A clear correlation between WT1-specific Th response and clinical response in WT1 CTL epitope vaccination

Clinical studies of WT1-targeted cancer vaccine are being performed. However, WT1-specific Th response in cancer patients remains unclear. Using quantitative real-time RT-PCR, we investigated IFN-gamma and IL-10 mRNA expression from Th cells by stimulation with helper peptide WT1(332). Seventeen patients, of whom 10 had achieved stable disease and the remaining 7 had progressive disease, were weekly vaccinated with WT1 CTL epitope (modified WT1(235)) and examined for WT1(332)-specific Th response. A clear correlation between WT1(332)-specific Th response and clinical response was observed at 4 weeks post-vaccination. In patients who responded, a clear inverse correlation between IL-10-type and IFN-gamma-type WT1(332)-specific Th response was detected at pre- and 4 weeks post-vaccination, and the shift of the Th response from IL-10-type dominancy at early phase to IFN-gamma-type dominancy at late phase was observed. From this study we concluded that occurrence of WT1(332)-specific Th response could predict good clinical response of WT1 CTL epitope vaccination.