title: Transfer of the HSV-tk gene into donor peripheral blood lymphocytes for in vivo modulation of donor anti-tumor immunity after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.
abstract: The infusion of donor lymphocytes after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation is a promising therapeutic tool for achieving a graft versus leukemia (GvL) effect in case of leukemic relapse (1-7), and for the treatment of other complications related to the severe immunosuppressive status of transplanted patients, such as Epstein Barr virus-induced lymphoproliferative disorders (EBV-BLPD) (8) or reactivation of CMV infection (9). Although the delay in the administration of T lymphocytes is expected to reduce the risk of severe GvHD, this risk is still present at higher doses of donor T-cells. The transfer of a suicide gene into donor lymphocytes could allow the in vivo selective elimination of cells responsible for severe GvHD. Additionally, under appropriate conditions, it may allow in vivo modulation of donor anti-tumor responses, and to separate GvL from GvHD. Finally, crucial questions concerning survival and function of donor lymphocytes could be answered by their gene marking. Previous studies documented that T lymphocytes are suitable targets for gene transfer through retroviral vectors (10, 11). This protocol has been designed to evaluate in the contest of allogeneic BMT: 1--the safety of increasing doses of donor lymphocytes transduced with a suicide retroviral vector; 2--the efficacy in terms of survival and immunologic potential of donor lymphocytes after in vitro activation, gene transduction, and immunoselection; 3--the possibility of in vivo down regulation of GvHD by the administration of ganciclovir to patients treated by tk-transduced donor lymphocytes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Bone Marrow Transplantation and Gene Therapy Program, Istituto Scientifico H.S. Raffaele, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bordignon
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bonini
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Verzeletti
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nobili
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Maggioni
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Traversari
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Giavazzi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Servida
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zappone
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Benazzi
mesh_terms: D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D015774:Ganciclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007938:Leukemia / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D018579:Patient Selection; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000628:therapy; D012190:Retroviridae / Q000235:genetics; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000637:transplantation; D013937:Thymidine Kinase / Q000235:genetics*; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D013937:Thymidine Kinase; D015774:Ganciclovir