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Background: Allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is increasingly used, but this treatment is complex and costly. As clinical outcomes of HSCT with matched unrelated donor (MUD) and haploidentical donors are similar, costs could influence donor choice. Method: We retrospectively compared resource utilisation and costs of HSCT using the three different donor types (matched related donor (MRD) (n = 32), haploidentical related (n = 30) and MUD (n = 60)) within the first year after transplantation. Costs were analysed through a bottom‐up method. Non‐parametric bootstrapping was applied to test for statistical differences in costs. Subgroup analyses were performed to identify predictors for costs. Results: Cost pre‐transplant for search and acquisition of the graft were significantly higher in MUD HSCT (€35 222) versus MRD and haploidentical HSCT (€15 356 and €16 097 respectively). The costs of haploidentical HSCT were the highest in the transplant phase. Main cost factors were inpatient days and medication. Overall, the costs for haploidentical and MUD HSCT were similar (€115 724 for MUD, €113 312 for haploidentical). Conclusion: Our study suggests no difference in total transplantation costs between allogeneic HSCT using a MUD or a haploidentical donor. Since clinical outcomes seem similar as well, the choice of donor type might be based on availability, speed and logistics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Besides their role in destruction of altered self-cells, NK cells have been shown to potentiate T-cell responses by interacting with DC. To take advantage of NK-DC crosstalk in therapeutic DC-based vaccination for infectious diseases and cancer, it is essential to understand the biology of this crosstalk. We aimed to elucidate the in vitro mechanisms responsible for NK-cell recruitment and activation by DC during infection. To mimic bacterial infection, DC were exposed to a membrane fraction of Klebsiella pneumoniae, which triggers TLR2/4. DC matured with these bacterial fragments can actively recruit NK cells in a CCR5-dependent manner. An additional mechanism of DC-induced NK-cell recruitment is characterized by the induction of CCR7 expression on CD56 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Van Elssen C H M J, Frings P W H, Bot F J, Van de Vijver K K, Huls M B, Meek B, Hupperets P, Germeraad W T V & Bos G M J (2010) Histopathology 57, 597-606 Expression of aberrantly glycosylated Mucin-1 in ovarian cancer Aims: Mucin 1 (MUC1) is an important tumour-associated antigen (TAA), both overexpressed and aberrantly glycosylated in adenocarcinomas. The aim of this study was to examine the MUC1-glycosylation status of primary ovarian adenocarcinomas and metastatic lesions. Methods and results: Paraffin-embedded tissue sections of 37 primary ovarian adenocarcinomas representing all histotypes (22 serous, five mucinous, two clear-cell, eight endometrioid), four serous borderline tumours with intraepithelial carcinoma, seven sections of ovarian endometriosis and 13 metastatic lesions were analysed by immunohistochemistry. Non-neoplastic ovarian surface epithelium and serous cystadenomas were used as controls. All epithelia expressed MUC1 protein. Of primary tumours, 76% expressed the differentiation-dependent glycoform and 84% the cancer-associated glycoform (Tn/Sialyl-Tn-epitopes). In metastatic lesions this was 77% and 85%, respectively. Notably, in 57% of ovarian endometriosis and 75% of intraepithelial lesions, the cancer-associated MUC1 epitopes were expressed, whereas normal ovarian surface epithelium and serous cystadenomas did not express these epitopes. Conclusions: The underglycosylated MUC1 epitopes are expressed by all histotypes of primary ovarian adenocarcinomas, by the vast majority of metastatic lesions and by possible ovarian cancer precursor lesions, but not by normal ovarian tissue. These results indicate that MUC1-associated Tn/STn-epitopes are important targets for immunotherapy and diagnostic imaging in ovarian cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]