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View the Table of Contents for the October 1 issue of Clinical Cancer Research.
Biagi et al. Page 6916
Human CD40 ligand enhances the antigen-presenting capacity of B-CLL cells. Autologous B-CLL cells expressing hCD40L and human IL-2 were prepared. Nine patients were enrolled. A B-CLL–specific response was detected in seven patients. Biagi et al. observed that the frequencies of IFN-g, granzyme-B, and IL-5 spot-forming cells showed a significant rise over the frequency before vaccination. Nonetheless, these responses were transient. High levels of immunoregulatory T cells were present and their in vitro removal increased the antileukemic reactivity. These results suggest that immune responses to B-CLL can be obtained with autologous vaccines, but that removal of immunoregulatory T cells in vivo may be necessary to sustain the antitumor immune response.
Strom et al. Page 6889
In a follow-up study of 526 prostatectomy patients, Strom et al. determined that men who experienced biochemical failure (e.g., rising PSA) were heavier and had higher body mass index (BMI) at age 25, 40, and diagnosis. Obesity at diagnosis predicted biochemical failure independently of clinical characteristics. Additionally, weight gain of greater than 1.5 kg/yr between age 25 and diagnosis was associated with significantly shorter time to biochemical failure. A new nomogram incorporating BMI improves its predictive utility. These results validate the importance of obesity in prostate cancer progression and suggest a link to the biological basis of prostate cancer progression that can be therapeutically exploited.
Fang et al. Page 7033
Genistein, the major isoflavone from soy, has been shown to have cancer preventive activity, but the mechanisms are not clearly understood. Fang et al. demonstrate that treatment of human esophageal cancer cells with genistein (2–20 mmol/L) caused the reversal of hypermethylation and reactivation of retinoic acid receptor β, p16INK4a, and O6-methylguanine methyltransferase genes. Similar activity is also observed with human prostate cancer cells. Greater extent of reactivation is observed when genistein is combined with low concentrations of trichostatin, sulforaphane, or 2’-deoxy-5-aza-cytidine. Reversal or prevention of the hypermethylation of key genes by genistein may contribute to its cancer prevention activity.
Passebosc-Faure et al. Page 6862
Cytological diagnosis of malignancy in serous effusions is often hampered by low number of tumor cells and by delicate distinction from inflammatory or mesothelial cells. To improve the detection sensitivity of tumor cells, Passebosc-Faure et al. evaluated a panel of molecular markers in 114 effusions. Combined together, CEA and Ep-CAM enabled detection of tumor cells in 63% of cytologically negative malignant effusions and, in the whole population of effusions, the detection sensitivity increased from 73% (cytology alone) to 90% (cytology + RT-PCR) with 100% specificity. This marker-based analysis provides a clinically reliable and noninvasive test for the diagnosis of malignancy.