Adoptive Cell Immunotherapy in Relapse/Refractory Epstein–Barr Virus-Driven Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorders
Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD) represent a life-threatening complication following solid organ transplantation (SOT) and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), particularly in patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) disease, where therapeutic options...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-06-01
|
| Series: | Antibodies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4468/14/2/47 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850156851035897856 |
|---|---|
| author | Martina Canichella Paolo de Fabritiis |
| author_facet | Martina Canichella Paolo de Fabritiis |
| author_sort | Martina Canichella |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD) represent a life-threatening complication following solid organ transplantation (SOT) and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), particularly in patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) disease, where therapeutic options are limited and prognosis is poor. Among emerging strategies, adoptive cellular immunotherapy—specifically Epstein–Barr virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (EBV-CTLs)—significantly improved outcomes in this challenging patient population. EBV-CTLs restore virus-specific immunity and induce sustained remissions with minimal toxicity, even in heavily pretreated individuals. The most promising cellular product to date is tabelecleucel, an off-the-shelf, allogeneic EBV-specific T-cell therapy, which is currently the only cellular therapy approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the treatment of R/R EBV-positive PTLD following SOT or allo-HSCT. This review aims to provide an overview of PTLD treatment with a specific focus on adoptive cellular immunotherapy. We highlight the most robust clinical outcomes reported with EBV-CTLs, particularly those achieved with tabelecleucel, and explore emerging cellular approaches such as CAR T-cell therapy, which may further broaden therapeutic strategies in the near future. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bb123b7e553a4bec848d14decadcf0c7 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2073-4468 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Antibodies |
| spelling | doaj-art-bb123b7e553a4bec848d14decadcf0c72025-08-20T02:24:22ZengMDPI AGAntibodies2073-44682025-06-011424710.3390/antib14020047Adoptive Cell Immunotherapy in Relapse/Refractory Epstein–Barr Virus-Driven Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative DisordersMartina Canichella0Paolo de Fabritiis1Hematology, St. Eugenio Hospital, ASL Roma2, 00144 Rome, ItalyHematology, St. Eugenio Hospital, ASL Roma2, 00144 Rome, ItalyPost-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD) represent a life-threatening complication following solid organ transplantation (SOT) and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), particularly in patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) disease, where therapeutic options are limited and prognosis is poor. Among emerging strategies, adoptive cellular immunotherapy—specifically Epstein–Barr virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (EBV-CTLs)—significantly improved outcomes in this challenging patient population. EBV-CTLs restore virus-specific immunity and induce sustained remissions with minimal toxicity, even in heavily pretreated individuals. The most promising cellular product to date is tabelecleucel, an off-the-shelf, allogeneic EBV-specific T-cell therapy, which is currently the only cellular therapy approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the treatment of R/R EBV-positive PTLD following SOT or allo-HSCT. This review aims to provide an overview of PTLD treatment with a specific focus on adoptive cellular immunotherapy. We highlight the most robust clinical outcomes reported with EBV-CTLs, particularly those achieved with tabelecleucel, and explore emerging cellular approaches such as CAR T-cell therapy, which may further broaden therapeutic strategies in the near future.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4468/14/2/47PTLD—post-transplant lymphoproliferative disordersRIS—reduction in immunosuppressionEBV—Epstein–Barr virusallo-HSCT—allogeneic stem cell transplantation |
| spellingShingle | Martina Canichella Paolo de Fabritiis Adoptive Cell Immunotherapy in Relapse/Refractory Epstein–Barr Virus-Driven Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorders Antibodies PTLD—post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders RIS—reduction in immunosuppression EBV—Epstein–Barr virus allo-HSCT—allogeneic stem cell transplantation |
| title | Adoptive Cell Immunotherapy in Relapse/Refractory Epstein–Barr Virus-Driven Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorders |
| title_full | Adoptive Cell Immunotherapy in Relapse/Refractory Epstein–Barr Virus-Driven Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorders |
| title_fullStr | Adoptive Cell Immunotherapy in Relapse/Refractory Epstein–Barr Virus-Driven Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorders |
| title_full_unstemmed | Adoptive Cell Immunotherapy in Relapse/Refractory Epstein–Barr Virus-Driven Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorders |
| title_short | Adoptive Cell Immunotherapy in Relapse/Refractory Epstein–Barr Virus-Driven Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorders |
| title_sort | adoptive cell immunotherapy in relapse refractory epstein barr virus driven post transplant lymphoproliferative disorders |
| topic | PTLD—post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders RIS—reduction in immunosuppression EBV—Epstein–Barr virus allo-HSCT—allogeneic stem cell transplantation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4468/14/2/47 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT martinacanichella adoptivecellimmunotherapyinrelapserefractoryepsteinbarrvirusdrivenposttransplantlymphoproliferativedisorders AT paolodefabritiis adoptivecellimmunotherapyinrelapserefractoryepsteinbarrvirusdrivenposttransplantlymphoproliferativedisorders |