Additional Advances in Graft-Versus-Host Disease Research and Clinical Trials With Shernan Holtan, MD

At the 2022 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting, Dr. Shernan Holtan, Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School, presented a late-breaking abstract on the BMT CTN 1703 trial of post-transplant cyclophosphamide, tacrolimus, and mycophenolate mofetil as graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis after allogenic hematopoietic cell transplantation. Prior to the presentation, she sat down with Oncology Data Advisor to preview the trial's promising results and its potential to transform practice for GVHD.  

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Upgrades in Understanding Therapeutic Strategies for Graft-Versus-Host Disease

An educational enduring online activity provided by i3 Health has provided efficiency and knowledge gains encompassing the evolving landscape of therapeutic strategies for graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Graft-versus-host disease is a complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT), affecting between 40% and 60% of patients and accounting for 15% of posttransplant mortality. Acute GVHD is the second-leading cause of transplant-related mortality and typically targets the sk...

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Ibrutinib Approved for Pediatric Patients With Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease

The FDA has approved ibrutinib (Imbruvica®, Pharmacyclics LLC) for treatment of pediatric patients with chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) following failure of one or more lines of systemic therapy. "Pediatric cGVHD, a potentially debilitating, life-threatening complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, has limited treatment options," wrote Marco Zecca, MD, Director of the Pediatric Oncology/Hematology Unit at the Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo in Italy, ...

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New Opportunities for Improved Patient Outcomes in Graft-Versus-Host Disease With Shernan Holtan, MD, and Carrie Kitko, MD

Oncology Data Advisor™ · New Opportunities for Improved Patient Outcomes in Graft-Versus-Host-Disease Graft-versus-host disease (GHVD) is a common complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) and a major contributor to morbidity and mortality (DeFilipp et al, 2021; Malard et al, 2020). Acute GVHD occurs within 100 days of transplant and typically targets the skin, gastrointestinal tract, and liver (LLS, 2022). Chronic GVHD often presents within the first year...

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FDA Approves Ruxolitinib for Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease

The FDA has approved ruxolitinib (Jakafi®, Incyte) for adult and pediatric patients 12 year of age and older with chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) after failure of one or two lines of systemic therapy."Chronic graft-versus-host disease, a major complication of allogeneic stem cell transplantation, becomes glucocorticoid-refractory or glucocorticoid-dependent in approximately 50% of patients," wrote Robert Zeiser, MD, Professor and Head of the Tumor Immunology and Immune Modulation at th...

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FDA Approves Belumosudil for Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease

The FDA has granted approval to belumosudil (Rezurock™, Kadmon Pharmaceuticals, LLC), for adult and pediatric patients 12 years and older with chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after failure of at least two prior lines of systemic therapy. "Belumosudil (KD025) is a novel oral selective Rho-associated coiled-coil kinase 2 (ROCK2) inhibitor specifically designed for the treatment of chronic GVHD," wrote Corey S. Cutler, MD, MPH, FRCPC, Medical Director of the Adult Stem Cell Transplantation...

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A Means to Avoid Graft-Versus-Host Disease in Leukemia

Researchers have found a potential way to prevent graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), a serious and sometimes fatal complication of the allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplants used to treat leukemia. Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplants succeed in fighting leukemia when donated T cells—the immune system's "killer cells," which attack unhealthy cells—attack the cancer cells. Through what is known as graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) activity, these donated T cells work to prevent disease relapse. ...

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Ruxolitinib Approved for Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease

​The FDA has approved ruxolitinib (Jakafi®, Incyte Corporation), a JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor, for the treatment of steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in adults and in children age 12 and older. Graft-versus-host disease is a complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), a procedure involving the transfer of stem cells from a healthy donor to a patient with a hematologic malignancy following high-intensity chemotherapy or radiation. In GVHD, the donat...

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Ruxolitinib for Steroid-Refractory Acute GVHD: An Interview With Corey S. Cutler, MD, MPH, FRCPC

Recently, the FDA approved ruxolitinib (Jakafi®, Incyte Corporation), a JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor, for the treatment of steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). A potentially life-threatening condition, GVHD is a complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), a treatment for hematologic malignancies that is administered following high-intensity chemotherapy or radiation. In this interview with i3 Health, Corey S. Cutler, MD, MPH, FRCPC, Medical Director of...

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