autologous IL-2 and CD40L-expressing B-CLL vaccine

This autologous cell-based vaccine is an experimental immunotherapy developed at Baylor College of Medicine for the treatment of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL). The vaccine is produced by harvesting a patient's own malignant B-CLL cells and genetically modifying them ex vivo to express human CD40 ligand (CD40L) and human interleukin-2 (IL-2). The expression of CD40L is intended to convert the leukemia cells into potent antigen-presenting cells, while the secretion of IL-2 aims to stimulate the expansion and activation of tumor-specific T-cells. In clinical studies, such as the Phase 1 TAIL trial, this vaccine was administered subcutaneously and evaluated in combination with lenalidomide, an immunomodulatory drug used to reduce regulatory T-cell levels and potentially prolong the anti-tumor immune response.

Other names

B-CLL VaccineCD40L/IL-2 modified B-CLL cellsautologous IL2 and CD40 ligand-expressing tumor cells