The success of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) lies with the ability of the engrafting immune system to remove residual leukemia cells via a graft-versus-leukemia effect (GvL), caused either spontaneously post-HSCT or via donor lymphocyte infusion. GvL effects can also be initiated by allogenic mismatched natural killer cells, antigen-specific T cells, and activated dendritic cells of leukemic origin. The history and further application of this GvL effect and the main mechanisms will be discussed and reviewed in this chapter.
Keywords: LAA specific T cells; allogenic natural killer cells; animal models; donor lymphocyte infusion; graft-versus-leukemia effect; invariant natural killer T cells (i)NKT; leukaemia associated antigens (LAA); leukaemia derived dendritic cells; leukaemia specific antigens.