EUROCHIMERISM: Diagnostic approaches to chimerism testing after allogenic stem cell transplantation for early detection of graft rejection and relapse

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 02.0427

Key words (English)

Life Sciences; Medicine; Health; Scientific Research

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: QLG1-CT-2002-01485

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 5. Frame Research Programme - 1.1.3 The 'cell factory'

Short description (English)

See abstract

Further information (English)

Full name of research-institution/enterprise:
Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève HUG
Département de médecine interne
Division d'Immunologie et d'Allergologie

Abstract (English)

Transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells from related or unrelated donors is becoming an increasingly important approach to treatment of different malignant and non-malignant disorders. There is thus growing demand for clinical diagnostic methodologies permitting the surveillance of donor- and recipient-derived hemopoiesis (=chimerism) during the post transplant period. The techniques currently used are very heterogeneous, rendering uniform evaluation and comparison of diagnostic results between centers difficult. International efforts aimed at the development of standardized methods are therefore urgently needed. We intend to establish a diagnostic standard for the monitoring of chimerism after all ogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT). Leading laboratories in this field from 10 European countries will collaborate to develop and standardize a molecular diagnostic assay meeting stringent quality criteria that could be adopted at all diagnostic centers involved. Implementation of international consensus criteria for appropriate investigation of chimerism after all ogeneic SCT will provide a basis for optimum diagnostic support for clinical decision making.

The aim of this Concerted Action is the development of a standardized diagnostic methodology for the detection and monitoring of chimerism (i.e. patient/donor origin of hemopoiesis) in patients undergoing all ogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT).The methodology has to meet stringent quality criteria regarding reproducibility, sensitivity, and ability to quantify patient- and donor-derived hematopoietic cells after all ogeneic SCT. Once established and validated, the standardized and quality-assured consensus protocol will be made available to the scientific community by publication in a leading international journal. The standardized technique will be profitable to many diagnostic centers in the field, and will provide a basis for optimal diagnostic support for therapy decisions.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 02.0427