Donor Lymphocyte Transfusion

Overview

With the achievement of long-lasting allogeneic bone marrow transplants it became possible torecognize a graft-versus-leukemia effect. This positive effect is enhanced with additional transfusionof lymphocytes from the original hematopoietic stem cell donor alone and can reinduce long-lastingremissions and achieve possible leukemia relapse cure. Many blood and marrow transplantation teamsare exploring donor lymphocyte transfusion use for therapy against tumor-specific antigens, forenhancing the defense against infections, or for correction of an ailing immune system. The appropriatecell dose remains unsettled. The graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect of allogeneic donor lymphocytetransfusion is associated with graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and myelosuppression, and the pre-vention of these complications is a continuing matter of concern. It seems likely that in the future,further refinements in the separation of GVL from GVHD will ensure that allogeneic BMT willincreasingly be used as a tool to procure an effective leukemia relapse profylaxis.

Key words:
donor lymphocyte transfusion, graft versus leukemia effect, leukemia relapse, graft versushost disease