic strategies that can be further developed to target this molecule.
ABSTRACT
There is an urgent need for the development of leukemia-targeted im-munotherapeutic approaches using defined leukemia-associated antigens that are preferentially expressed by most leukemia subtypes and absent or minimally expressed in vital tissues. M-phase phosphoprotein 11 protein [MPP11] is extensively overexpressed in leukemic cells and therefore is considered an attractive target for leukemia T cell therapy. We sought to identify potential CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes that specifically recognised peptides derived from the MPP11 antigen. A computer-based epitope prediction program SYFPEITHI, was used to predict peptides from the MPP11 protein that bind to the most common HLA- A*0201 molecule. Peptide binding capacity to the HLA-A 0201 molecule was measured using the T2 TAP-deficient, HLA-A*0201 -positive cell line. Dendritic cells were pulsed with peptides and then used to generate CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes [CTL]. The CML leukemic cell line K562-A2.1 naturally expressing the MPP11 antigen and engineered to express the HLA-A*0201 molecule was used as the target cell. We have identified a potential HLA-A*0201 binding epitope [STLCQVEPV] named MPP-4 derived from the MPP11 protein which was used to generate a CTL line. Interestingly, this CTL line specifically recognized peptide-loaded target cells in both ELISPOT and cytotoxic assays. Importantly, this CTL line exerted a cytotoxic effect towards the CML leukemic cell line K562-A2.1. This is the first study to describe a novel epitope derived from the MPP11 antigen that has been recognized by human CD8+ CTL