Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and cellular therapy in persons living with HIV

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Summarize the latest research of both stem cell transplantation and cellular therapy and present the implications with respect to persons with HIV (PWH), hematologic malignancies, and HIV-1 cure. RECENT FINDINGS: Allogeneic (alloSCT) and autologous (autoSCT) stem cell transplantation have been shown to be well tolerated and effective regardless of HIV-1 status. AlloSCT leads to a decrease in the HIV-1 latently infected reservoir orders of magnitude below that achieved with antiretroviral therapy (ART) alone. Utilization of CCR5Δ2/Δ32 donors in an alloSCT has resulted in HIV-1 cures. In the last 12 months, three cases of cure have been published, giving further insight into the conditions required for HIV-1 control. Other advances in the treatment of hematological cancers include chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CART) therapy, which are active in PWH with lymphoma. SUMMARY: Here we discuss the advances in SCT and cellular therapy in PWH and cancer. Additionally, we discuss how these technologies are being utilized to achieve HIV-1 cure.