Rituximab for the Primary Treatment of Denovo Extensive Chronic Graft Versus Host Disease (GVHD)

Summary

Rituximab is an attractive agent to bring to the upfront treatment of chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) due to its favorable toxicity profile, its proven efficacy in the treatment of steroid-refractory cGVHD, and its ability to serve as a steroid sparing agent in other autoimmune diseases. The investigators hope to demonstrate that Rituximab has significant activity in cGVHD when utilized early in the course of the process. In addition, the investigators hope to show that the early use of Rituximab may allow for the earlier discontinuation of immunosuppression while obviating the need for long courses of systemic corticosteroids, which should translate into reduced treatment-related morbidity and mortality associated with cGVHD.

Timeline

Start

2011-04

Primary completion

2014-01

Completion

2015-07

Publications

• Background Canninga-van Dijk MR, van der Straaten HM, Fijnheer R, Sanders CJ, van den Tweel JG, Verdonck LF. Anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody treatment in 6 patients with therapy-refractory chronic graft-versus-host disease. Blood. 2004 Oct 15;104(8):2603-6. doi: 10.1182/blood-2004-05-1855. Epub 2004 Jul 13.
• Background Ratanatharathorn V, Carson E, Reynolds C, Ayash LJ, Levine J, Yanik G, Silver SM, Ferrara JL, Uberti JP. Anti-CD20 chimeric monoclonal antibody treatment of refractory immune-mediated thrombocytopenia in a patient with chronic graft-versus-host disease. Ann Intern Med. 2000 Aug 15;133(4):275-9. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-133-4-200008150-00011.
• Background Ratanatharathorn V, Ayash L, Reynolds C, Silver S, Reddy P, Becker M, Ferrara JL, Uberti JP. Treatment of chronic graft-versus-host disease with anti-CD20 chimeric monoclonal antibody. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2003 Aug;9(8):505-11. doi: 10.1016/s1083-8791(03)00216-7.
• Background Okamoto M, Okano A, Akamatsu S, Ashihara E, Inaba T, Takenaka H, Katoh N, Kishimoto S, Shimazaki C. Rituximab is effective for steroid-refractory sclerodermatous chronic graft-versus-host disease. Leukemia. 2006 Jan;20(1):172-3. doi: 10.1038/sj.leu.2403996. No abstract available.
• Background Zaja F, Bacigalupo A, Patriarca F, Stanzani M, Van Lint MT, Fili C, Scime R, Milone G, Falda M, Vener C, Laszlo D, Alessandrino PE, Narni F, Sica S, Olivieri A, Sperotto A, Bosi A, Bonifazi F, Fanin R; GITMO (Gruppo Italiano Trapianto Midollo Osseo). Treatment of refractory chronic GVHD with rituximab: a GITMO study. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2007 Aug;40(3):273-7. doi: 10.1038/sj.bmt.1705725. Epub 2007 Jun 4.
• Background Cutler C, Miklos D, Kim HT, Treister N, Woo SB, Bienfang D, Klickstein LB, Levin J, Miller K, Reynolds C, Macdonell R, Pasek M, Lee SJ, Ho V, Soiffer R, Antin JH, Ritz J, Alyea E. Rituximab for steroid-refractory chronic graft-versus-host disease. Blood. 2006 Jul 15;108(2):756-62. doi: 10.1182/blood-2006-01-0233. Epub 2006 Mar 21.
• Background Stewart BL, Storer B, Storek J, Deeg HJ, Storb R, Hansen JA, Appelbaum FR, Carpenter PA, Sanders JE, Kiem HP, Nash RA, Petersdorf EW, Moravec C, Morton AJ, Anasetti C, Flowers ME, Martin PJ. Duration of immunosuppressive treatment for chronic graft-versus-host disease. Blood. 2004 Dec 1;104(12):3501-6. doi: 10.1182/blood-2004-01-0200. Epub 2004 Aug 3.
• Background Lee SJ, Vogelsang G, Flowers ME. Chronic graft-versus-host disease. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2003 Apr;9(4):215-33. doi: 10.1053/bbmt.2003.50026.

Drugs

Indications