Mesenchymal stromal cells for steroid-refractory biopsy-proven grade III-IV acute Graft-versus-Host Disease with predominant gastrointestinal involvement

IntroductionSteroid-refractory acute Graft-versus-Host Disease (SR-aGVHD) is a potentially fatal complication occurring in approximately 60-70% of severe grade III-IV GVHD cases, with a higher incidence in patients with gastrointestinal (GI) involvement. GI aGVHD is associated with poor prognosis, w...

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Main Authors: Adomas Bukauskas, Renata Jucaitienė, Mindaugas Stoškus, Vilma Valčeckienė, Greta Bušmaitė, Artūras Slobinas, Linas Davainis, Inga Šlepikienė, Igoris Trociukas, Valdas Pečeliūnas, Laimonas Griškevičius, Andrius Žučenka
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Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Immunology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1600019/full
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author Adomas Bukauskas
Renata Jucaitienė
Mindaugas Stoškus
Vilma Valčeckienė
Greta Bušmaitė
Artūras Slobinas
Artūras Slobinas
Linas Davainis
Inga Šlepikienė
Igoris Trociukas
Valdas Pečeliūnas
Laimonas Griškevičius
Laimonas Griškevičius
Andrius Žučenka
Andrius Žučenka
author_facet Adomas Bukauskas
Renata Jucaitienė
Mindaugas Stoškus
Vilma Valčeckienė
Greta Bušmaitė
Artūras Slobinas
Artūras Slobinas
Linas Davainis
Inga Šlepikienė
Igoris Trociukas
Valdas Pečeliūnas
Laimonas Griškevičius
Laimonas Griškevičius
Andrius Žučenka
Andrius Žučenka
author_sort Adomas Bukauskas
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionSteroid-refractory acute Graft-versus-Host Disease (SR-aGVHD) is a potentially fatal complication occurring in approximately 60-70% of severe grade III-IV GVHD cases, with a higher incidence in patients with gastrointestinal (GI) involvement. GI aGVHD is associated with poor prognosis, with a 2-year overall survival (OS) rate of only 25% in patients with stage 3-4 GI involvement. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) have emerged as a promising therapeutic option due to their favorable efficacy and safety profile. However, data on bone marrow (BM)-derived MSC use in biopsy-proven grade III-IV SR-aGVHD with GI involvement, particularly in stage 3-4 cases, remain limited.MethodsThis prospective, observational, single-arm, single-center study assessed the efficacy and safety of BM-derived MSC for treating adult patients with biopsy-proven grade III-IV SR-aGVHD with predominant GI involvement. Early (1st-2nd) passage BM-derived MSC were administered weekly at a target dose of 1x106 MSC/kg in two regimens: up to three (MSC3) and six doses (MSC6).ResultsFifty-seven adult patients with biopsy-proven III-IV grade SR-aGVHD (93% with GI involvement) received MSC treatment. The overall response rate (ORR) was 39% and 42% on Days 14 and 28, respectively, with no significant differences between the two MSC groups (Day 28 ORR 38% for MSC3 and 44% for MSC6). In patients with stage 3-4 GI involvement, the ORR was 26% and 36% at the corresponding time points with comparable efficacy between the two MSC groups (Day 28 ORR 31% for MSC3 and 38% for MSC6). Day 14 and Day 28 responders had significantly higher OS compared to non-responders (52% vs. 7%, p=0.000; 54% vs. 5%, p=0.000), with a comparable OS benefit observed in patients with stage 3-4 GI involvement (45% vs. 8%, p=0.005; 42% vs. 6%, p=0.005), respectively. MSC treatment had a favorable safety profile. The one, 5 and 10-year OS rates were 27%, 24%, and 24%, respectively.ConclusionsThe grade III-IV SR-aGVHD patients, including cases with biopsy-proven severe GI involvement, had significantly better clinical outcomes if responses to MSC treatment were observed on Days 14 and 28. Intensified MSC administration schedule has failed to improve the clinical outcomes. MSC studies focusing on aGVHD prevention and (or) first-line treatment in combination with other agents should be considered.
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spelling doaj-art-37c75b2e55aa423c99264d4be503edde2025-08-20T02:15:23ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242025-05-011610.3389/fimmu.2025.16000191600019Mesenchymal stromal cells for steroid-refractory biopsy-proven grade III-IV acute Graft-versus-Host Disease with predominant gastrointestinal involvementAdomas Bukauskas0Renata Jucaitienė1Mindaugas Stoškus2Vilma Valčeckienė3Greta Bušmaitė4Artūras Slobinas5Artūras Slobinas6Linas Davainis7Inga Šlepikienė8Igoris Trociukas9Valdas Pečeliūnas10Laimonas Griškevičius11Laimonas Griškevičius12Andrius Žučenka13Andrius Žučenka14Hematology, Oncology and Transfusion Medicine Center, Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos, Vilnius, LithuaniaHematology, Oncology and Transfusion Medicine Center, Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos, Vilnius, LithuaniaHematology, Oncology and Transfusion Medicine Center, Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos, Vilnius, LithuaniaHematology, Oncology and Transfusion Medicine Center, Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos, Vilnius, LithuaniaHematology, Oncology and Transfusion Medicine Center, Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos, Vilnius, LithuaniaHematology, Oncology and Transfusion Medicine Center, Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos, Vilnius, LithuaniaDepartment of Hematology and Oncology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, LithuaniaHematology, Oncology and Transfusion Medicine Center, Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos, Vilnius, LithuaniaHematology, Oncology and Transfusion Medicine Center, Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos, Vilnius, LithuaniaHematology, Oncology and Transfusion Medicine Center, Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos, Vilnius, LithuaniaDepartment of Hematology and Oncology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, LithuaniaHematology, Oncology and Transfusion Medicine Center, Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos, Vilnius, LithuaniaDepartment of Hematology and Oncology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, LithuaniaHematology, Oncology and Transfusion Medicine Center, Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos, Vilnius, LithuaniaDepartment of Hematology and Oncology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, LithuaniaIntroductionSteroid-refractory acute Graft-versus-Host Disease (SR-aGVHD) is a potentially fatal complication occurring in approximately 60-70% of severe grade III-IV GVHD cases, with a higher incidence in patients with gastrointestinal (GI) involvement. GI aGVHD is associated with poor prognosis, with a 2-year overall survival (OS) rate of only 25% in patients with stage 3-4 GI involvement. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) have emerged as a promising therapeutic option due to their favorable efficacy and safety profile. However, data on bone marrow (BM)-derived MSC use in biopsy-proven grade III-IV SR-aGVHD with GI involvement, particularly in stage 3-4 cases, remain limited.MethodsThis prospective, observational, single-arm, single-center study assessed the efficacy and safety of BM-derived MSC for treating adult patients with biopsy-proven grade III-IV SR-aGVHD with predominant GI involvement. Early (1st-2nd) passage BM-derived MSC were administered weekly at a target dose of 1x106 MSC/kg in two regimens: up to three (MSC3) and six doses (MSC6).ResultsFifty-seven adult patients with biopsy-proven III-IV grade SR-aGVHD (93% with GI involvement) received MSC treatment. The overall response rate (ORR) was 39% and 42% on Days 14 and 28, respectively, with no significant differences between the two MSC groups (Day 28 ORR 38% for MSC3 and 44% for MSC6). In patients with stage 3-4 GI involvement, the ORR was 26% and 36% at the corresponding time points with comparable efficacy between the two MSC groups (Day 28 ORR 31% for MSC3 and 38% for MSC6). Day 14 and Day 28 responders had significantly higher OS compared to non-responders (52% vs. 7%, p=0.000; 54% vs. 5%, p=0.000), with a comparable OS benefit observed in patients with stage 3-4 GI involvement (45% vs. 8%, p=0.005; 42% vs. 6%, p=0.005), respectively. MSC treatment had a favorable safety profile. The one, 5 and 10-year OS rates were 27%, 24%, and 24%, respectively.ConclusionsThe grade III-IV SR-aGVHD patients, including cases with biopsy-proven severe GI involvement, had significantly better clinical outcomes if responses to MSC treatment were observed on Days 14 and 28. Intensified MSC administration schedule has failed to improve the clinical outcomes. MSC studies focusing on aGVHD prevention and (or) first-line treatment in combination with other agents should be considered.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1600019/fullacute Graft-versus-Host Disease (aGVHD)steroid-refractory acute Graft-versus-Host Disease (SR-aGVHD)bone marrow-derived MSC (BM-MSC)grade III-IV SR aGVHDgastrointestinal GVHDmesenchymal stromal cells (MSC)
spellingShingle Adomas Bukauskas
Renata Jucaitienė
Mindaugas Stoškus
Vilma Valčeckienė
Greta Bušmaitė
Artūras Slobinas
Artūras Slobinas
Linas Davainis
Inga Šlepikienė
Igoris Trociukas
Valdas Pečeliūnas
Laimonas Griškevičius
Laimonas Griškevičius
Andrius Žučenka
Andrius Žučenka
Mesenchymal stromal cells for steroid-refractory biopsy-proven grade III-IV acute Graft-versus-Host Disease with predominant gastrointestinal involvement
Frontiers in Immunology
acute Graft-versus-Host Disease (aGVHD)
steroid-refractory acute Graft-versus-Host Disease (SR-aGVHD)
bone marrow-derived MSC (BM-MSC)
grade III-IV SR aGVHD
gastrointestinal GVHD
mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC)
title Mesenchymal stromal cells for steroid-refractory biopsy-proven grade III-IV acute Graft-versus-Host Disease with predominant gastrointestinal involvement
title_full Mesenchymal stromal cells for steroid-refractory biopsy-proven grade III-IV acute Graft-versus-Host Disease with predominant gastrointestinal involvement
title_fullStr Mesenchymal stromal cells for steroid-refractory biopsy-proven grade III-IV acute Graft-versus-Host Disease with predominant gastrointestinal involvement
title_full_unstemmed Mesenchymal stromal cells for steroid-refractory biopsy-proven grade III-IV acute Graft-versus-Host Disease with predominant gastrointestinal involvement
title_short Mesenchymal stromal cells for steroid-refractory biopsy-proven grade III-IV acute Graft-versus-Host Disease with predominant gastrointestinal involvement
title_sort mesenchymal stromal cells for steroid refractory biopsy proven grade iii iv acute graft versus host disease with predominant gastrointestinal involvement
topic acute Graft-versus-Host Disease (aGVHD)
steroid-refractory acute Graft-versus-Host Disease (SR-aGVHD)
bone marrow-derived MSC (BM-MSC)
grade III-IV SR aGVHD
gastrointestinal GVHD
mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC)
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1600019/full
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