INFUSION OF DONOR-DERIVED PERIPHERAL-BLOOD LEUKOCYTES AFTER TRANSPLANTATION OF CORD-BLOOD PROGENITOR CELLS CAN INCREASE THE GRAFT-VERSUS-LEUKEMIA EFFECT

We describe the case of a child affected by acute lymphoblastic leukae mia who received adoptive immunotherapy after cord blood transplantati on (CBT). The patient, transplanted in second relapse resistant to che motherapy, still showed lung and costal leukaemic nodular lesions 2 mo nths after CBT. For this reason, three infusions of donor peripheral b lood leukocytes 1 x 10(7)/kg each were administered on days +60, +80 a nd +100. The procedure was well tolerated by both patient and donor, a nd a complete disappearance of the lung lesions was documented 2 month s after the last infusion. The patient remains in continuous complete haematological remission 13 months after CBT. This experience suggests that adoptive immunotherapy may be safely employed after CBT in order to increase the contribution of immune-mediated anti-leukaemia effect .