Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in clinical practice

Question 1

Why allogeneic transplantation?

Answer 1

To replace absent, defective, or damaged hematopoietic immune system. Or to elicit a graft-versus-tumor effect.

Question 2

What is autologous stem cell therapy?

Answer 2

Autologous SCT is myeloablative therapy where they have patients’ stem cells as rescue and the treatment is chemotherapy.

Question 3

What is allogeneic stem cell therapy?

Answer 3

Allogeneic SCT is mild or myeloablative therapy where they have donor stem cells as rescue and the treatment is chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

Question 4

What is the mechanism of graft-versus-leukmia effect?

Answer 4

Host dendritic cells (DCs), activated by CD4-positive T cells, mature and can then activate CD8-positive T cells via a “license to kill” and attack leukemia cells. The leukemia cells themselves can also differentiate into self DC.