T. Kerre MD, PhD

P2.07 Characterization of a novel innate CD8+ T cell lineage generated in human thymus

P3.08 Multifocal periostitis as a long-term complication of voriconazole use in an allogeneic stem cell transplant recipient

P2.01 Functional evaluation of T cells generated from WT1-TCR transduced human hematopoietic stem cells using the OP9-DL1 coculture system

P3.06 Immune Recovery after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation following Flu-TBI versus TLI-ATG Conditioning

P3.07 Primary intestinal aspergillosis resulting in acute intestinal volvulus after autologous stem cell transplantation in a patient with relapsed non-Hodgkin lymphoma: a rare infectious complication

In vitro generation of AML-specific T-cells from human haematopoietic progenitor cells. A step towards curing acute myeloid leukaemia?

Summary

This dissertation focuses on T-cell-mediated immunotherapeutic strategies for the treatment of acute myeloid leukaemia. Two major key points determine the success of adoptive T-cell therapy: the nature of the target antigen and the characteristics of the infused T-cells. We reviewed potential acute myeloid leukaemia target antigens and performed an in-depth study of the Receptor for Hyaluronic Acid Mediated Motility as a potential leukaemia associated antigen. Subsequently, an alternative immunotherapeutic strategy was studied: the in vitro generation of antigen-specific T-cells starting from T-cell receptor-transduced human haematopoietic progenitor cells.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2014;5(4):154–7)

Vaccination guidelines in haematopoietic transplant patients: recommendations from the BHS Transplant Committee

Summary

Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation is increasingly used as consolidation therapy in severe haematological diseases. In the post-transplantation period, the immunity of haematopoietic stem cell transplantation recipients is impaired due to toxicity of the pre-haematopoietic stem cell transplantation treatment (chemo- and/or radiotherapy), the conditioning regimen with a reset of the immune system, and – in case of allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation – the use of immunosuppressive drugs and potentially graft-versus-host-disease. This leads to a considerably increased risk of infections, with high morbidity and mortality. Therefore, prevention of infections, i.a. by revaccination, is of major importance to improve outcomes. We present the Belgian guidelines for vaccination after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation, based on available data in the literature and international guidelines, taking into account the availability of vaccines and – if applicable – their reimbursement in Belgium. We describe a general vaccination schedule for post-haematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients, indications for pre-transplant vaccination and donor vaccination and an overview of special indications, such as travel vaccinations, vaccinations of close contacts and health care workers, with recommendations for titer follow-up.

(BELG J HEMATOL 2014;5(2):44–54)