In the present study, TCR-β deep sequencing of various GVHD tissue samples and concurrent peripheral blood obtained from transplant recipients was performed in combination with functional assays of tissue-infiltrating T cell clones.
These data suggest that TCR-haploSCT using a low-dose ATG combined with the GvHD prophylaxis described here has a significant anti-leukemic activity, particularly in younger patients.
Given the potential for recipients of TCR α<sup>+</sup> β<sup>+</sup> /CD19<sup>+</sup> depleted grafts to require minimal GVHD prophylaxis and experience less transplant-related morbidity and mortality, use of TCR α<sup>+</sup> β<sup>+</sup> /CD19<sup>+</sup> depletion appears favorable despite the higher initial cost.
The incidences of grades 2 to 4 acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in the TCR and CD34 groups were 28% and 29%, respectively, and 21% and 10% (<i>P</i> = .1), respectively, for extensive chronic GVHD.
To establish whether or not the same antigens cause clonal expansion of T lymphocytes in both blood and GVHD tissues, we examined the usage of TCR alpha and beta chain variable regions (TCRAV and TCRBV) and determined the complementarity-determining region 3 (CDR3) of T lymphocytes clonally expanded in circulating blood and GVHD lesions.