Definition:
donor lymphocyte infusion (DOH-ner LIM-foh-site in-FYOO-zhun)
A type of therapy in which lymphocytes from the blood of a donor are given to a patient who has already received a stem cell transplant from the same donor. The donor lymphocytes may kill remaining cancer cells. Donor lymphocyte infusion is used to treat chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) that has come back and myeloma. It is being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer.
EnlargeDonor lymphocyte infusion; (Panel 1): Drawing of lymphocytes being removed from a donor. Blood is taken from a vein in the donor's arm and flows through an apheresis machine that removes the lymphocytes. The blood is then returned to the donor through a vein in the other arm. (Panel 2): Drawing of lymphocytes being given to a patient through a catheter in the chest.

Donor lymphocyte infusion. Lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) from the blood of a donor are given to a patient. (Panel 1): Blood is taken from a vein in the donor’s arm. The blood flows through an apheresis machine that removes the lymphocytes. The blood is then returned to the donor through a vein in the other arm. (Panel 2): The patient receives the lymphocytes through a catheter in the chest.