Studying T Cells in Blood and Bone Marrow Samples From Patients With Multiple Myeloma

OBJECTIVES:

Primary

To evaluate the feasibility of expanding myeloma-specific T cells using autologous ex vivo expanded B cells loaded with myeloma antigens as antigen-presenting cells (B-APCs) in peripheral blood and bone marrow samples from patients with multiple myeloma.

Secondary

To examine the feasibility of selecting and expanding myeloma-specific T cells ex vivo using interferon γ release and CD3/CD28 stimulation.

OUTLINE: Peripheral blood and bone marrow samples are collected periodically for laboratory studies. Samples are analyzed to assess the feasibility of expanding autologous B cells ex vivo using CD40L and IL-4; the antigen-presenting phenotype of autologous B-cell antigen-presenting cells (B-APCs) using flow cytometry; and the antigen-presenting function of B-APCs using ELISPOT and chromium-release assay. Myeloma-specific interferon γ secreting T cells are isolated and selected using Miltenyi beads. The selected myeloma-specific T cells are expanded ex vivo using anti CD3/CD28 beads.