Background: The standard first-line treatment for acute graft-versus-host disease (aGvHD) is systemic, high-dose glucocorticoids which have historically had limited responses. Combined cytokine blockade therapy (CCBT) with the monoclonal antibodies infliximab (a TNF-α inhibitor) and basiliximab (an IL-2 receptor blocker) has had limited discussion in the literature. Methods: Sixty patients with steroid-refractory aGVHD were analyzed. The primary objective was to determine the overall response rate (ORR) for CCBT. Secondary outcomes included non-relapse mortality (NRM) and overall survival (OS). Results: ORR for CCBT at day 7, 14, and 28 were 28.3% (17/60; CR 5.0%/PR 23%), 38.3% (23/60; CR 11.3%/PR 27%), and 38.3% (23/60; CR 23.3%/PR 15%), respectively. Patients who received ruxolitinib prior to CCBT had lower ORR (25% CR = 15%/PR = 10%) compared to those who did not (47.5% CR = 27.5%/PR = 20%). In patients with and without ruxolitinib initiated prior to CCBT, NRM at 6 months was 60% (95% CI, 34.5–78) and 47.5% (95% CI, 31–62), while OS at 12 months was 30% (95% CI, 12–50) vs. 40% (95% CI, 25–55), respectively. Conclusions: CCBT has shown potential efficacy in steroid-refractory GI aGvHD, and given the observed ORR when used as second-line therapy, CCBT could serve as an acceptable alternative for patients who are ruxolitinib-intolerant. Ruxolitinib-refractory GI GvHD remains an area of unmet need and CCBT can provide salvage therapy for some patients.
背景:急性移植物抗宿主病(aGvHD)的标准一线治疗为全身性大剂量糖皮质激素,但该疗法历史应答率有限。联合细胞因子阻断疗法(CCBT)采用单克隆抗体英夫利西单抗(TNF-α抑制剂)与巴利昔单抗(IL-2受体阻断剂),目前文献中相关讨论较少。方法:本研究纳入60例类固醇难治性aGVHD患者。主要研究终点为评估CCBT的总体应答率(ORR),次要终点包括非复发死亡率(NRM)与总生存期(OS)。结果:CCBT在第7、14、28天的ORR分别为28.3%(17/60;完全缓解率5.0%/部分缓解率23%)、38.3%(23/60;完全缓解率11.3%/部分缓解率27%)及38.3%(23/60;完全缓解率23.3%/部分缓解率15%)。与未接受芦可替尼治疗的患者(ORR 47.5%,完全缓解率27.5%/部分缓解率20%)相比,CCBT前使用芦可替尼治疗者的ORR较低(25%,完全缓解率15%/部分缓解率10%)。在CCBT前是否使用芦可替尼的两组患者中,6个月NRM分别为60%(95% CI,34.5–78)与47.5%(95% CI,31–62),12个月OS分别为30%(95% CI,12–50)与40%(95% CI,25–55)。结论:CCBT在类固醇难治性胃肠道aGvHD中显示出潜在疗效,其作为二线疗法观察到的ORR提示,对于芦可替尼不耐受患者,CCBT可作为可行的替代方案。芦可替尼难治性胃肠道GvHD仍是未满足的临床需求领域,CCBT可为部分患者提供挽救治疗选择。