Prognostic Markers for Patient Outcome Following Vaccination with Multiple MHC Class I/II-restricted WT1 Peptide-pulsed Dendritic Cells Plus Chemotherapy for Pancreatic Cancer

摘要

Background/Aim: Treatment combining dendritic cells (DCs) pulsed with three types of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class land II (DC/WT1/I/II)-restricted Wilms' tumor I (WT1) peptides with chemotherapy may stabilize disease in pancreatic cancer patients. Materials and Methods: Laboratory data from seven patients with pancreatic cancer who underwent combined DC/WT1-I/II vaccination and chemotherapy were analyzed. The DC phenotypes and plasma cytokine profiles were analyzed via flow cytometry. Results: The post-treatment neutrophil to lymphocyte (NIL) ratio was a treatment-related prognostic factor for better survival. Moreover, the mean fluorescence intensities (MFIs) of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR and cluster of differentiation (CD)83 on DCs were significantly increased after chemoimmunotherapy. Interestingly, interleukin (IL)-6 level in plasma was significantly increased after chemoimmunotherapy in non-super-responders. Conclusion: An increased NIL ratio, as well as HLA-DR and CD83 MFI levels may be prognostic markers of longer survival in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer who undergo chemoimmunotherapy.