Proceedings from the Fourth Haploidentical Stem Cell Transplantation Symposium - HAPLO2016, San Diego, California, December 1, 2016

The resurgence of haploidentical stem cell transplantation (HaploSCT) over the last decade is one of the most important advances in the field of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The modified platforms of T cell depletion either ex vivo (CD34+ selection, ‘mega-dose’ of purified CD34+ cells, or selective depletion of T-cells) or newer platforms of in vivo depletion of T cells, with either post-transplant high-dose cyclophosphamide (PTCy) or intensified immune suppression, have contributed to better outcomes, with survival that is similar to HLA-match donor transplantation. Further efforts are on the way to control viral reactivation using modified T cells, improve immunologic reconstitution and decreased relapse rate post-transplant using donor-derived cellular therapy products like genetically modified donor lymphocytes or NK cells. Improvements in treatment-related mortality have allowed extension of the use of haploidentical donor transplants to hemoglobinopathies like thalassemia or sickle cell disease, and possible development as platform for immunotherapy for solid tumors. Moreover, combining HSCT from related donors with solid organ transplants could allow early taper of immunosuppression for recipients of solid organ transplants and hopefully prevent organ rejection in this setting. This symposium summarizes some of the most important recent advances in this field of haploidentical transplantation and provides a glimpse in the future of fast growing field.