Transplantation with CD3/CD 19-depleted stem cells - A basis for further cell therapy

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation has become an important option in the curative treatment of many patients with malignant and non-malignant systemic diseases. Non-availability of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) identical donors can limit access to this life-saving treatment, especially in ethnic minority patients, for whom identical donors are often not available. For many years, a central aim has been the development of stem cell transplantation across the HLA barrier and the use of haploidentical parents as stem cell donors. Such an approach will allow allogeneic transplantation of all patients in need. During the past years, it has become possible to optimize in vitro graft manipulation procedures making this transplant procedure safer and more efficient. Therefore, haploidentical transplantation can now serve as a basis for further cellular immunotherapy in the treatment of malignant and non-malignant diseases.