scholarly journals Extended CCR5 Blockade in Graft-Versus-Host Disease Prophylaxis – a Phase II Study

Blood ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 124 (21) ◽  
pp. 2491-2491 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ran Reshef ◽  
James K. Mangan ◽  
Selina M. Luger ◽  
Alison Wakoff Loren ◽  
Elizabeth O. Hexner ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Blocking lymphocyte trafficking after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) may prevent graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) without interfering with graft-versus-tumor (GvT) activity. We previously reported that brief (up to day+30) CCR5 blockade using maraviroc (MVC, Pfizer) after reduced-intensity conditioned (RIC) alloSCT resulted in a low incidence of acute GvHD and absence of early liver and gut GvHD, although delayed GvHD still occurred. We designed a phase II study to test the hypothesis that extended administration of MVC would be feasible, safe and provide protection against late-onset GvHD without impairing immune reconstitution or GvT responses. Patients and Methods: In April 2013 we initiated a 37-patient (pt) phase II study to test an extended course of MVC in recipients of RIC alloSCT from unrelated donors. Pts receive fludarabine 120 mg/m2 and busulfan i.v. 6.4 mg/kg followed by peripheral blood stem cells. MVC 300 mg b.i.d. is orally administered from day -3 to day +90 in addition to standard prophylaxis with tacrolimus and methotrexate. The primary endpoint is the cumulative incidence of grade 2-4 acute GvHD by day 180. As of July 2014 we enrolled 20 pts at high risk for transplant-related toxicity by virtue of age (median=64, range 55–72), donor source (matched unrelated 80%, single-antigen mismatch unrelated 20%) or comorbidities (comorbidity index: low 15%, intermediate 35%, high 50%). Underlying diseases were AML (16), MDS, MPD, ALL and CTCL (1 each). Feasibility and Safety: The median follow-up on surviving patients is 5.7 months. The 3-month course of MVC was well tolerated with no increased toxicity; two pts did not complete their treatment due to early disease relapse and one patient discontinued therapy due to a skin reaction with eosinophilia where the histological features favored a drug reaction and the attribution to MVC was possible. Postural hypotension, a known dose-dependent toxicity, was observed in one pt who completed the course with a 50% dose reduction. Engraftment and Immune Reconstitution: The median time to ANC>500/μL was 12 d (range 10-21) and platelets>20k/μL was 14 d (range 9-28). The median whole blood and T-cell donor chimerism levels at day 100 were 95% (range 12–100%) and 80% (range 23–94%) respectively, which are similar to historical rates. Median CD4 counts on day 30 were 341 (range 206-424). Only 3/16 evaluable pts had Ig levels<500 mg/dL in the first 100 days. GvHD: Sixteen pts are evaluable with > 3 mo of follow-up. The day-180 cumulative incidence rates (± s.e.) of grade 2-4 and grade 3-4 acute GvHD are 25 ± 11% and 6 ± 6% respectively (Fig. 1). Of patients who developed acute GvHD in the first 180 days, there have been no cases of liver GvHD, 2 cases of stage 1 steroid-responsive gut GvHD and 1 case of severe diarrhea with combined features of GvHD and leukemic infiltrates in the gut. These results are comparable to the GvHD rates in our phase I/II MVC study (grade 2-4: 23.6% and grade 3-4: 5.9%), which included related and unrelated donor transplants. These results also compare favorably with a 45% day-180 acute GvHD rate seen in similar patients treated with our standard GvHD prophylaxis alone. Notably, there has been no treatment-related mortality. Five patients have relapsed at a median of 2.6 months post-transplant (range 0.93 – 3.5), which is similar to our historical rates after RIC alloSCT. PD analysis: We developed a phosphoflow assay to assess in real-time the activity of MVC in fresh blood samples. The assay quantifies the activation of CCR5 by measuring the phosphorylation of C-terminal serine residues as a result of CCL4 stimulation. In 15 evaluable patients, we observed diminished pCCR5 levels with CCL4 stimulation on day 0 as compared to day -6 (Fig. 2). In summary, our preliminary results support the feasibility, safety and protective activity of the CCR5 antagonist MVC against acute GvHD, with preferential activity against visceral GvHD. Continued pt enrollment and follow-up are ongoing. Updated safety, efficacy and PD results will be presented. A multi-center study (BMT-CTN 1203) will be initiated later this year to further clarify the role of this novel strategy in improving the outcome of alloHSCT. Fig 1. Cumulative Incidence of Acute GvHD Fig 1. Cumulative Incidence of Acute GvHD Fig 2. Phosphoflow shows CCR5 unresponsiveness to CCL4 stimulation on day 0 Fig 2. Phosphoflow shows CCR5 unresponsiveness to CCL4 stimulation on day 0 Disclosures Reshef: Pfizer: Research Funding. Off Label Use: Maraviroc for graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis.

Blood ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 122 (21) ◽  
pp. 3299-3299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moshe Yeshurun ◽  
Ofer Shpilberg ◽  
Corina Herscovici ◽  
Juliet Dreyer ◽  
Anat Peck ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) is a major life-threatening complication following allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT), affecting 35%-70% of recipients despite standard prophylaxis regimens. Thus, developing innovative strategies to prevent and treat GVHD is a major unmet need. Cannabidiol (CBD), a safe and non-psychotropic ingredient of marijuana, has been shown to exhibit potent immune-modulatory and anti-inflammatory properties in animal models of various inflammatory diseases. We hypothesized that administration of CBD during alloSCT may significantly decrease GVHD incidence. Methods We conducted a phase I/II trial. All patients were given standard GVHD prophylaxis consisting of cyclosporine and a short course of methotrexate (15 mg/m2 on day +1 and 10 mg/m2 on days +3 and +6). The investigational agent, CBD (STI Pharmaceuticals, Essex, UK), was orally administered at a dosage of 150 mg twice daily from starting of conditioning up to day +30. Primary end points were safety and cumulative incidence of grade 2-4 and grade 3-4 aGVHD by day +100. The secondary end points were cumulative incidence of chronic and chronic extensive GVHD, non-relapse mortality (NRM), relapse incidence, and overall survival (OS). Results Between 9/2012 and 6/2013, 30 consecutive unselected adult patients undergoing alloSCT were enrolled (median age=52, range, 22-71 years). Median follow-up was 4.8 months (range, 1-10.3). Base line diseases were acute leukemia (n=21, 70%), myelodysplastic syndrome (n=2, 7%), lymphoma (n=5, 17%), aplastic anemia (n=1, 3%), and multiple myeloma (n=1, 3%). 73% were in CR/PR at transplantation. The majority of patients were given a myeloablative preparative regimen (n=22, 73%). The donor was either an HLA identical sibling (n=16) or 10/10 matched unrelated donor (n=12) or 1 antigen mismatched unrelated donor (n=2). All patients were given G-CSF mobilized peripheral blood stem cell grafts. There were no documented grade 3-4 toxicities attributed to CBD. There were no cases of graft rejection. In all, 2 patients developed aGVHD by day 100 (grade 2, n=1 and grade 3, n=1) and one patient developed late onset aGVHD (grade 4, n=1). The cumulative incidences of grade 2-4 aGVHD and grade 3-4 aGVHD by day +100 were 8.4% and 4.5%, respectively. Five patients developed chronic GVHD, 4 had limited disease and one extensive disease. There were 4 deaths because of sepsis (n=1), cardiac arrhythmia (n=1), grade 4 aGVHD (n=1) and relapse (n=1). Cumulative incidences of NRM at 3 and 6 months were both 6.9% and incidences of relapse were both 10.7%. OS at 3 and 6 months were both 90%. Conclusion These data suggest that the combination of CBD with standard GVHD prophylaxis is a safe and promising strategy to reduce the incidence of GVHD. Nevertheless, a well designed prospective controlled study comparing this novel approach with standard GVHD prophylaxis is warranted. Follow-up data on safety, efficacy, and on additional subjects will be presented. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


Blood ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 110 (11) ◽  
pp. 4968-4968
Author(s):  
Weng Jianyu ◽  
Xin Du ◽  
Xiang Peng ◽  
Zhang Xiumin ◽  
Suijin Wu ◽  
...  

Abstract Refractory extensive chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after allogeneic stem-cell transplantation (SCT) is associated with high mortality [Margolis J., SeminOncol 2000].However, conventional therapies including steroids are often unsuccessful in those patients with multiorgan involvement and are associated with significant therapy-related complications and poorly life quality. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have immunomodulatory effects [Tse WT et al., Transplantation 2003; Spees JI et al.,Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2003]. Recently MSCs have been given intravenously to treat seven steroid resistant acute GVHD patients and one patient with chronic GVHD. MSCs effects in chronic GVHD is rarely known, although this successfully experience suggests that MSCs have been well tolerated and had a powerful immunosuppressive effects on acute GVHD. [Katarina Le Blanc et al., Lancet 2004; Olle Ringden., Transplantation 2006 ]. Here, we present our experience of using MSCs for treatment of Thirteen patients with refractory chronic GVHD. Between May 2005 and March 2007, thirteen patients (8 male, 5female) with hematological malignancies with a median age of 26(range:15 to 40) years who had received peripheral stem cells from sibling donors. All patients developed steroid resistant or extensive chronic GVHD, with progressive involvement of the skin(13), liver(10), oral mucosa(12),ocular glands(12), and thrombocytopenia (1) when the immunosuppressive agents were taped after five to twenty-four months. The MSC dose was median 1.0 ×106 cells/kg body weight of the recipient. In all, thirteen patients had at least received one dose, seven patients received more than two doses. MSC donors were in seven cases HLA-identical siblings, six unrelated mismatched donors. No side-effects were seen after MSCs infusions. All patients have responded after follow-up of the median time 15 months. One patient with moderate cGVHD had a complete responses, and discontinued all of the immunosuppressive agents without relapse more than 18.4 months after MSC infusion. Three moderate and two patients with severe chronic GVHD improved to mild degree, and six severe turned to moderate degree. Complete resolution was seen in gut(2/3), liver(5/10), skin(5/13), oral(6/12) and eye(2/12). One patient responded in skin, liver, oral mucose and eye, but developed in lung (bronchiolitis obliterans, BO) score of 2 which are considered severe chronic GVHD. Mean follow-up periods was 27m (rang: 14 to48m), Leukemia free survival(LFS)rate were 85%(11/13), and the overall survival (OS)rate were 92.3%(12/13). Our experience suggests that MSC infusion is a safe and effective adjunct therapy for refractory extensive chronic GVHD with resistance to conventional therapy. But more prospective, controlled studies with MSCs for treatment of GVHD should be performanced to evaluate this new treatment exactly.


Blood ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 112 (11) ◽  
pp. 453-453 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernhard Heilmeier ◽  
Nadine Stowasser ◽  
Gerard Socie ◽  
Maria Teresa van Lint ◽  
Andre Tichelli ◽  
...  

Abstract Patients who receive allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplants have an increased risk for new malignancies because of several risk factors, including conditioning with radiation and chemotherapy, immune modulation, and malignant primary disease. The frequency of and risk factors for malignant neoplasm in long-term survivors should be assessed. A former analysis of the EBMT observing the 1036 patients of this study with a median observation time of 10.7 years showed older patient age and immunosuppressive treatment of chronic graft-versus-host disease as main risk factors for secondary malignancies. We have tried to determine the cumulative incidence and define potential risk factors for new malignancies in long-term survivors after marrow transplantation in a retrospective multi center follow-up study. This study of the Late Effects Working Party was performed with 45 transplantation centers cooperating in the European Cooperative Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. 1036 consecutive patients who underwent transplantation for leukemia, lymphoma, inborn diseases of the hematopoietic and immune systems, or severe aplastic anemia. Patients were transplanted before December 1985 and had survived more than 5 years. Reports on malignant neoplasms were evaluated, and the cumulative incidence was compared to that in the matched general population. Patient age and sex, primary disease and disease stage at transplantation, histocompatibility of the donor, conditioning regimen, type of prophylaxis of graft-versus-host disease, development of acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease, and treatment of chronic graft-versus-host disease were evaluated as variables. Univariate analysis was performed using the log rank test for the time until malignancy occurred; significant risk factors were studied in multivariate analysis (Cox regression). Median follow-up since transplantation was 17.9 years (range, 5 to 32.3 years). Malignant neoplasms were seen in 114 patients; the cumulative incidence was 4.0% at 10 years, 8.5% at 15 years, 14.0% at 20 years and 21.0% at 25 years. The rate of new malignant disease was 6-fold higher than that in an age-matched control population (P &lt;0.001). The most frequent malignant diseases were neoplasms of the skin (23 patients), breast (16 patients), thyroid gland (13 patients), oral cavity (12 patients), uterus including cervix (7 patients), and glial tissue (3 patients). Median ages of patients and their donors at the time of transplantation were 21 years for both groups (range 0.5 – 52 years). Follow up data were avaible in 636 patients, 100 patients were deceased at the time of prior analysis, 300 patients were lost to follow up. Compared with the analysis of the same cohort of patients 10 years ago, the most striking increase in secondary malignancies was seen in breast cancer (4-fold), thyroid cancer (3-fold) and neoplasms of the skin and oral cavity (2-fold). In multivariate analysis patient age above 30 years (hazard ratio 1.8, 95% CI 1.2 – 2.6; p=0.006), radiotherapy for conditioning (hr 2.3, CI 1.2 – 4.3; p=0.01) and immunosuppression (hr 1.5, CI 1.0 – 2.2; p=0.05) (in particular cyclosporine or methotrexate) were risk factors for new malignancies after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. In conclusion longer followup shows the continuous increase of the cumulative incidence of secondary neoplasms in long-term survivors. With longer follow-up a shift in the risk factors occurs: Until 10–15 years after allogeneic transplantation immunosuppression is the major risk factor for new malignancies, whereas more than 15 years after transplantation radiotherapy becomes the dominant risk factor.


Blood ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 114 (22) ◽  
pp. 1151-1151
Author(s):  
Seok Jin Kim ◽  
Chang Ki Min ◽  
Jong Wook Lee ◽  
Bin Cho ◽  
Chul Won Jung ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 1151 Poster Board I-173 Introduction The mainstay of treatment for chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is steroid. However, there is limited treatment option for steroid-refractory chronic GVHD. Although the pathogenesis of chronic GVHD is still uncertain, the possible relation of auto-antibodies with chronic GVHD (Patriarca F, et al. Exp Hematol 389-96, 2006) and the result from a previous pilot study (Cutler C, et al. Blood 756-762, 2006) suggested that a treatment strategy targeting against B cells might become another effective therapy for chronic GVHD. Thus, we performed a study to determine the efficacy of rituximab (Mabthera®, Roche), an anti-CD20 monoclonal chimeric antibody in patients with steroid-refractory chronic GVHD. Patients and methods This is a multicenter, open-labeled prospective phase II study performed by the Korean Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation (NCT00472225). Patients should be diagnosed as chronic GVHD according to the criteria for clinical trials in chronic GVHD proposed by National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Project (Filipovich AH, et al. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 945-56, 2005). The steroid-refractoriness was defined as the same severity during the last one month while patients received the equivalent of prednisone ≥0.5mg/kg per day or 1mg/kg every other day at least for 30 days or longer. The treatment schedule consists of induction (rituximab 375mg/m2 weekly IV for 4 consecutive weeks) and maintenance (rituximab 375mg/m2 monthly IV for 4 consecutive months). The response and the quality of life (SF36 questionnaire) were evaluated during the follow-up. Results 37 patients (20 male, 17 female) were evaluated, and their median age was 29 years (range 8-57 years, 7 patients from pediatrics and 30 from internal medicine). The time interval between transplantation and rituximab treatment was from 4.0 to 45.7 months. The most commonly involved organs were skin, oral cavity, eyes and lungs. The average number of involved organ per each patient was three and their average severity was grade 2-3. The median potential follow-up was 12.3 months (95% confidence interval: 12.06-12.54 months). The maximum response during follow-up was as follows: 8 complete response (21.6%), 22 partial response (59.5%), 6 no response (16.2%), and 1 disease progression (2.7%). Thus, the overall response rate was 81.1%. The dosage of steroid was reduced in all responders including complete withdrawal of steroid. The quality of life was improved in terms of physical health and mental/emotional health after treatment. However, 5 responders showed the progression of disease activity during follow-up, and infectious complications were life-threatening, thus, 8 patients died due to infections including pneumonia. The involvement of skin and oral cavity showed better response than the involvement of lungs and eyes. Conclusion The weekly administration of rituximab followed by monthly maintenance rituximab may be an effective treatment for steroid-refractory chronic GVHD, however, the active prophylaxis against infection should be considered. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 118 (21) ◽  
pp. 3024-3024
Author(s):  
Nicolaus Kröger ◽  
Evgeny Klyuchnikov ◽  
Thomas Stübig ◽  
Christine Wolschke ◽  
Francis Ayuk ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 3024FN2 Reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) regimen followed by allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) has become a reasonable treatment option for patients with multiple myeloma who are refractory or have relapse to an autograft. However, in comparison to standard myeloablative conditioning RIC resulted in higher risk of relapse. Maintenance therapy after autologous transplantation has shown to improve survival while after allogeneic SCT data are lacking so far. We here report the results of myeloablative toxicity-reduced allograft consisting of intravenous busulfan (12.2 mg/kg) and cyclophosphamide (120 mg/kg) followed by lenalidomide maintenance in 33 patients with multiple myeloma who relapsed to an autograft. A total of 32 patients had received one (n=16), two (n=15), or even three (n=1) autografts, and 1 patient was refractory to 2 induction therapies and failed to collect autologous stem cells. The median duration of remission after the autograft was 12 months. The primary endpoint of the study was non-relapse mortality at 1 year and secondary objectives were evaluation of response, incidence of acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease as well as progression and overall survival. To prevent graft-versus-host disease antithymocyte globulin (ATG Fresenius®) was given at a median dose of 20 mg/kg on day -3, -2, and -1. Lenalidomide was started earliest at day 120 after transplantation if there were no signs of infection or graft-versus-host disease. The median time between last autograft and allogeneic transplantation was 20 months. 19 patients were treated with fully HLA-matched unrelated donor, 8 patients had a mismatch donor, and 6 patients were transplanted from an HLA-identical sibling. 2 patients died of treatment-related complications resulting in a cumulative incidence of non-relapse mortality at 1 year of 6% (95% CI: 0–14%). After transplantation 27% developed grade II graft-versus-host disease, and severe grade III graft-versus-host disease was seen in 6% of the patients. Complete remission was noted in 46% of the patients, partial remission was seen in 48% and stable disease in 3%. The median interval between allogeneic transplant and start of lenalidomide was 168 days. The median starting dose was 5 mg (range 5–15 mg) without dexamethasone for 21 day followed by 1 week rest. 9 patients did not receive lenalidomide maintenance due to ongoing graft-versus-host disease, cytopenia or patient's wish. The median number of lenalidomide cycles was 6 (range 1–30). During follow-up 13 patients discontinued lenalidomide treatment due to progressive disease (n=6), GvHD (n=3), thrombocytopenia (n=2), or fatigue (n=2). In 10 patients lenalidomide dose could be increased to 10 or 15 mg, respectively. The major toxicities of lenalidomide were acute graft-versus-host disease grade I – III (21%), viral reactivation (12%), thrombocytopenia grade III-IV (12%), neutropenia grade III-IV (6%), peripheral neuropathy grade I-II (12%), or other infectious complications (6%). During follow-up 9 patients experienced relapse resulting in a cumulative incidence of relapse at 3 years of 42% (95% CI: 18–66%). The 3 year estimated probability of progression-free and overall survival was 52 % (95% CI: 28–76%) and 79 % (95% CI: 63–95%), respectively. In the current trial neither the deletion 13q14 nor the use of mismatch donor nor the chemosensitivity prior allogeneic SCT could be identified as risk factor for survival. This study showed that toxicity-reduced myeloablative conditioning regimen is feasible and highly effective in relapsed patients with multiple myeloma resulting in an acceptable treatment-related mortality. Lenalidomide as maintenance therapy is feasible early after transplantation but toxicity especially the induction of graft-versus-host disease should be considered. Disclosures: Kröger: Celgene: Research Funding. Kropff:Janssen-Cilag: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria.


Blood ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 128 (22) ◽  
pp. 2307-2307
Author(s):  
Sara Redondo Velao ◽  
Mi Kwon ◽  
Diana Champ ◽  
MJ Pascual Cascon ◽  
Pascual Balsalobre ◽  
...  

Abstract INTRODUCTION Post-transplant high-dose cyclophosphamide (PTCy) has shown to prevent graft versus host disease (GvHD) after haploidentical allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HSCT). Although less extended, its use after matched unrelated donor (MUD) HSCT in combination with additional immunosuppression has been encouraging. The aim of this study was to analyze and compare outcomes of antithymocyte globulin based (ATG) versus PTCy-based GvHD prophylaxis in matched unrelated donor HSCT. MATERIAL AND METHODS We retrospectively analyzed 51 MUD (8/8 HLA-matched) transplants performed in two Spanish centers: 25 received ATG-based prophylaxis and were performed from 2010 to 2013, and 26 received PTCy-based prophylaxis and were performed from 2013 to 2016. RESULTS Characteristics of patients and post-HSCT complications are detailed in Table 1. There were no significant differences in age, gender, diagnosis and Disease risk index. For the ATG group, conditioning regimen consisted of fludarabine combined with busulfan (80%) or melphalan (12%), and TBI plus cyclophosphamide (8%). All patients received ATG 2 mg/kg from day -4 to day -2 followed by methotrexate and cyclosporine (CsA). Conditioning regimen for patients from the PTCy group consisted of fludarabine and busulfan (85%) and thiotepa combined with busulfan and fludarabine (15%). GvHD prophylaxis consisted of PTCy 50 mg/kg on days +3 and +4, combined with: CsA plus MMF in 57%, CsA alone in 31%, or tacrolimus plus MMF or sirolimus in 8%, and tacrolimus alone in 4%. With a median follow-up of 58 months for the ATG group and 12 months for the PTCy group, there were no statistically significant differences in overall survival at 18 months (56% vs 85%, p=0.08), in event free survival (56% vs 68%, p=0.5), and in cumulative incidence of relapse (12% vs 18%, p=0.3). Non-relapse mortality at 12 months was significantly higher in the ATG group (32% vs 10%, p = 0.04). The ATG group presented more cases of hepatic toxicity grades I-IV and hemorrhagic cystitis than PTCy group (Table 1). Cumulative incidence of acute GvHD grades II-IV was higher in the ATG group as well as acute GvHD grades III-IV, with no differences in moderate/severe chronic GvHD incidence (Figure A). CONCLUSION In our experience, albeit differences in follow-up and limited number of patients, we conclude that PTCy combined with additional immunosuppression after MUD allogeneic HSCT offers lower rates of acute GvHD together with less toxicity and non-relapse mortality compared to ATG-based prophylaxis. Further analysis including larger series and follow-up are needed to confirm these observations. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


Blood ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 128 (22) ◽  
pp. 2241-2241
Author(s):  
Tapani Ruutu ◽  
Anne Nihtinen ◽  
Riitta Niittyvuopio ◽  
Eeva Juvonen ◽  
Liisa Volin

Abstract Background: In a previously published single-center study (Blood 2000) we randomized 108 consecutive adult patients with a malignant hematological disorder undergoing allogeneic bone marrow transplantation from an HLA-identical sibling donor to receive (n=53) or not to receive (n=55) methylprednisolone (MP+ or MP-, respectively) as a part of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis. All patients received cyclosporine A and methotrexate. MP administration was initiated on day 14 post-transplantation with 0.5 mg/kg, the dose was increased to 1 mg/kg on day 21 and thereafter tapered and discontinued on day 110. The cumulative incidence of acute GVHD was 19 % among the patients given and 56 % among those not given MP prophylaxis (p=0.0001), and that of grade II-IV acute GVHD 13 and 36 %, respectively (p=0.005). There was a non-significant trend toward a lower cumulative incidence of chronic GVHD (cGVHD) and better survival in the MP+ group. There were fewer infections and the stay at hospital was shorter among the patients given MP prophylaxis. No difference was seen in the relapse rate. We have now carried out a long-term follow-up to find out possible late effects of the intensified GVHD prophylaxis. Results: The median follow-up time of living patients was 24.5 (range 22.7-26.9) years; two patients were lost for follow-up at 37 and 80 months. In the MP+ group the overall survival (OS, p=0.021) (Figure 1) and relapse-free survival (RFS, p=0.024) were significantly higher and the non-relapse mortality (NRM) lower (p=0.003) than in the MP- group. There was a trend toward lower cumulative incidence of cGVHD in the MP+ group (36 vs. 48 %, p=0.17). The prevalence of cGVHD, analyzed with data available from ten years of scheduled follow-up, was significantly (p=0.031) lower in the MP+ group and the difference became more marked with time. Among the patients alive at ten years, none in the MP+ group but 28 % of the patients in the MP- group had active cGVHD. There was no difference in the relapse rate between the MP+ and MP- groups, the cumulative incidences were 36 and 38 %, respectively. Seven patients in each group developed a secondary malignancy, one patient in both groups had two secondary tumors. At 15 years, the survival was 55 % in the MP+ group and 47 % in the MP- group, and the NRM 21 and 30 %, respectively. Thereafter there was marked non-relapse mortality in the MP- group, eleven patients died after this time point, whereas there were no deaths during this period in the MP+ arm. At the end of the follow-up, the OS in the MP+ and MP- groups were 55 and 20 % and the RFS 54 and 18 %, respectively. The causes of the late deaths in the MP- group were: bacterial infection 3, obstructive bronchiolitis 1, acute myocardial infarction 1, intracerebral bleeding 1, sudden death of unknown cause 1, lung cancer 2, colon cancer 1, and esophagus cancer 1. Conclusion: The addition of corticosteroid to cyclosporine and methotrexate in GVHD prophylaxis, resulting in a marked decrease in the incidence of acute GVHD, did not cause adverse late effects. Long-term survival was higher among the patients given MP prophylaxis. Unexpectedly, there was marked late non-relapse mortality in the group not given MP prophylaxis, possibly contributed to by the higher prevalence of cGVHD. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Larisa A. Kuzmina ◽  
Natalia A. Petinati ◽  
Elena N. Parovichnikova ◽  
Lidia S. Lubimova ◽  
Elena O. Gribanova ◽  
...  

Blood ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 114 (3) ◽  
pp. 709-718 ◽  
Author(s):  
Attilio Olivieri ◽  
Franco Locatelli ◽  
Marco Zecca ◽  
Adele Sanna ◽  
Michele Cimminiello ◽  
...  

Abstract We previously reported that patients with fibrotic, chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) have antibodies activating the platelet-derived growth factor receptor pathway. Because this pathway can be inhibited by imatinib, we performed a pilot study including 19 patients with refractory cGVHD, given imatinib at a starting dose of 100 mg per day. All patients had active cGVHD with measurable involvement of skin or other districts and had previously failed at least 2 treatment lines. Patient median age was 29 years (range, 10-62 years), and median duration of cGvHD was 37 months (range, 4-107 months). The organs involved were skin (n = 17), lung (n = 11), and bowel (n = 5); 15 patients had sicca syndrome. Imatinib-related, grade 3 to 4 toxicity included fluid retention, infections, and anemia. Imatinib was discontinued in 8 patients: in 3 because of toxicity and in 5 because of lack of response (n = 3) or relapse of malignancy (n = 2). Overall response rate at 6 months was 79%, with 7 complete remissions (CRs) and 8 partial remissions (PRs). With a median follow-up of 17 months, 16 patients are alive, 14 still in CR or PR. The 18-month probability of overall survival is 84%. This study suggests that imatinib is a promising treatment for patients with refractory fibrotic cGVHD.


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