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Treatment of leukemic relapse following unrelated umbilical cord blood transplantation with interleukin-2: potential for augmenting graft-versus-leukemia and graft-versus-host effects with cytokines

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 26, pages 353–355 (2000)Cite this article

Abstract

In comparison to bone marrow, umbilical cord blood has decreased intrinsic immune responsiveness allowing transplantation across HLA barriers with lower rates of graft-versus-host disease. However, laboratory models have also suggested that cord blood may be extremely sensitive to stimulation by cytokines. We report an adult recipient of an ex vivo expanded, HLA-mismatched, unrelated cord blood transplant who experienced a late extramedullary relapse while still in hematologic remission. Despite demonstrating immune tolerance on minimal immunosuppressive agents, a brief course of intravenous interleukin-2 resulted in rapid, aggressive graft-versus-host and graft-versus-leukemia reactions. This case highlights the potential of cytokine immunomodulation following cord blood transplantation, but also suggests caution in stimulating these cells. Bone Marrow Transplantation (2000) 26, 353–355.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Adult Blood and Marrow Transplant Program, Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack, NJ, USA

    SL Goldberg, AL Pecora, RJ Rosenbluth & AA Jennis

  2. Progenitor Cell Therapy, Hackensack, NJ, USA

    RA Preti

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  1. SL Goldberg
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  2. AL Pecora
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  3. RJ Rosenbluth
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  4. AA Jennis
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  5. RA Preti
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Goldberg, S., Pecora, A., Rosenbluth, R. et al. Treatment of leukemic relapse following unrelated umbilical cord blood transplantation with interleukin-2: potential for augmenting graft-versus-leukemia and graft-versus-host effects with cytokines. Bone Marrow Transplant 26, 353–355 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bmt.1702520

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