Tissue-specific antigens in GVL

Immunity directed against leukemia in the setting of allogeneic bone marrow transplant, which has been termed GVL, is often accompanied by unwanted GVHD. Much clinical and laboratory evidence now exists showing that both reactions are mediated by T cells contained in the graft [1-3] as detailed in other chapters. Methods to reduce GVHD have included infusions of marrow or peripheral blood following depletion of T cells by either nonselective (anti-CD3) or selective (anti-CD8, -T10B9, or -Campath) means. Although GVHD is sometimes diminished by these maneuvers, none result in the infusion of only leukemia-specific T cells. If marrow or peripheral blood grafts could be enriched for such leukemia-specific T cells, GVHD might be significantly reduced or even eliminated.