Repairing Damaged Goods: Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Therapy for Secondary Failure of Hematopoiesis Post-Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplant
Year: 2012
Type: article
Abstract: Many high-risk or advanced cancers of the blood, such as acute leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome, cannot be cured by chemotherapy alone. Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is a procedure that has the potential to cure such cancers not only by replacing a patient’s diseased hematopoietic stem cells with healthy donor cells, but also by harnessing the benefit of a new donor immune system to eradicate any residual malignant cells. Although initial donor stem cell engraftment occurs relatively quickly and reliably [1], the early months after an allogeneic HCT are associated with profound deficits in immune function. Furthermore, many patients will experience a decline in function of their transplanted cells, manifested by secondary cytopenias and life-threatening immunodeficiencies, occurring when post-transplant complications are encountered, principally graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) [2,3]. A deeper understanding of the mechanisms behind secondary posttransplant lymphohematopoietic failure, and new methods to intervene upon this complication, are needed to improve survival in allogeneic HCT recipients. While standard options include administration of growth factors (i.e., G-CSF) or donor lymphocyte infusions, novel cellular therapeutic options under current investigation include the infusion of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) as a means to restore allograft hematopoietic function and possibly improve immune homeostasis after complications of allogeneic HCT.
Author: Shernan G Holtan
Language: English
Subfield: Hematology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W2147230452