Immunotherapy of AML: future directions

Abstract

Immunotherapy in the form of allogeneic GvL has been curing AML patients for nearly 30 years but our understanding of the mechanisms has been poor. Our rapidly evolving understanding of the human immune system and the concomitant technical developments in ex vivo cell manipulation, the vision of funding bodies, the dedication of clinical and research staff, and above all the commitment of our patients, promise substantial progress in the treatment of this disease in the year 2000 and beyond.

Figure 1 Survival curve for NOD/SCID mice recipients of MHC mismatched donor splenocytes. Mice in the "non-depleted" group (n=11) received 10⁷ non-manipulated donor splenocytes intraperitoneally; mice in the "depleted" group (n=12) received 10⁷ donor splenocytes which had been depleted of alloreactive lymphocytes; "control" mice (n=8) received phosphate buffered saline alone.

Figure 2 Disease-free survival of patients with acute leukaemia by virtue of the level of autologous leukaemia specific cytotoxicity measured in peripheral blood samples taken in remission after completion of treatment.