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T cell depletion and no post transplant immune suppression allow separation of graft versus leukemia from graft versus host disease

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 54, pages 775–779 (2019)Cite this article

Abstract

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation from a human leukocyte antigen (HLA) haplotype mismatched donor (haploidentical transplantation) was not feasible for the treatment of hematologic malignancies until the early 1990s, due to the high risk of rejection and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). The first successful protocol of haploidentical transplantation was based on a highly myeloablative and immunosuppressive conditioning regimen and the infusion of a “mega-dose” of T-cell-depleted hematopoietic stem cells. More than 90% of patients engrafted and <10% developed GVHD. The protocol did not include post-transplant immunosuppression, which favored the graft-versus-tumor effect mediated by alloreactive NK cells and residual alloreactive T cells. However, donor post-transplant immune reconstitution was slow with a high risk of infection-related mortality. More recently, T-cell-depleted haploidentical transplantation has become the platform for innovative cell therapies that aim to enhance T-cell immunity while preventing adverse reactions against host tissues. One strategy is adoptive immunotherapy with conventional T cells and regulatory T cells. Preclinical studies and clinical trials have proven that regulatory T cells control GVHD caused by co-infused conventional T cells while the graft-versus-tumor effect is retained. The use of regulatory T cells in the absence of any other form of immune suppression allowed for a conventional T cell-mediated full eradication of disease in the vast majority of high-risk acute leukemia patients.

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Funding

Publication of this supplement was sponsored by Gilead Sciences Europe Ltd, Cell Source, Inc., The Chorafas Institute for Scientific Exchange of the Weizmann Institute of Science, Kiadis Pharma, Miltenyi Biotec, Celgene, Centro Servizi Congressuali, Almog Diagnostic.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program, Division of Hematology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy

    Antonio Pierini, Loredana Ruggeri, Antonella Mancusi, Alessandra Carotti, Franca Falzetti, Adelmo Terenzi, Massimo Fabrizio Martelli & Andrea Velardi

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  1. Antonio Pierini
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Correspondence to Antonio Pierini.

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AP and AV received start-up grants from the Italian Association for Cancer Research (AIRC). The remaining authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Pierini, A., Ruggeri, L., Mancusi, A. et al. T cell depletion and no post transplant immune suppression allow separation of graft versus leukemia from graft versus host disease . Bone Marrow Transplant 54 (Suppl 2), 775–779 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41409-019-0597-y

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