EBMT Newsletter

EUROBANK and TRANSEUROPE are two European Commission FPV -funded projects aimed at developing a DNA and cell-line bank (EUROBANK) for genetic-risk assessment in allogeneic stem-cell transplantation. TRANSEUROPE includes, as well, the development of a Europe-wide tissue bank for early diagnosis.

Currently, EUROBANK has over 200 patients and donor Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformed cell lines plus a collection of 300+ patient and donor DNAs. All are genotypically characterised for human leukocyte antigens (HLA), minor histocompatibility antigens and for non-HLA immunogenetic factors including cytokine gene polymorphisms. An on-line interactive database and website is under construction: www.eurotransplantbank.org .

EUROBANK registers all data on transplant outcome in a format similar to that of the EBMT Med A and Med B. The collated information will be correlated against the genetic- and biological-risk indicators under study, and factors that may predict outcome will be evaluated. The research is aimed towards generating an individual "risk score" for patients that, ultimately, could become an integral part of a pre-transplant ass essment.

Aims

•  A pan-European co-operative infrastructure for the exchange of biological-material

•  A cell and DNA bank for haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) monitoring, with potential use to other HSCT centres in Europe

•  Based on EUROBANK results, the potential to develop new graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) preventative/therapeutic clinical protocols

•  Standardisation of methodology for immortalisation of cell-lines and to provide this service to other European HSCT centres

•  Aid in developing future concepts via the study of non-HLA immunogenetics e.g. new minor histocompatibility antigens and cytokine gene polymorphisms

The TRANSEUROPE project, www.trans-europe.org.uk , includes the development of a patient tissue bank for use within the European Community for transplant-related research. This will aid the development of standardised diagnosis criteria for GvHD. By evaluating the effect of current and new therapeutic protocols e.g. extracorporeal photochemotherapy (ECP), we aim to develop new clinical strategies and Europe–wide consensus clinical protocols.

Because of the relatively small number of transplants carried-out at each HSCT centre in Europe, a network of participants who would interact at all levels (from the clinic to the laboratory) is considered a necessity. The project is multi-disciplinary and involves molecular biologists, immunologists, transplant clinicians, pathologists and those responsible for the management of autoimmune disease.

Aims

• Use of in vitro biotechnology to predict GvHD in HSCT, especially in patients following treatments involving:-

Reduced intensity conditioning transplant protocols

Peripheral blood stem cell transplants

Donor lymphocyte infusions

• To investigate the efficacy of current treatments (e.g. ECP) for GvHD and to predict responses to therapy using tissue samples
• To correlate the results with genetic risk assessment and, from which, clinical protocols and therapeutic strategies can be developed based on the individual's risk status.

Both projects involve members of the EBMT, many of whom are Committee Members or Chairmen of Working Party Groups, e.g. the Chronic Leukaemia and Immunobiology Working Parties.

For further information and participation in the projects, access our websites and/or e-mail the co-ordinator – a.m.dickinson@ncl.ac.uk

EUROBANK & TRANSEUROPE Partners

Co-ordinator

Prof. Anne Dickinson, University of Newcastle, UK; a.m.dickinson@ncl.ac.uk

Partners

Prof. E Gluckman

Hopital Saint-Louis, Paris, France; eliane.gluckman@chu-stlouis.fr

Prof. A Madrigal

Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust, UK; madrigal@rfc.ucl.ac.uk

Prof. E Goulmy

Leiden University, The Netherlands; e.a.j.m.goulmy@lumc.nl

Dr. G Eissner/Prof. E Holler/ Prof. G Multhoff

Department of Haematology and Oncology, University of Regensburg,Germany; guenther.eissner@klinik.uni-regensburg.de ; ernst.holler@klinik.uni-regensburg.de

Prof. H-J Kolb

University of Munich, Germany; kolb@med3.med.uni-muenchen.de

Dr. I Hromadnikova

University of Prague, Czech Republic; ilona.hromadnikova@lfmotol.cuni.cz

Prof. D Charron

Rue De L'Ecole De Medecine, Paris, France; dominique.charron@bhdc.jussieu.fr

Prof. P Wernet

Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany; peter.wernet@uni-duesseldorf.de

Prof. L Sviland

Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway; lsvi@haukeland.no

Dr. M Lowdell

Laboratory of Cellular Therapeutics, RFUCMS, London, UK; m.lowdell@rfc.ucl.ac.uk

Prof. H Greinix

University Hospital Vienna, Austria; hildegard.greinix@akh-wien.ac.at

Prof L French

Geneva University Hospital, Switzerland; lars.french@medecine.unige.ch

Dr. N Mooney

INSERM U396, Paris, France; nuala.mooney@bhdc.jussieu.fr