T Cells Improve Transplant Matches and Boost Immunotherapy

FEATURED SEARCH TERM:  lymphoma and T cells


In theory, a 10/10 match of specific alleles between unrelated donors for haemopoietic-cell transplantation can lower the post-procedure mortality risk. In practice, making that match is difficult. Researchers from the International Histocompatibility Working Group in Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation have proposed a solution to this dilemma that involves the HLA-DPB1 allele, a class II molecule that plays a central role in the immune system. They explain how T-cell-epitope matching provides a clinical strategy for avoiding HLA-DPB1 mismatches between unrelated donors.


RESULT: Effect of T-cell-epitope matching at HLA-DPB1 in recipients of unrelated-donor haemopoietic-cell transplantation: a retrospective study
The Lancet Oncology | Apr 1, 2012 (Free abstract. Full text $31.50)


Adoptive immunotherapy with antitumor T cells is a promising approach in cancer treatment but it has some limitations, including the co-transfer of regulatory T cells that down-regulate the immune response. A group of researchers discuss how two cell surface markers can be used to facilitate the enrichment of antitumor CD4 T cells while depleting an inhibitory regulatory T cell population. One marker in the particular, CD137, may be the golden ticket when it comes to switching off antitumor immune responses.

RESULT: Adoptive Cell Therapy for Lymphoma with CD4 T Cells Depleted of CD137-Expressing Regulatory T Cells
Cancer Research | Mar 1, 2012 (Free abstract. Full text $35)