Immune surveillance by autoreactive CD4-positive helper T cells is a common phenomenon in patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

We demonstrated that the presence of AML-directed autoreactive T cells is a common phenomenon which appears to be part of the general T-cell repertoire also in healthy individuals. This autoreactive AML-directed T-cell response may directly contribute to anti-AML immune surveillance especially in the situation of minimal residual disease, but furthermore the immune-modulatory effect on the AML phenotype may pave the way for other immunological interventions.