Methods for treating chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
The present invention relates generally to the treatment of PML by infusion of activated and expanded autologous lymphocytes.
1. A method for treating chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) comprising administering to a CLL patient who has underlying progressive multifocal leukoencephalitis (PML):
a) a first population of T cells activated and expanded according to a method comprising,
activating a population of T cells in vitro with an agent which stimulates a TCR/CD3 complex-associated signal in the T cells, wherein the agent is attached on a surface; and
stimulating a CD28 accessory molecule on the surface of the T cells in vitro with a ligand that binds the CD28 accessory molecule on the surface of the T cells, wherein the ligand is attached on the same surface as the agent; the activating and stimulating steps thereby inducing proliferation of the T cells, and
b) a second population of T cells comprising JC virus-specific T cells, wherein when the first and second population of T cells are administered, the CLL patient who has underlying PML is treated.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the agent is selected from the group consisting of an anti-CD3 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof, an anti-TCR antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof, a superantigen, an MHC-peptide tetramer, and an antigen in a form suitable to trigger a primary activation signal in the T cell when complexed with the TCR/CD3 complex.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ligand is selected from the group consisting of an anti-CD28 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof, CD80 or a CD28-binding fragment thereof, and CD86 or a CD28-binding fragment thereof.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the surface is selected from the group consisting of a bead, a lipid bilayer, a cell surface, and a tissue-culture dish.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the activated and expanded T cells are administered intravenously.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein said cell surface is of a human cell line.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein said human cell line is K562.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein said human cell line is genetically modified to express a human Fcγ receptor.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein said human Fcγ receptor comprises CD32 or CD64.
10. The method of claim 6 , wherein said human cell line is further genetically modified to express a co-stimulatory molecule selected from the group consisting of CD80, CD86, 4-1BBL, OX40L, ICOS-L, ICAM, PD-L1 and PD-L2.
11. The method of claim 6 , wherein said human cell line has been modified to express a cytokine.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein said cytokine is selected from the group consisting of IL-2, GM-CSF, IL-4, TNF-α, and IFN-γ.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the JC virus-specific T cells are generated by stimulating a population of T cells in vitro with an antigen selected from the group consisting of a JCV-specific protein or a JCV-specific epitope.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the JCV-specific epitopes are selected from the group consisting of VP1 p36 and VP1 p100.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the population of T cells are autologous T cells.