Immunotherapy with

Metastatic renal cell carcinoma has a poor prognosis and resists conventional chemotherapy. Immunotherapy with IL-2 and/or IFN-a is currently regarded as the most effective therapy with, however, modest response rates of 15-20%. Similar results are also observed in patients with metastatic melanoma and the response to IFN-a and IL-2 correlates with the occurrence of tumor-infiltrating CD4+ T-lymphocytes identified in aspirates from melanoma metastases. Determination of these cells therefore seems to be a method to predict responders prior to the initiation of cytokine therapy. 

Muller U, Helbling A, Bischof M Predictive value of venom-specific IgE, IgG and IgG subclass antibodies in patients on immunotherapy with honey bee venom. Allergy 1989 44 412-418. 

Jutel M, Jaeger L, Suck R, Meyer H, Fiebig H, Cromwell O Allergen-specific immunotherapy with recombinant grass pollen allergens. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2005 116 608-613. 

In rare cases, initiation of specific immunotherapy with insect venom leads to recurrent anaphylaxis, even with antihistamine premedication. In those cases, comedication with omalizumab (anti-IgE) has been reported to induce tolerance. In a case of recurrent anaphylaxis to induction of specific immunotherapy, the injection of 300 mg of omalizumab between 4 days and 1 h reportedly led to tolerance [42]. This approach also appears worthy of consideration in patients with both idiopathic recurrent anaphylaxis and mastocytosis who do not respond to standard antimediator therapy, as has been described in 2 atopic patients with ISM [43]. Most patients with mastocytosis and idiopathic anaphylaxis, however, are sufficiently controlled by standard antimediator therapy with antihistamines with or without low-dose corticosteroids. 

Author, year Immunotherapy with Number re-exposed Re-exposure by Systemic reaction p verum vs. at re-exposure (%) control ... 

Author, year Immunotherapy with venom of Number challenged Systemic reaction after challenge (%)... 

Muller UR, Helbling A, Berchtold E Immunotherapy with honey bee and yellow jacket venom is different regarding efficacy and safety. J Allergy Clin Imm- 48 unol 1992 89 529-535. 

Dreborg, S., and Akerblom, E.B. (1990) Immunotherapy with monomethoxypolyethylene glycol modified allergens. Crit. Rev. Ther. Drug Carrier Syst. 6, 315-365. 

Ota, K. et al., Immunotherapy with bestatin for acute nonlymphocytic leukemia in adults., Cancer Immunol. Immunother., 23, 5, 1986. 

Berchtold E, Maibach R, Muller UR Reduction of side effects from rush-immunotherapy with honey bee venom by pretreatment with terfena-dine. Clin Exp Allergy 1992 22 59-65. 

Bussmann C, Maintz L, Hart J, Allam JP, Vrtala S, Chen KW, Bieber T, Thomas WR, Valenta R, Zuberbier T, Sager A, Novak N Clinical improvement and immunological changes in atopic dermatitis patients undergoing subcutaneous immunotherapy with a house dust mite allergoid a pilot study. Clin Exp Allergy 2007 37 1277-1285. 

Muller UR, Mosbech H Position paper Immunotherapy with hymenoptera venoms. Allergy 1993 48 36-46. 

Muller U, Akdis CA, Fricker M, Akdis M, Blesken T, Bettens F, Blaser K Successful immunotherapy with T-cell epitope peptides of bee venom phosphohpase A2 induces specific T-cell anergy in patients allergic to bee venom. J Allergy Chn Immunol 1998 101 747-754. 

Frick OL, Teuber SS, Buchanan BB, Morigasaki S, Umetsu DT Allergen immunotherapy with heat-killed Listeria monocytogenes alleviates peanut and food-induced anaphylaxis in dogs. Allergy 2005 60 243-250. Stock P, Akbari 0, DeKruyff RH, Umetsu DT Respiratory tolerance is inhibited by the administration of corticosteroids. J Immunol 2005 175 7380-7387. 

Roder E, Berger MY, Hop WC, Bernsen RM, de Groot H, Gerth van Wijk R. Sublingual immunotherapy with grass pollen is not effective in symptomatic youngsters in primary care. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2007 119(4) 892-8. [Epub 2007 Feb 23]. 

Placebo-controlled immunotherapy with Cocos nucifera pollen extract. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 1994 103(2) 194-201. 

Immunotherapy with a depigmented, polymerized vaccine of Olea europaea pollen allergens. Significantly reduces specific bronchial and skin test reactivity in sensitized patients after one year of treatment. I Investig Allergol Clin Immunol 2003 13(2) 108-117. 

OE210 Gonzalez, P., F. Florido, B. Saenz de San Pedro, F. de la Torre, P. Rico, and S. Martin. Immunotherapy with an extract of Olea europaea quantified in mass unit. Evaluation of the safety and efficacy after one year of treatment. J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol 2002 12(4) 263-271. 

Maki, T., Ichikawa, T., Blanco, R., and Porter, J. (1992). Long-term abrogation of autoimmune diabetes in nonobese diabetic mice by immunotherapy with anti-lymphocyte serum. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 89, 3434-3438. 

Creticos PS, Schroeder JT, Hamilton RG, Balcer-Whaley SL, et al. 2006. Immunotherapy with a ragweed-toll like receptor 9 agonist vaccine for allergic rhinitis. NEJM. 355 1445-1455. 

Lou E, Marshall J, Aklilu M, Cole D, et al. 2006. A phase II study of active immunotherapy with PANVAC or autologous, cultured dendritic cells infected with PANVAC after complete resection of hepatic metastasis of colorectal carcinoma. Clin Colorectal Cancer 5 ... 

Reid I, Sharpe I, McDevitt J, Maxwell W, Emmons R, Tanner WA, Monson JR. Thyroid dysfunction can predict response to immunotherapy with interleukin-2 and inter-feron-2 alpha. Br J Cancer 1991 64(5) 915-8. 

Weijl NI, Van der Harst D, Brand A, Kooy Y, Van Luxemburg S, Schroder J, Lentjes E, Van Rood JJ, Cleton FJ, Osanto S. Hypothyroidism during immunotherapy with interleukin-2 is associated with antithyroid antibodies and response to treatment. J Clin Oncol 1993 ll(7) 1376-83. 

The World Health Organization position paper [31] published in 1998 found that properly conducted double-blind, placebo-controlled trials have shown the effectiveness of sublingual-swallow immunotherapy with grass, Parietaria and mite vaccines. The ARIA (Allergic Rhinitis and Impact on Asthma) [32] guidelines published in 2001 gave specific indications for usage. 

Hordijk GJ, Antvelink JB, Luwema RA Sublingual immunotherapy with a standardised grass pollen extract a double-blind placebo-controlled study. Allergol Immunopathol 1998 26/5 ... 

Sabbah A, Hassoun S, Le Sellin J, Andre C, Sicard H A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial by the sublingual route of immunotherapy with a standardized grass pollen extract. Allergy... 

Feliziani Y Lattuada G, Parmiani S, Dall Aglio PP Safety and efficacy of sublingual rush immunotherapy with grass allergen extracts A double-blind study. Allergol Immunopathol 1995 23/5 224-230. 

Van Deusen MA, Angelini B, Cordoro KM, Seiler BA, Wood L, Skoner DP Efficacy and safety of oral immunotherapy with short ragweed extract. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 1997 78 573-580. 

Vourdas D, Syrigou E, Potamianou P, Carat F, Batard T, Andre C, Papageorgiou PS Double-blind, placebo-controlled evaluation of sublingual immunotherapy with standardized olive pollen extract in pediatric patients with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and mild asthma due to olive pollen sensitization. Allergy 1998 53 662-672. 

Horak F Immunotherapy with sublingual birch pollen extract. A short-term double blind placebo study. J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol 1998 8/3 165—171. 

Lombardi C Safety of sublingual immunotherapy with monomeric allergoid in adults Multicenter post-marketing surveillance study. Allergy 2001 56 989-992. 

Dolz I, Martinez-Cocera C, Bartolome J A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of immunotherapy with grass-pollen extract Alutard SQ during a 3-year period with initial rush immunotherapy. Allergy 1996 51 489-500. 

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