Introducing graft-versus-leukemia into autologous stem cell transplantation

Although autologous transplantation of stem cells is widely used to support high-dose chemotherapy and radiation for the treatment of hematologic malignancies, relapse is a severe impediment to its wide use, especially in patients receiving transplants for leukemia. This is related to the infusion of leukemic cells in the autograft and the lack of an allogenic graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect. This review discusses the current approaches that are under study to introduce a GVL effect into autologous transplantation.