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Cytolytic pathways in haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

150 Scopus citations

Abstract

The remarkable activity of donor T cells against malignant cells in the context of an allogeneic haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) is arguably, at present, the most potent clinical immunotherapy for cancer. However, alloreactive donor T cells are also important effector cells in the development of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), which is a potentially lethal complication for recipients of an allogeneic HSCT. Therefore, the separation of the GVHD and graft-versus-tumour (GVT) activity of donor T cells has become a topic of great interest for many investigators. Recent studies have shown that donor T cells make differential use of their cytolytic pathways in mediating GVHD and GVT effects. Therefore, the selective blockade or enhancement of cytolytic pathways provides an intriguing therapeutic opportunity to separate the desired GVT effect from the potentially devastating GVHD.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)273-281
Number of pages9
JournalNature Reviews Immunology
Volume2
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2002
Externally publishedYes

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