TREATMENT OF MINIMAL RESIDUAL DISEASE IN MYELOID-LEUKEMIA - THE IMMUNOTHERAPEUTIC OPTIONS WITH EMPHASIS ON LINOMIDE

It is now known that syngeneic transplantation, T lymphocyte depletion and absence of graft-versus-host disease all increase the risk of rel apse following allogeneic transplantation for the myeloid leukemias, b oth acute and chronic. Leukemia-specific immune responses appear to pl ay a major role in the therapy of the myeloid leukemias. In recent yea rs attempts have been made to better characterize and effectively util ize these antileukemic immune responses, concentrating on clinical sta tes of minimal residual disease. This review will discuss the role of such immunotherapy following autologous bone marrow transplantation fo r myeloid leukemias, and will focus on recent experience and ongoing c linical trials using the novel immunomodulator Linomide.