[Immunotherapy with allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation: current status and perspectives].
OBJECTIVE
Cancer represents a major problem of public health. New therapeutic approaches are needed to complete the present strategies. The use of immunotherapy for cancer treatment is a promising strategy. Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) is the most widely used form of immunotherapy. The allogeneic immune effectors infused with the graft can recognize and eradicate the patients' tumoral cells.


BACKGROUND
The curative potential of allo-SCT is classically based on the cytoreduction of tumoral cells induced during the high dose chemo- and/or radiotherapy-based conditioning regimen and the immune control mediated by allogeneic immune effectors (graft versus tumor effect, GVT). Allo-SCT is currently under important mutations because of better understanding of the GVT mechanisms and the development of new treatment techniques: (a) allo-SCT of peripheral blood stem cells after mobilization with G-CSF; (b) donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI); and (c) development of reduced intensity conditioning regimens aiming to reduce the toxicity while favoring the immune component of the anti-tumoral effect.


CONCLUSIONS
In addition to its established efficacy in hematological malignancies, several arguments are in favor of the use of allo-SCT in neoplastic solid tumors. Promising results from advanced cancer patients were already obtained. The present experience shows clearly that the allo-SCT strategy should be developed and refined because of the potential benefit that can be expected in some patients' sub-groups.
Mohty
M
M
Unité de transplantation et de thérapie cellulaire, département d'hématologie, institut Paoli-Calmettes, 232, boulevard, Sainte-Marguerite, 13273 Marseille cedex 09, France. uttc@marseille.fnclcc.fr <uttc@marseille.fnclcc.fr>
Faucher
C
C
Blaise
D
D
D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000639:trends; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous