donor lymphocytes

Donor lymphocytes are white blood cells (primarily T cells) collected from a stem cell or bone marrow donor and infused into a recipient who has previously undergone an allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant. This procedure, known as Donor Lymphocyte Infusion (DLI), is used to enhance the immune response against residual cancer cells (graft-versus-tumor/leukemia effect) or to convert mixed chimerism to full donor chimerism after transplantation. The main mechanism of action is the recognition and elimination of malignant or host cells by the infused donor T lymphocytes. DLI is most commonly used in relapsed hematologic malignancies such as chronic myeloid leukemia, acute leukemias, multiple myeloma, and lymphomas following allogeneic transplant[1][3][4][5][7]. It can also be considered for viral modulation effects and prevention of recurrent disease[8]. The therapy carries risks such as graft-versus-host disease due to immune activation.

Other names

donor leukocytesbuffy coat infusionDLI