Chemotherapy does not nullify the ability of donor lymphocyte infusions to mediate graft-versus-host reactions.
Two patients with multiple myeloma in relapse after allogeneic BMT received donor lymphocyte infusions (DLI) but later required chemotherapy for treatment of myeloma-related complications. In both patients, recovery from chemotherapy-induced aplasia was accompanied by manifestations of graft-versus-host reactions. The first patient developed grade II acute GVHD and a complete remission which has lasted >22 months. The second patient developed grade III acute GVHD but died with co-existing GVHD and extensive extramedullary myeloma. These results demonstrate that chemotherapy does not nullify the ability of donor lymphocytes to mediate graft-versus-host reactions.
Division of Hematologic Malignancies, Johns Hopkins Oncology Center, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
E J
EJ
Fuchs
A
A
Seber
V
V
Altomonte
H G
HG
Braine
R L
RL
Humphrey
R J
RJ
Jones
S J
SJ
Noga
K
K
Schepers
S K
SK
Wright
G B
GB
Vogelsang
D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000209:etiology*; D020350:Graft vs Tumor Effect; D006801:Humans; D017710:Lymphocyte Transfusion; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000628:therapy; D010954:Plasmacytoma / Q000628:therapy; D012008:Recurrence; D014019:Tissue Donors; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous