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Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) improves overall survival in the treatment of steroid refractory acute graft-versus-host disease (SR aGvHD)

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 58, pages 168–174 (2023)Cite this article

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Abstract

Steroid refractory acute graft-versus-host disease (SR aGvHD) is a major limitation of successful allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) has been used to treat SR aGvHD effectively and with low treatment related toxicity. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the outcomes of 103 Steroid Refractory aGvHD (SR aGvHD) patients to identify factors associated with improved outcomes including the use of ECP. A total of 79 patients received ECP as part of their SR aGVHD treatment compared to 24 patients who did not. Both groups had similar aGVHD grade and maximum organ stage at onset of aGVHD and treatment initiation. Patients in the group that received ECP had better OS (p = 0.01), DFS (p = 0.008), lower relapse (p = 0.05) and similar NRM compared to the group that did not receive ECP. Patients that received ECP treatment also had shorter hospital stays in the first 180 days after onset of SR aGvHD (20 vs. 38 days, p = 0.03). Multivariable analysis for OS indicated patient CMV status (CMV+ versus CMV–, HR 2.34, CI 1.16–4.69), regimen intensity (Myelo vs. non-Myeloablative, HR 0.39, CI 0.20–0.75), and the use of ECP (ECP vs. no ECP, HR 0.39, CI 0.20–0.75) were associated with OS. In summary, the use of ECP in the treatment of SR aGvHD results in improved overall survival secondary to lower relapse rates compared to other therapeutic modalities that do not incorporate ECP.

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Fig. 1: Kaplan Meier Curves of Survival endpoints for ECP vs no ECP.

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Data availability

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Blood and Marrow Transplant Program at Northside Hospital, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Melhem M. Solh, Chloe Farnham, Scott R. Solomon, Asad Bashey, Lawrence E. Morris & H. Kent Holland

  2. Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA

    Xu Zhang

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Contributions

CF helped with the design, wrote the first manuscript, and approved the final manuscript. XZ did the statistical analysis and approved the final manuscript. SRS, AB, LEM, and HKH helped with the design, analysis and approved the final manuscript. MMS did the design, analyzed the data, helped writing the first draft and the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Melhem M. Solh.

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The authors have no financial conflict of interest related to this manuscript. This study was presented at American Society of Transplant and Cellular Therapy (ASTCT) 2021 Meeting.

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Solh, M.M., Farnham, C., Solomon, S.R. et al. Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) improves overall survival in the treatment of steroid refractory acute graft-versus-host disease (SR aGvHD). Bone Marrow Transplant 58, 168–174 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41409-022-01860-x

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