Epstein-Barr Virus Infection and Lymphoproliferative Disorder After Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

Common herpes viruses such as Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) cause infection and disease after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorder following allogeneic HCT is a rare but life-threatening disease, mostly associated with EBV-infected B cells. Anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies (e.g., rituximab) target normal and infected B cells and further suppress the patient's immune system. This article describes the development of cellular therapies by infusing virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes via IV into patients to create an adoptive immune system for specific viral suppression.