WHAT ROLES DO THE INFLAMMATORY AND FIBROTIC PROCESSES PLAY IN cGVHD?

Chronic graft-versus-host disease is characterized by a combination of tissue inflammation and fibrosis, which manifest across multiple organ systems.1-4
The relationship between these 2 processes in cGVHD is complex and not fully understood.3 Fibrosis may be viewed as a natural consequence of inflammation, as an independent process or as interrelated with inflammation in some ways but not completely dependent on it.5

Because of chronic inflammatory changes, cGVHD can present with collagen-producing fibroblasts,2 resulting in fibrotic lesions.2,4

Fibrotic lesions can develop across multiple organs4

SKIN MOUTH JOINTS EYES
GI TRACT ESOPHAGUS    LIVER LUNGS


Fibrosis is a major contributor to life-threatening complications and significant morbidity.6

Patients develop multiorgan manifestations, including skin, mouth, joint/fascia, eye, upper and lower GI tract, esophagus, liver, genitourinary and/or lung manifestations.4,7,8

Skin manifestations are the most common, occurring in

Approximately half of patients have lung involvement,

which can manifest as bronchiolitis obliterans, a fibrotic manifestation that can be especially difficult to treat.

Although the inflammation associated with cGVHD can be addressed, there is limited evidence regarding the impact of current treatments on
fibrosis.10-15

How do inflammation and fibrosis affect patients’ lives?

What treatments are currently available for cGVHD?

cGVHD, chronic graft-versus-host disease; GI, gastrointestinal.

    1. Fall-Dickson JM, Pavletic SZ, Mays JW, Schubert MM. Oral complications of chronic graft-versus-host disease. J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr. 2019;2019(53):lgz007. doi:10.1093/jncimonographs/lgz007
    2. MacDonald KPA, Hill GR, Blazar BR. Chronic graft-versus-host disease: biological insights from preclinical and clinical studies. Blood. 2017;129(1):13-21. doi:10.1182/blood-2016-06-686618
    3. Kitko CL, White ES, Baird K. Fibrotic and sclerotic manifestations of chronic graft-versus-host disease. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2012;18(1 suppl):S46-S52. doi:10.1016/j.bbmt.2011.10.021
    4. Fiuza-Luces C, Simpson RJ, Ramírez M, Lucia A, Berger NA. Physical function and quality of life in patients with chronic GvHD: a summary of preclinical and clinical studies and a call for exercise intervention trials in patients. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2016;51(1):13-26. doi:10.1038/bmt.2015.195
    5. Cooke KR, Luznik L, Sarantopoulos S, et al. The biology of chronic graft-versus-host disease: a task force report from the National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Project on Criteria for Clinical Trials in Chronic Graft-versus-Host Disease. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2017;23(2):211-234. doi:10.1016/j.bbmt.2016.09.023
    6. Henden AS, Hill GR. Cytokines in graft-versus-host disease. J Immunol. 2015;194(10):4604-4612. doi:10.4049/jimmunol.1500117
    7. Jacobsohn DA, Kurland BF, Pidala J, et al. Correlation between NIH composite skin score, patient-reported skin score, and outcome: results from the Chronic GVHD Consortium. Blood. 2012;120(13):2545-2552. doi:10.1182/blood-2012-04-424135
    8. Inamoto Y, Martin PJ, Chai X, et al; on behalf of the Chronic GVHD Consortium. The clinical benefit of response in chronic graft-versus-host disease. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2012;18(10):1517-1524. doi:10.1016/j.bbmt.2012.05.016
    9. Chronic graft-vs-host disease of skin and connective tissues. BMT InfoNet. Accessed January 4, 2023. https://www.bmtinfonet.org/video/ chronic-graft-vs-host-disease-skin-and-connective-tissues
    10. Cutler CS, Koreth J, Ritz J. Mechanistic approaches for the prevention and treatment of chronic GVHD. Blood. 2017;129(1):22-29. doi:10.1182/blood-2016-08-686659
    11. Jakafi. Package insert. Inctye Corporation; 2021.
    12. Modi B, Hernandez-Henderson M, Yang D, et al. Ruxolitinib as salvage therapy for chronic graft-versus-host-disease. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2019;25(2):265-269. doi:10.1016/j.bbmt.2018.09.003
    13. Imbruvica. Package insert. Pharmacyclics LLC; 2022.
    14. Hill L, Alousi A, Kebriaei P, Mehta R, Rezvani K, Shpall E. New and emerging therapies for acute and chronic graft versus host disease. Ther Adv Hematol. 2018;9(1):21-46. doi:10.1177/2040620717741860
    15. Koreth J, Kim HT, Jones KT, et al. Efficacy, durability, and response predictors of low-dose interleukin-2 therapy for chronic graft-versus-host disease. Blood. 2016;128(1):130-137. doi:10.1182/blood-2016-02-702852

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MAT-SA-2300860/v2/March2024