Adoptive Immunotherapy: Guidelines and Clinical Practice

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation may induce lasting remissions in leukemia and hematological malignancies that otherwise are refractory to chemotherapy. An important role in the control of the disease is played by immune competent cells of the graft. This role has been most convincingly demonstrated by the effect of donor lymphocyte transfusions for the treatment of recurrent chronic myelogenous leukemia. In other forms of leukemia and hematological malignancies this role has been less clearly defined. In this chapter, strategies are discussed to improve the effect of donor lymphocyte transfusions. Methods to improve responses have involved the use of cytokines, natural killer cells, and antibodies.