Immunotherapeutic Approaches to Invasive Fungal Disease in the Immunocompromised Child

Abstract Purpose of Review Despite the availability of potent antifungal compounds, invasive fungal diseases (IFD) are still a major cause for morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised pediatric and adult patients, and risk and outcome of IFDs are determined by the degree of the suppression of the specific arms of the immune system. This prompted us to review the current knowledge of immunotherapeutic antifungal approaches. Recent Findings We critically review important in vitro and animal data as well as clinical studies of immunotherapy for IFD, in particular granulocyte transfusion, the adoptive transfer of primary and genetically modified Natural Killer cells and fungal-specific T cells, and the use of colony-stimulating factors and cytokines. Summary Although promising data of in vitro and animal models have been reported for many strategies, no clear benefit has been demonstrated in the clinical setting to date.