Mononuclear Cell Therapy: Harnessing the Therapeutic Power of T and NK Cells
Program Code: 210-TC
Sunday, October 16, 2005
8:30 AM to 10:00 AM (ET)

MODERATOR
Susan F. Leitman, MD, National Institutes of Health

SPEAKERS
Susan F. Leitman, MD, National Institutes of Health
Jeffrey Miller, Maryville University

DESCRIPTION
Rapid movement of basic science findings from the laboratory to the bedside has characterized the field of mononuclear cell therapy in the past few years. Lecture formats will be used to describe recent technical and clinical progress in the use of ex vivo activated and expanded autologous T cells to treat solid tumors and leukemia. Exciting recent successes in the adoptive transfer of haploidentical natural killer (NK) cells in patients with acute leukemia and selected tumors will be reviewed. The role of selective mismatching for killer immunoglobulin receptors (KIR) on allogeneic NK cells in eliciting anti-tumor effects and improving transplantation outcomes will be explained and illustrated with clinical case examples. Lastly, the effects of serial long-term lymphapheresis in causing sustained changes in leukocyte counts among healthy donors, and the implications of these findings for donor safety will be discussed.