Innovative cell-based therapies in onco-hematology: what are the clinical facts ?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: One of the few measurable clinical results obtained by the use of somatic cells in onco hematology is the clear-cut effect donor leukocyte infusions (DLI) in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) who relapse after an allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). From then on much research has focused on the use of cells to treat different aspects of oncologic diseases from leukemia relapse to development in BMT recipients. METHODS AND INFORMATION SOURCES: In this review we critically and schematically summarize the cell-based therapies which have led to a clinical application and recapitulate the results. RESULTS AND STATE OF THE ART: Although the overall numbers of successfully treated patients is small, therapy has been shown to be safe and effective in a variety of clinical contexts in oncohematology. PERSPECTIVES: Preliminary data will have to be validated in well designed clinical trials with cells generated by reproducible methods and in accreditated structures working according to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).