- Branche: Government; Health care
- Number of terms: 6957
- Number of blossaries: 0
- Company Profile:
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which is one of 11 agencies that compose the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The NCI, established under the National Cancer Institute Act of 1937, is the Federal Government's principal agency for ...
A probiotic containing the bacterium Lactobacillus acidophilus with potential antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activities. As a dietary supplement, Lactobacillus acidophilus (L. Acidophilus), a naturally-occurring bacteria, may improve digestion and help maintain adequate colonization of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract by modulating the composition of the normal microflora. Because it produces lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide and other substances during fermentation, this bacterium creates an acidic environment unfavorable to pathogens such as Candida albicans. In addition, during colonization of the GI tract, L. Acidophilus may form a protective barrier, preventing attachment of pathogens. Dietary supplementation with this bacterium has been shown to enhance natural and acquired immunity in mice.
Industry:Pharmaceutical
A principal metabolite of hexamethylmelamine with antineoplastic activity. Pentamethylmelamine alkylates DNA and other macromolecules and forms DNA intrastrand and DNA-protein crosslinks, thereby preventing DNA replication.
Industry:Pharmaceutical
A preparation of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta)-resistant Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTLs) directed to EBV through their native receptor and HER2 through a retrovirally transduced HER2 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) with potential antineoplastic activity. Autologous EBV-specific CTLs are produced by exposing autologous CTLs to "stimulator" autologous EBV-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines (EBV-LCLs). Subsequently, autologous EBV-specific CTLs are transduced with retroviral vectors expressing the mutant type II TGF-beta dominant-negative receptor (DNR), which blocks signaling by all three TGF-beta isoforms, and the HER2 CAR. After transduction, transgenic EBV-CTLs are expanded on EBV-LCLs. Upon administration, autologous HER2 chimeric receptor/TGFbeta dominant negative receptor-expressing EBV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes may bind to HER2-expressing tumors cells, which may result in CTL-mediated cell lysis and inhibition of tumor cell proliferation. Tumor-expressed TGF-beta inhibits T lymphocyte activation and expansion.
Industry:Pharmaceutical
A preparation of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta)-resistant cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL) reactive to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) latent membrane proteins 1 and 2 (LMP 1 and 2) with potential antineoplastic activity. T lymphocytes are transduced with a retroviral vector expressing the dominant-negative mutant type II TGF-beta receptor, which blocks signaling by all three TGF-beta isoforms. These TGF-beta-resistant T-lymphocytes are exposed ex-vivo to dendritic cells (DCs) transfected with a replication-deficient adenovirus encoding EBV LMP; subsequent exposure to LMP1- or LMP2-expressing lymphoblastoid cell lines is used to expand the CTL. Administered to patients with EBV-positive tumors, TGF-beta-resistant LMP-specific CTL target LMP-positive cells, which may result in a specific CTL response, followed by cell lysis and inhibition of tumor cell proliferation. Tumor-expressed TGF-beta inhibits T lymphocyte activation and expansion.
Industry:Pharmaceutical
A preparation of lymphocytes harvested from a patient with an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive tumor. Ex vivo, the lymphocytes are activated against EBV-specific antigens and then returned to the patient, where they mount a specific immune response against EBV-positive tumor cells.
Industry:Pharmaceutical
A preparation of lymphocytes harvested from a patient with an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive tumor. Ex vivo, the lymphocytes are activated against EBV-specific antigens and then returned to the patient, where they mount a specific immune response against EBV-positive tumor cells.
Industry:Pharmaceutical
A preparation of leaf pulp from the parenchymal tissue of the plant Aloe vera (Liliaceae). Aloe vera gel contains carbohydrate polymers, such as glucomannans or pectic acid, and various vitamins and essential amino acids, as well as other organic and inorganic compounds. This agent has been used internally or externally for sunburn, skin problems, insect bites, ulcers, arthritis, constipation, and as an immune system enhancer.
Industry:Pharmaceutical
A preparation of interleukin 21 (IL-21) stimulated, CD8+ T-lymphocytes sensitized to MART-1 (melanoma antigen recognized by T-cells) antigen with potential immunostimulating and antineoplastic activities. CD8+ T-lymphocytes are exposed ex vivo to autologous dendritic cells (DCs) pulsed with MART-1 antigen peptide and grown in the presence of IL-21. These tumor-reactive T-cells may stimulate a host immune response against tumor cells expressing the MART-1 antigen, resulting in tumor cell lysis. MART-1 is expressed by certain types of melanoma cells. IL-21, a cytokine involved in the regulation of cellular immune responses, may play a key role during priming of antigen-specific CD8+ T cells and may enhance proliferation of the CTLs.
Industry:Pharmaceutical
A preparation of glycosphingolipids (GSL), containing the disaccharide epitope galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (alpha-Gal), with potential antineoplastic activity. Upon intratumoral injection, alpha-Gal glycosphingolipids may stimulate the immune system to mount complement-mediated cytotoxicity (CMC) and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) responses against alpha-Gal GSL, which may result in tumor cell death; these responses involve natural anti-alpha-Gal immunoglobulins (Igs). As antibodies that occur naturally due to sensitization to alpha-Gal present on symbiotic bacterial flora, anti-alpha-Gal Igs are present in unusually high amounts in human sera. GSL represent a glycolipid subtype containing the amino alcohol sphingosine; tumor-associated GSL antigens contain various oligosaccharide residues.
Industry:Pharmaceutical
allogeneic IL13-zetakine/HyTK-expressing-glucocorticoid resistant cytotoxic T lymphocytes GRm13Z40-2
A preparation of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) negative, allogeneic cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTLs) expressing a membrane-tethered interleukin 13 (IL13) cytokine chimeric T-cell antigen receptor (zetakine), with potential antineoplastic activity. Upon transfection of donor T-lymphocytes with a plasmid encoding a fusion protein of the IL13-zetakine and the selection-suicide expression enzyme HyTK, these modified CTLs are expanded and introduced into a patient with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). This agent specifically targets IL13 receptor alpha2, a glioma-restricted cell-surface epitope; the CTLs exert their cytolytic effect thereby killing IL13Ra2-expressing glioma cells. In addition, IL13-zetakine redirected CTLs induce production of certain cytokines. Furthermore, due to the fact that these CTLs are GR negative, they can be used concomitantly with glucocorticoid therapy. The IL13-zetakine consists of an extracellular IL-13 E13Y mutein-human IgG4 hinge-Fc chimera fused to human cytoplasmic CD3-zeta via the transmembrane domain of human CD4.
Industry:Pharmaceutical
