title: Graft-versus-host disease versus graft-versus-leukemia.
abstract: Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a significant clinical problem after allogenic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) associated with substantial morbidity and mortality that limits the potential utility of transplantation. Associated with GVHD is the well-recognized phenomenon of the graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect that results in reduced risk of disease relapse. GVL effects have been observed after treatment for a broad range of hematological malignancies. Both GVHD and GVL are the results of T cell-effector functions that frames a major question in the field of how linked are these two phenomena. A major goal of basic science and translational research has been to develop strategies to reduce the risk of GVHD while maintaining or enhancing GVL. In this review, a number of different strategies developed from preclinical animal models will be explored with a focus on those approaches that have been extended to the clinic in an attempt to achieve this goal. Needless to say, there is no proven strategy; however, with the use of modern technology and clinical translation, there has been substantial progress toward this goal of reducing the risks of GVHD while promoting and enhancing GVL responses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine-Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Stanford University, Stanford, CA.
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Negrin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000175:diagnosis*; D020544:Graft vs Leukemia Effect; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D012008:Recurrence; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous