Lymphocyte function following radioiodine therapy in patients with thyroid carcinoma

Aim: Since the nuclear disaster in Fukushima has raised great concern about the danger of radioactivity, we here addressed the question if the therapeutic use of iodine 131, the most frequently applied radionuclide, was harmful to immune function in patients. It was our aim to define for the first time in a clinical setting how radioiodine therapy alters anti-microbial immune responses. Patients, methods: In 21 patients with thyroid carcinoma anti-microbial lymphocyte responses were assessed by lymphocyte transformation test and ELISpot – measuring lymphocyte proliferation and on a single cell level production of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines (interferon-γ and interleukin- 10) – prior to therapy, at day 1 and day 7 post therapy. Results: Proliferative lymphocyte responses and interferon-γ production after in vitro stimulation with microbial antigens were significantly (p < 0.05) increased at day 1 vs. pre therapy, and returned to pre therapy levels at day 7. On the contrary, at day 1 interleukin-10 production was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced. Thus, we observed a short-term increase in pro-inflammatory immune responses. However, T lymphocyte responses were in the range of healthy controls at all three time points. Conclusion: Thyroid carcinoma patients receiving radioiodine therapy do not display any sign of immunosuppression.

Expression of CD66 in non-Hodgkin lymphomas and multiple myeloma

OBJECTIVES

⁹⁰Y-labeled anti-CD66b monoclonal antibody clone BW 250/183 was developed for treatment of tumors. The aim of the study was the analysis of CD66 expression in lymphoproliferative malignancies to expand the potential of anti-CD66-based therapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Bone marrow samples from 260 patients were examined for the expression of CD66 on tumor cells in 104 B-chronic lymphocytic leukemias (B-CLL), 28 mantle cell lymphomas (MCL), 22 follicular lymphomas (FCL), 15 marginal zone lymphomas (MZL), 12 lymphoplasmacytic lymphomas (LPL), 13 diffuse large B cell lymphomas (DLBCL), 4 T-non-Hodgkin lymphomas (T-NHL), 3 B-NHL not otherwise specified (B-NHL NOS), 3 B acute lymphoblastic leukemias (B-ALL), and in 56 multiple myelomas (MM) by flow cytometry.

RESULTS

Positive (≥ 20%) expression of CD66abce clone Kat4c was detected in 76% of B-CLL and 76.8% of MM. The highest number of CD66abce-positive samples was in MCL and LPL (96.4% of 28 and 91.7% of 12 patients, respectively). Expression of CD66b clone BW 250/183 was examined in 114 of 260 samples. Positive expression was detected in 23.3% of B-CLL (6/35), 17.1% of MM (7/30), and 21.4% of MCL (3/14) samples.

CONCLUSION

The expression of CD66b compared to CD66abce was lower in all measured samples. Use of radiolabeled anti-CD66b antibody for the treatment of lymphoproliferative diseases appears to have limited preclinical substantiation.