anti-minor histocompatibility complex donor T lymphocytes

A preparation of allogeneic, donor-derived T lymphocytes that are specific for a unique set of minor histocompatibility complex antigens (MiHA) exclusively found on the surface of malignant cells, with potential immunomodulating and antineoplastic activities. T lymphocytes are derived from an allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (AHCT) donor. Ex vivo, these T cells are exposed to and primed against a select set of host-specific hematopoietic tissue-restricted MiHAs that are expressed on leukemic cells. Then the cells are subsequently expanded. After AHCT and infusion of the anti-MiHA T lymphocytes, these cells target and bind to MiHA antigens expressed on the host's leukemia cells, thereby killing these cancer cells. MiHA are small, cell-surface peptides that are associated with graft-versus-host disease (GvHD). The selected set of MiHAs is expressed mainly, or only, by hematopoietic cells, and overexpressed on leukemic cells.