[HTML][HTML] Vaccine-specific local T cell reactivity in immunotherapy-associated vitiligo in melanoma patients

JFM Jacobs, EHJG Aarntzen, LAG Sibelt… - Cancer Immunology …, 2009 - Springer
JFM Jacobs, EHJG Aarntzen, LAG Sibelt, WA Blokx, ACI Boullart, MJ Gerritsen…
Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy, 2009Springer
The occurrence of vitiligo in patients with melanoma is especially reported for patients
undergoing immunotherapy. While vitiligo in these patients is thought to be related to an
immune response directed against melanoma cells, solid evidence is lacking. Here we
report local cytotoxic T cell reactivity in three melanoma patients who developed vitiligo, after
experimental immunotherapy using dendritic cell vaccinations. Tetramer analysis showed
that vaccine-induced T cells recognizing gp100 and tyrosinase are present at the vitiligo …
Abstract
The occurrence of vitiligo in patients with melanoma is especially reported for patients undergoing immunotherapy. While vitiligo in these patients is thought to be related to an immune response directed against melanoma cells, solid evidence is lacking. Here we report local cytotoxic T cell reactivity in three melanoma patients who developed vitiligo, after experimental immunotherapy using dendritic cell vaccinations. Tetramer analysis showed that vaccine-induced T cells recognizing gp100 and tyrosinase are present at the vitiligo lesions. These T cells secrete IFN-γ and IL-2 upon peptide specific stimulation as well as upon recognition of the autologous tumor. We show that functional CD8+ T cells specific for melanoma differentiation antigens used in a melanoma immunotherapy trial, do not only invade the tumor, but also the vitiligo lesions. This directly links vitiligo to the immuno-therapeutic intervention and supports the hypothesis that vitiligo is a marker of immunity against melanoma cells.
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