Clinical use for expanded peripheral blood steam cells

The Increasing use of haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells from the per ipheral blood (PBPC) to restore haematopoiesis following high-dose chemothe rapy has widely propagated the development of techniques for the ex vivo ma nipulation of haematopoietic cells. In particular, protocols for the ex viv o expansion of PBPC have been developed for different clinical purposes. Qu antitative expansion of PBPC may provide a successful strategy for tumour c ell purging of autologous grafts, or may generate sufficient cell numbers f or sequential transplantation protocols. Furthermore, allogeneic transplant ation of megadoses of PBPC may enable us to overcome immunological barriers , and may substantially increase the number of suitable donors for an indiv idual patient. Clinical applications also include the use of ex vivo genera ted, partially differentiated, post-progenitor cells, antigen presenting ce lls for immunotherapy of minimal residual disease, and ex vivo transduced h aematopoietic cells as attractive vehicles for genetic therapy.