Non-myeloablative Stem Cell Transplantation

Nonmyeloablative stem cell transplantation (NST) have been developed over the past several years. NST is designed to reduce intensity of preparative myeloablation, and to induce graft-versus-tumor (GVT) effect by engraftment of donor T cells. Compared with conventional allogeneic stem cell transplantation, NST provides lower treatment-related mortality. The degree of GVT effect is generally correlated with the degree of the graft-versus-host disease. Through this novel procedure, allogeneic stem cell transplantation can be applied to elderly or clinically ill patients having variable hematologic disorders or solid tumors. Disease-specific studies with longer follow-up are needed to evaluate this potentially promising therapy. Here we review the preliminary clinical results of NST as immunotherapy for hematologic disorders and solid tumors.