T-cell receptor repertoire usage in hematologic malignancies

Over the last few years several studies have addressed the possible influence of different immune mechanisms on the evolution of hematologic malignancies. More specifically, a fundamental role of reactive T-cells has now been demonstrated in the pathogenesis of many of these disorders as well as in the typical immunological milieu observed after stem cell transplantation in patients affected by these malignancies. In this context the study of the T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire performed by different techniques, such as for instance flow cytometry and spectratyping, has undoubtedly provided a fundamental contribution. More recently, these seminal observations have even opened new potential therapeutic avenues based on the employment of adoptive T-cells somehow engineered toward potential neoplastic targets. This review will run through the most relevant studies which have tried to dissect the TCR repertoire usage in patients with different hematologic malignancies, especially focusing on the possible pathogenetic and therapeutic implications.