The use of cytotoxic T cells for the prevention and treatment of Epstein-Barr virus induced lymphoma in transplant recipients

Epstein-Barr Virus Lymphoproliferative Diseases (EBV-LPD) can affect patien ts receiving allogeneic hemopoietic stem cell or solid organ transplant. Th ey are caused by impairment of EBV specific CD8+ cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CT L) response due to the immunosuppression that follows these procedures. Des pite different therapies LPD can still have a rapid and lethal course. A pr omising solution is the application of adoptive immunotherapy approaches su ch as ex vivo generated EBV-specific CTLs for prevention and therapy. Their infusion has been demonstrated to be safe and effective in allogeneic hemo poietic stem cell transplant recipients and their use after allogeneic soli d organ transplant is also under evaluation.