Adoptive T‐cell immunotherapy for ganciclovir‐resistant CMV disease after lung transplantation

Abstract

Infections with cytomegalovirus (CMV) can induce severe complications after solid organ transplantation (SOT). The prognosis for ganciclovir‐resistant CMV infection and disease is particularly poor. Whereas adoptive transfer of CMV‐specific T cells has emerged as a powerful tool in hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients, its translation into the SOT setting remains a significant challenge as underlying immunosuppression inhibits the virus‐specific T‐cell response in vivo . Here, we demonstrate successful expansion and adoptive transfer of autologous CMV‐specific T cells from a seronegative recipient of a seropositive lung allograft with ganciclovir‐resistant CMV disease, resulting in the long‐term reconstitution of protective anti‐viral immunity, CMV infection, disease‐free survival and no allograft rejection.