Adoptive immunotherapy of cancer using ex vivo expanded human γδ T cells: A new approach

gamma delta T cells can be an option for adoptive immunotherapy of cancer. The major obstacle to clinical application of gamma delta T cells is their low number and lack of a reliable method to expand them consistently and efficiently. We were able to expand gamma delta T cells with high purity in all donors regardless of their starting repertoire of gamma delta T cells. These ex vivo expanded gamma delta T cells are in early differentiation stage, can efficiently kill various tumors and inhibit growth of human lung cancer xeno-grafts. This new approach for ex vivo expansion of human gamma delta T cells will open new horizons for clinical use of these cells. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.