VACCINE IMMUNOTHERAPY FOR IMMUNE SUPPRESSED PATIENTS
A method for overcoming mild to moderate immune suppression includes the steps of inducing production of naive T-cells and restoring T-cell immunity. A method of vaccine immunotherapy includes the steps of inducing production of naive T-cells and exposing the naive T-cells to endogenous or exogenous antigens at an appropriate site. Additionally, a method for unblocking immunization at a regional lymph node includes the steps of promoting differentiation and maturation of immature dendritic cells at a regional lymph node and allowing presentation of processed peptides by resulting mature dendritic cells, thus, for example, exposing tumor peptides to T-cells to gain immunization of the T-cells. Further, a method of treating cancer and other persistent lesions includes the steps of administering an effective amount of a natural cytokine mixture as an adjuvant to endogenous or exogenous administered antigen to the cancer or other persistent lesions.
1 .- 29 . (canceled)
30 . A method for inducing an immune response to at least one exogenous antigen in a patient, the method comprising:
administering to the patient an effective amount of a natural cytokine mixture comprising the cytokines IL-1beta, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IFN-gamma, and TNF-alpha; and
administering to the patient an effective amount of at least one exogenous antigen,
wherein the natural cytokine mixture acts as an adjuvant with the at least one exogenous antigen and stimulates an immune response to the at least one exogenous antigen in the patient.
31 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the at least one exogenous antigen is at least one exogenous tumor antigen.
32 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the natural cytokine mixture is administered to the patient perilymphatically.
33 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the method further comprises:
administering to the patient an effective amount of cyclophosphamide.
34 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the method further comprises:
administering to the patient an effective amount of cyclophosphamide; and
administering to the patient an effective amount of a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).
35 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the natural cytokine mixture further comprises GM-CSF and G-CSF.
36 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the at least one exogenous tumor antigen is at least one tumor peptide.
37 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the at least one tumor peptide is at least one prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) peptide.
38 . A composition comprising:
a natural cytokine mixture comprising the cytokines IL-1beta, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IFN-gamma, and TNF-alpha; and
at least one exogenous antigen.
39 . The composition of claim 38 , wherein the at least one exogenous antigen is at least one exogenous tumor antigen.
40 . The composition of claim 39 , wherein the at least one exogenous tumor antigen is at least one tumor peptide.
41 . The composition of claim 40 , wherein the at least one tumor peptide is at least one prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) peptide.