Vaccine immunotherapy for immune suppressed patients

Abstract

A method for overcoming mild to moderate immune suppression includes the steps of inducing production of naïve T-cells and restoring T-cell immunity. A method of vaccine immunotherapy includes the steps of inducing production of naïve T-cells and exposing the naïve 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 . A method for unblocking immunization at a regional lymph node by: 
 promoting differentiation and maturation of immature dendritic cells in a regional lymph node and;    allowing presentation by resulting mature dendritic cells of antigen to T-cells to gain immunization of the T-cells to the antigen.    
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said promoting step is further defined as administering a natural cytokine mixture (NCM) perilymphatically into lymphatics that drain into lymph nodes regional to a lesion to be treated.  
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the lesion is cancerous or an other persistent lesion.  
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein the presented lesion is infectious.  
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the antigen is an endogenous antigen.  
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the antigen is an exogenous antigen.  
   
   
       7 . A method according to  claim 2  wherein said administering step is further defined as injecting the NCM perilymphatically, intralymphatically, intranodally, intrasplenically, subcutaneously, intramuscularly or intracutaneously.  
   
   
       8 . A method of inducing immunization to cancer or persistent lesions by administering an effective amount of an exogenous antigen and an adjuvant consisting of a natural cytokine mixture (NCM).  
   
   
       9 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein said administering step is further defined as administering an NCM including IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, γIFN and TNFα.  
   
   
       10 . A method according to  claim 8  wherein said administering step is further defined as injecting the NCM perilymphatically, intralymphatically, intranodally, intrasplenically, subcutaneously, intramuscularly or intracutaneously.  
   
   
       11 . A method for overcoming mild to moderate T cell depletion and restoring T cell immune response by inducing production of naïve T cells.  
   
   
       12 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein said inducing step is further defined as administering a natural cytokine mixture (NCM).  
   
   
       13 . A method according to  claim 11  wherein said administering step is further defined as injecting the NCM perilymphatically, intralymphatically, intranodally, intrasplenically, subcutaneously, intramuscularly or intracutaneously.  
   
   
       14 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein said administering step is further defined as injecting an NCM including IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, γIFN and TNFα.  
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein said administering step including administering about 150-600 units of IL-2 per injection in the NCM.  
   
   
       16 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein said blocking and inducing steps are further defined as codelivering cyclophosphamide and a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).  
   
   
       17 . A method of treating a cancer or other persistent lesion in an immune suppressed patient by administering an effective amount of a natural cytokine mixture as an adjuvant to endogenous or exongenously administering antigen from the cancer or persistent lesion.  
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein said administering step is further defined as injecting an NCM including IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, TNFα and γIFN.  
   
   
       19 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein said administering step is further defined as injecting an NCM including IL-1, IL-2, IL-6; IL-8, TNFα and γIFN.  
   
   
       20 . A method according to  claim 17 , further including the steps blocking endogenous suppression of T-cells directly or indirectly by the endogenous lesion being treated.  
   
   
       21 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein said blocking and inducing steps are further defined as codelivering cyclophosphamide and a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).  
   
   
       22 . A method according to  claim 21 , wherein the NSAIDS is selected from the group including indomethacin, ibuprofen, vioxx, celebrex and other related compounds.  
   
   
       23 . A method of vaccine immunotherapy including the steps of: 
 inducing production of naïve T-cells and    exposing the naïve T-cells to endogenous or exogenous antigens.    
   
   
       24 . A method according to  claim 23 , wherein said exposing step is further defined as exposing the naïve T-cells to endogenously processed peptide preparation resident in regional nodes of a patient who possesses a lesion.  
   
   
       25 . A method according to  claim 24 , wherein the lesion is cancerous or infectious.  
   
   
       26 . A method according to  claim 23 , wherein said exposing step is further defined as administering an exogenously produced antigen.  
   
   
       27 . A method according to  claim 23 , wherein said antigen is otherwise non-immunogenic peptide.  
   
   
       28 . A method according to  claim 23 , wherein said exposing step is further defined as immunizing the naïve T-cells with matured peptide presenting dendritic cells at a lymph node distal from a lesion to be treated.  
   
   
       29 . A method of treating lymphocytopenia by administering an effective amount of a natural cytokine mixture.  
   
   
       30 . A method of vaccine immunotherapy including the steps of: 
 promoting differentiation and maturation of immature dendritic cells in a lymph node;    allowing presentation by resulting mature dendritic cells of antigen to T cells to gain immunization of the T cells to the antigen; and    preventing development of metastasis.    
   
   
       31 . A method of vaccine immunotherapy including the steps of: 
 unblocking immunization at a lymph node and then generating systemic immunity.    
   
   
       32 . The method as set forth in  claim 31  further including the step of preventing development of metastasis.  
   
   
       33 . A method of preventing development of metastasis by unblocking immunization at a lymph node regional to a lesion, wherein the lesion is capable of metastasizing.  
   
   
       34 . A method of unblocking immunization at a lymph node by: 
 selecting conditions in a patient known to be associated with sinus histocytosis and hypoplasia of a lymph node; promoting differentiation and maturation of immature dendritic cells in the lymph node; and allowing presentation by resulting mature dendritic cells of antigen to T cells to gain immunization of the T cells to the antigen.    
   
   
       35 . A method of treating cancer or other persistent lesion in an immune suppressed patient by: 
 selecting conditions in a patient known to be associated with sinus histocytosis and hypoplasia of a lymph node; promoting differentiation and maturation of immature dendritic cells in the lymph node; and allowing presentation by resulting mature dendritic cells of antigen to T cells to gain immunization of the T cells to the antigen.    
   
   
       36 . A method of treating an immune suppressed patient by: 
 selecting conditions in a patient known to be associated with sinus histocytosis and hypoplasia of a lymph node; promoting differentiation and maturation of immature dendritic cells in the lymph node; and allowing presentation by resulting mature dendritic cells of antigen to T cells to gain immunization of the T cells to the antigen.    
   
   
       37 . A method of restoring function of a damaged immune system by: 
 first identifying immune incompetence at at least one lymph node; promoting differentiation and maturation of immature dendritic cells in the lymph node; and allowing presentation by resulting mature dendritic cells of antigen to T cells to gain immunization of the T cells to the antigen.    
   
   
       38 . A method of unblocking immunization at a regional lymph node by: 
 selecting conditions in a patient known to be associated with sinus histocytosis and hypoplasia of a lymph node;    promoting differentiation and maturation of immature dendritic cells in a regional lymph node, by administering an effective amount of an exogenous antigen and an immune response enhancing agent; and    allowing presentation by resulting mature dendritic cells of antigen to T cells to gain immunization of the T cells to the antigen.    
   
   
       39 . A method of inducing maturation of dendritic cells by: 
 selecting conditions in a patient known to be associated with sinus histocytosis and hypoplasia of a lymph node;    promoting differentiation and maturation of immature dendritic cells in the lymph nodes; and    allowing presentation by resulting mature dendritic cells of antigens to T cells to gain immunization of the T cells to the antigen.    
   
   
       40 . A kit for use in conjunction with cancer therapy, comprising: 
 a test for selecting conditions in a patient known to be associated with sinus histocytosis and hypoplasia of a lymph node; and    an injectable composition for promoting differentiation and maturation of immature dendritic cells in the lymph node.    
   
   
       41 . A kit for use in treating immune incompetence, comprising: 
 a test for selecting conditions in a patient known to be associated with sinus histocytosis and hypoblasion of a lymph node; and    an injectable composition for promoting differentiation and maturation of immature dendritic cells in the lymph node.    
   
   
       42 . A kit for use in conjunction with cancer therapy comprising an injectable composition to prevent metastasis of a cancer.  
   
   
       43 . A kit for use in conjunction with preventing metastasis comprising a composition for unblocking immunization at a lymph node regional to a lesion, wherein the lesion is capable of metastasis.  
   
   
       44 . A kit for delaying and preventing the recurrence of an otherwise ablated tumor comprising an injectable composition for promoting differentiation and maturation of immature dendritic cells in a lymph node.  
   
   
       45 . A method of delaying recurrence of metastasis by promoting differentiation and maturation of immature dendritic cells in a regional lymph node by administering an effective amount of an exogenous antigen and an immune response enhancing agent; and allowing presentation by resulting mature dendritic cells of antigen to T cells to gain immunization of the T cells to the antigen.  
   
   
       46 . A composition for increasing CD 45RA positive T cells comprising a natural cytokine mixture (NCM) plus a low dosage of cyclophosphamide, indomethacin, and zinc.  
   
   
       47 . The composition as set forth in  claim 46 , wherein said NCM includes IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, γIFN, and TNFα.  
   
   
       48 . The composition as set forth in  claim 47 , wherein said IL-2 is about 120-600 units of IL-2 per injection in the NCM.  
   
   
       49 . The composition as set forth in  claim 48 , wherein said IL-2 is about 120-340 units of IL-2 per injection in the NCM.  
   
   
       50 . The composition as set forth in  claim 46 , further comprising a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).  
   
   
       51 . A formulation for inhibiting metastasis comprising 150-600 units of IL-2.  
   
   
       52 . A method of immunizing patients to unidentified tumor antigens at the lymph node level by administering a natural cytokine mixture.