Clearance of Hematologic Malignancies by Allogeneic Cytokine-Induced Killer Cell or Donor Lymphocyte Infusions

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has become the standard of care for many high-risk hematologic malignancies. However, a high relapse rate, first indicated by molecular relapse, remains the leading cause of treatment failure. Cell-based immunotherapy offers promise for eradicating molecular disease and preventing overt relapse following allogeneic HSCT, especially when the leukemia burden is low. Donor immune cell populations can become activated on recognition of specific major histocompatibility complex antigens or minor histocompatibility antigens on host cells and thus can contain leukemia-reactive immune cells but can also induce graft-versus-host disease (GVHD).
Source: Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation - Category: Hematology Authors: Source Type: research