Immunological recovery and tumour-specific immunotherapeutic approaches to post-autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Haematological recovery following autologous peripheral blood stem cell treatment is very rapid. Immune recovery is a more prolonged process requiring a year or more for full reconstitution. Because high-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous peripheral blood stem cell treatment results in (or is presumed to result in) minimal burden of residual malignant disease it provides a potentially ideal setting for immune-mediated anti-tumour therapy. The slow immune reconstitution following transplantation may however hamper the development of effective immunotherapy. Among different approaches proposed, we focus on the potential use of tumour antigens in conjunction with cellular therapy in an attempt to eliminate residual tumour following autologous transplantation.