Plasma biomarkers of lower gastrointestinal and liver acute GVHD

Blood. 2012 Mar 22;119(12):2960-3. doi: 10.1182/blood-2011-10-387357. Epub 2012 Jan 27.

Abstract

The lower gastrointestinal tract (LGI) and liver are the GVHD target organs most associated with treatment failure and nonrelapse mortality. We recently identified regenerating islet-derived 3-α (REG3α) as a plasma biomarker of LGI GVHD. We compared REG3α with 2 previously reported GI and liver GVHD diagnostic biomarkers, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and cytokeratin fragment 18, in 954 hematopoietic cell transplantation patients. All 3 biomarkers were significantly elevated in LGI GVHD compared with non-GVHD diarrhea; REG3α discerned LGI GVHD from non-GVHD diarrhea better than HGF and cytokeratin fragment 18. Although all 3 biomarkers predicted nonresponse to therapy at day 28 in LGI GVHD patients, only REG3α and HGF concentrations predicted 1-year nonrelapse mortality (P = .01 and P = .02, respectively). Liver GVHD without GI involvement at GVHD onset and non-GVHD liver complications were uncommon; all 3 biomarkers were elevated in liver GVHD, but did not distinguish GVHD from other causes of hyperbilirubinemia.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / blood*
  • Area Under Curve
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / blood*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Tract / pathology
  • Graft vs Host Disease / blood*
  • Graft vs Host Disease / mortality
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Hepatocyte Growth Factor / blood
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Keratin-18 / blood
  • Lectins, C-Type / blood*
  • Liver / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pancreatitis-Associated Proteins
  • ROC Curve
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • Biomarkers
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Keratin-18
  • Lectins, C-Type
  • Pancreatitis-Associated Proteins
  • REG3A protein, human
  • Hepatocyte Growth Factor