Pentostatin therapy for steroid-refractory acute graft versus host disease: identifying those who may benefit

Bone Marrow Transplant. 2018 Mar;53(3):315-325. doi: 10.1038/s41409-017-0034-z. Epub 2017 Dec 21.

Abstract

We report outcomes of 60 patients with steroid-refractory (SR)-aGVHD treated with pentostatin. Almost half (47%) of patients had grade 4 GVHD-22% had stage 3-4 liver GVHD and 51% had stage 3-4 lower gastrointestinal tract (LGI) GVHD. Patients received a median of 3 courses (range, 1-9) of pentostatin. Day 28 overall response rate (ORR) was 33% (n = 20) (complete response 18% (n = 11), partial response 15% (n = 9)). Non-relapse mortality was 72% (95% confidence interval (CI) 61-84%) and overall survival (OS) was 21% (95% CI 12-32%) at 18 months. On univariate analysis, age >60 years (HR 1.9, 95% CI 1.01-3.7, p = 0.045) and presence of liver GVHD (HR 1.9, 95% CI 1.9, 95% CI 1.5-3.3, p = 0.03) were significant predictors of poor OS while patients with LGI GVHD had superior OS than those without (HR 0.4, 95% CI 0.2-0.8, p = 0.01). On stratified analysis, patients <60 years with isolated LGI GVHD had the best outcomes with an ORR of 48% and OS of 42% at 18 months. Among older patients, OS was 14% in those with isolated LGI aGVHD and 0% in others. Pentostatin remains a viable treatment option for SR-aGVHD, especially in patients 60 years or younger with isolated LGI involvement.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Diseases
  • Graft vs Host Disease / diagnosis
  • Graft vs Host Disease / drug therapy*
  • Graft vs Host Disease / mortality
  • Humans
  • Liver Diseases
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Selection*
  • Pentostatin / therapeutic use*
  • Prognosis
  • Risk Factors
  • Salvage Therapy / methods*
  • Steroids
  • Survival Analysis
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Steroids
  • Pentostatin