Generation of Fas-independent CD4+cytotoxic T-cell clone specific for p190 minor bcr-abl fusion peptide

In the majority of Ph + ALL patients, p190 bcr-abl fusion protein is generated in the Philadelphia chromosome. The fusion protein may serve as a leukemia antigen because it is not expressed in normal cells and hardly in any other malignancy. From a healthy donor, we have established a p190 bcr-abl fusion peptide-specific CD4+ cytotoxic T-cell clone, activation of which depends on HLA-DRB1*1501. This T-cell clone has a strong cytotoxic activity against autologus MoDCs pulsed with ela2 peptide and its cytotoxicity is not mediated by Fas/Fas ligand or perforin pathway. Success in establishment of the p190 bcr-abl fusion peptide-specific T-cell clone encourages us to develop a new approach to an effective immunotherapy for Ph + ALL. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.