title: Immunotherapy in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation--not just a case for effector cells.
abstract: The concept that in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT) the immune system plays a prominent role in the control of leukemic disease is supported by the clinical observation that immunological effector mechanisms contribute to the elimination of leukemic blasts. The failure to induce prolonged remission after alloHSCT has led to resurgent interest in complementing concepts of immune modulation to improve the antileukemic reponse. While the general focus has been placed on manipulation of cytotoxic effector cell populations, we will explore the dual role of leukemia cells as both antigen-presenting and target cells and describe various vaccination strategies to facilitate a protective antileukemic immune response in this setting. In addition, we will introduce mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) as another cell population recently recognized for their immunomodulatory properties. The potential benefits and hazards of MSC-cotransplantation in alloHSCT with regard to the graft versus leukemia (GvL) and the graft versus host (GvH) response will be discussed.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Immunology, University Clinic Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Troeger
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Meisel
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Moritz
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dilloo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000637:transplantation; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D020544:Graft vs Leukemia Effect / Q000276:immunology; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D016219:Immunotherapy, Adoptive / Q000379:methods; D007938:Leukemia / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000276:immunology; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous