Innovative cell-based therapies in onco-hematology: what are the clinical facts ?
OBJECTIVE
One of the few measurable clinical results obtained by the use of somatic cells in onco hematology is the clear-cut effect donor leukocyte infusions (DLI) in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) who relapse after an allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). From then on much research has focused on the use of cells to treat different aspects of oncologic diseases from leukemia relapse to development in BMT recipients.


METHODS
In this review we critically and schematically summarize the cell-based therapies which have led to a clinical application and recapitulate the results.
Although the overall numbers of successfully treated patients is small, therapy has been shown to be safe and effective in a variety of clinical contexts in oncohematology.


CONCLUSIONS
Preliminary data will have to be validated in well designed clinical trials with cells generated by reproducible methods and in accreditated structures working according to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
Laboratory of Cellular and Gene Therapy G. Lanzani,Division of Hematology, Ospedali Riuniti di Bergamo, Bergamo, Italy. mintrona@ospedaliriuniti.bergamo.it <mintrona@ospedaliriuniti.bergamo.it>
Martino
M
Introna
Anna Maria
AM
Barbui
Josèe
J
Golay
Alessandro
A
Rambaldi
D023201:CD40 Ligand / Q000235:genetics; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017690:Cell Transplantation; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000276:immunology / Q000637:transplantation; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D017635:Clonal Anergy; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007167:Immunotherapy; D016219:Immunotherapy, Adoptive; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D037182:T-Cell Antigen Receptor Specificity; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology / Q000637:transplantation; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology / Q000637:transplantation; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000628:therapy; D014611:Vaccination
D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D007130:Immunoglobulin Idiotypes; D023201:CD40 Ligand