Donor t cells to treat ebv-associated lymphoma

To the Editor: Papadopoulos et al. (April 28 issue)¹ report complete remission in five patients who received unmanipulated donor T cells as therapy for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated lymphoproliferation after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. We have administered donor T cells to a patient in whom this complication developed, and we agree that this therapy produces clinical responses. However, its wider application may be limited by substantial toxicity. A three-year-old boy with juvenile chronic myeloid leukemia presented with fevers, pulmonary nodules, and retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy eight months after the transplantation of T-cell-depleted bone marrow, with two mismatched antigens, from his brother. A biopsy…