GRAFT-VERSUS-MYELOMA EFFECT IN 2 CASES

Background Allogeneic bone-marrow transplantation (BMT) is associated with the graft-versus-leukaemia effect because of the antileukaemic ac tion of donor lymphocytes. We describe a graft-versus-myeloma effect a fter BMT in multiple myeloma. Methods Two patients with recurrent mult iple myeloma after allogeneic BMT (T cells partly depleted, 10(5) T ce lls infused per kg) received leucocyte infusions obtained by leukapher esis from their original marrow donors. The patients were a 48-year-ol d woman and a 49-year-old man. Findings Both patients developed graft- versus-host disease and achieved complete remission of myeloma. Chimer ism was complete in both patients in that all peripheral blood cells w ere of donor origin. Interpretation We see our results as evidence for a graft-versus-myeloma effect. Using this form of adoptive immunother apy, we could administer 1000-3000 times more T cells than with the ea rlier BMT.