Ramesh B. Batchu, PhD
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
"Cytolytic T Lymphocyte (CTL) Mediated Immunotherapy of Multiple Myeloma Using Gene Modified Dendritic Cells"
Fellows' Award Recipient, 2002
Myeloma is a cancer of blood-forming cells in the bone marrow. Myeloma cells make an abnormal protein, which deposits in organs and causes bone fractures, kidney failure, heart disease, and neuropathy. Bone marrow transplantation can cure disease in some patients, but in most the disease eventually returns. We will activate the immune system by a gene-based modified vaccination. We will obtain blood cells from the patient and separate a subset of cells which will be grown in the laboratory into dendritic cells that play a central role in stimulating the immune response. Dendritic cells will be used to transfer myeloma-specific genes and then used to stimulate the production of white blood cells, capable of killing tumor cells.