Major and minor histocompatibility antigens in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

The critical role of molecular biology-based HLA allele matching for transplant-related immunologic events has been demonstrated. Potential applications of hematopoietic cell-specific minor histocompatibility antigens to immunotherapy by selectively augmenting the graft-versus-leukemia/lymphoma effect have been studied. These extensive efforts will increase the number of patients who can benefit from allogeneic HSCT over HLA disparity, or from active and selective immunotherapy, or both. 71.