Emerging novel therapies for steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease: recent advances and future

Yishan Ye1, Wenjing Hao2, Florent Malard2

  • 1Bone Marrow Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310000 Hangzhou, China; Service d'Hématologie Clinique et Thérapie Cellulaire, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, Sorbonne Université, INSERM UMRs 938, Paris, France.

PubMed

Acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) is a significant complication of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT), characterized by immune-mediated tissue damage from donor immune cells. Standard treatment of aGVHD involves systemic corticosteroids, but many patients do not respond adequately, with 30%-50% of patients being steroid refractory (SR-aGVHD) leading to poor outcomes. This highlights the need for effective second-line therapies. Ruxolitinib, a JAK1/2 inhibitor, has emerged as a key treatment, demonstrating superior overall response rates in SR-aGVHD compared to best available therapies. However, resistance and intolerance to ruxolitinib necessitate exploring novel and combination therapies such as apraglutide, neihulizumab, and other targeted agents, which have shown promising results in clinical trials. Additionally, nonpharmacologic approaches, including microbiotherapy, mesenchymal stromal cells, or alpha-1 antitrypsin, are also being investigated for their immunomodulatory potential. The future direction is to develop personalized treatment strategies that incorporate biomarkers and diverse therapeutic modalities. The aim is to enhance disease management, aiming for sustainable control and improved quality of life in patients facing the challenges of SR-aGVHD.

Related Concept Videos

Bone Marrow Sampling and Transplants01:22

Bone Marrow Sampling and Transplants

Bone marrow transplant is a potential cure for several diseases, including cancer and specific genetic disorders. Notably, this procedure is applicable for patients suffering from aplastic anemia, certain types of leukemia, severe combined immunodeficiency disease (SCID), Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, multiple myeloma, thalassemia, sickle-cell disease, and certain cancers.
The transplant begins with high doses of chemotherapy and radiation treatment, which aim to destroy...
493
Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Immunomodulatory Agents01:29

Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Immunomodulatory Agents

Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disorder marked by chronic inflammation of the GI tract. Various treatment strategies for Crohn's disease are employed, such as immunomodulatory agents, glucocorticoids, and biologics or anti-TNF therapy. Azathioprine (Imuran), a commonly used immunomodulatory drug for Crohn's disease, is converted in the body to mercaptopurine, which inhibits purine biosynthesis and cell proliferation. Both are utilized in severe cases of Inflammatory Bowel...
264
Tumor Immunotherapy01:27

Tumor Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a treatment that boosts or manipulates the immune system to fight diseases, including cancer. For instance, by stimulating an immune response through vaccinations against viruses that cause cancers, like hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus, these diseases can be prevented. Nonetheless, some cancer cells can avoid the immune system due to their rapid mutation and division. The immune response to many cancers involves three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape.
659
Tissue Transplantation01:24

Tissue Transplantation

Tissue transplantation is a significant medical procedure involving the transfer of cells, tissues, or organs from a donor to a recipient, with the primary aim of restoring lost functions. This procedure is crucial in treating a broad spectrum of diseases, including kidney diseases, liver failure, heart disease, and certain types of cancers.
The Biology of Tissue Transplantation
The biology of tissue transplantation hinges on the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules. These molecules...
519
Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Glucocorticoids01:21

Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Glucocorticoids

Glucocorticoids, a class of anti-inflammatory drugs, are pivotal in treating moderate to severe Crohn's disease by inducing remission. They exhibit their anti-inflammatory action by inhibiting the production of inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1, and chemokines like IL-8. In addition, they reduce the expression of inflammatory cell adhesion molecules and inhibit gene transcription of nitric oxide synthase, phospholipase A2, cyclooxygenase-2...
201
Treatment Resistant Cancers02:56

Treatment Resistant Cancers

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. A cancer cell is genetically unstable and hence can mutate faster. They can also modify their microenvironment and escape immune surveillance. The difficulties in treating cancer are further compounded by the emergence of rapid resistance to anticancer drugs. The most common ways to attain resistance in cancer cells include alteration in drug transport and metabolism, modification of drug target, elevated DNA damage response, or...
3.4K