Mononuclear Cell Therapy: Harnessing the Therapeutic Power of T and NK Cells
Program Code: 5308-TC CT
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
8:30 AM to 12:00 PM (ET)

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

SPEAKERS
Susan F. Leitman, MD, National Institutes of Health
Mark E. Dudley, PhD, Surgery Branch/NCI
Charles D. Bolan, MD, NIH

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. This session will describe recent technical and clinical progress in the use of ex-vivo activated and expanded autologous T cells to treat refractory melanoma and other solid tumors. Exciting recent successes in the adoptive transfer of haploidentical 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. Approaches to maximize the efficiency of MNC collection by apheresis will be presented. In addition 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.