MEDIA RELEASE
12 March 2012
Cell-therapy breakthrough cuts risk of post-operation death in stem cell
transplant patients
New developments in cell therapy can reduce a stem cell transplant patient’s risk of
post-operation death by dramatically improving the body’s immunity against
opportunistic viral infections, according to Professor David Gottlieb of the Department
of Medicine at the University of Sydney and Westmead Hospital in Sydney.
Speaking at the annual Pathology Update conference at the Sydney Convention
Centre on the weekend, Prof Gottlieb says approximately 400 allogeneic stem cell
transplants (the process of transferring a blood and immune system from a normal
donor to a patient with a serious illness) are performed each year in Australia.
Patients who undergo such a transplant face the dual risk of opportunistic infection
and disease recurrence, which arise as a result of the delayed recovery or
maturation of the immune system after transplant. For the first twelve months or
more after transplant, patients are especially susceptible to viral and fungal infections
which can lead to serious illness or even death.
“To combat this risk, we have generated virus and fungus specific immune system
cells in the laboratory starting with normal donor cells, stimulating them with
vaccines, extracts or peptides derived from known infectious pathogens such as
cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus and varicella zoster,” says Prof Gottlieb.
“After expansion of the cells, we found that the cells can be re-infused to rapidly
reconstitute immunity, significantly reducing the risk of lethal infections following a
transplant. Infused cells effectively prevent and treat viral infections in this patient
group."
Prof Gottlieb says newer developments, including the transfer of T cell receptors
(either intact alpha and beta chains or single chain chimaeric antigen receptors) and
the stimulation of T cells with overlapping peptides of known tumour antigens also
show promise in generating cells which can be used to reduce the risk of posttransplant malignant disease.
“The results from our study have been extremely encouraging thus far. We are
positive that our methods used to expand the number of targets of cell generation will
allow for the re-establishment of broad-based immunity soon after transplant, leading
to the reduction in deaths as a result of these opportunistic infections and malignant
disease,” says Prof Gottlieb.
The Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia
The RCPA is the leading organisation representing pathologists in Australasia. Its
mission is to train and support pathologists and to improve the use of pathology
testing to achieve better healthcare.
For more information on Pathology Update, visit
http://www.rcpa.edu.au/Continuing/PathologyUpdate/PathologyUpdate2012
END
Media enquiries:
Dr Debra Graves
CEO – RCPA
0417 218 528
debrag@rcpa.edu.au
or
Jade Heng or Lyn Tan
S2i Communications
Jade: 0403 610 162
jade@s2i.com.au
Lyn: 0404 163 131
lyn@s2i.com.au