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A novel haplo-identical adoptive CTL therapy as a treatment for EBV-associated lymphoma after stem cell transplantation

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Abstract

Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)-related malignancies such as post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) are severe complications after allogeneic stem cell transplantation and solid-organ transplantation. In immunosuppressed transplant recipients, the activity of EBV-specific CTLs are often decreased or absent which leads to an increased risk of developing PTLD. If primary treatment modalities of PTLD fail, the most efficient way of treating the malignancy is adopting EBV-specific CTLs from the donor or, more recently, third-party donors. However, both are time consuming and expensive and often it is too late to administer cells to the patient. We have for the first time, using a rapid isolation protocol of EBV-specific T cells, treated and cured a patient suffering from PTLD with multiple-associated tissue lesions, using her haplo-identical mother as a donor. This treatment approach paves way for a new possibility to within-days treat patients with life-threatening EBV-associated malignancies.

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Acknowledgments

M.U and J.M designed research, all authors performed and analyzed research and data, M.U and J.M wrote the paper. Support for this work was provided by the Children’s Cancer Foundation (PROJ08/013), ALF Gothenburg, the Stockholm County Council, SSMF and Karolinska Institute.

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The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

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Correspondence to Michael Uhlin.

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M. Okas and J. Gertow contributed equally to this work.

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Uhlin, M., Okas, M., Gertow, J. et al. A novel haplo-identical adoptive CTL therapy as a treatment for EBV-associated lymphoma after stem cell transplantation. Cancer Immunol Immunother 59, 473–477 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00262-009-0789-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00262-009-0789-1

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