Graft versus Host Disease

Velcade for Graft Vesus Host Disease

Shen transplanted from an immunologically different person, graft cells can attack the host's body. This is called Graft Versus Host Diseas*GVHD)e and remains a serious problem in transplantation.  One trial by Koreth and others found that Velcade was beneficial in GVHD; but his was a phase II trial other phase II trials are ongoing. Koreth treated 45 patients; 89% of patients who were treated had a one-locus and 11% of patients were treated with

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Graft versus host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis

GVHD is a serious complication of transplanting stem cells from a donor into a patient. These cells can attack the host. Calcineurin inhibitors, such as cyclosporine and tacrolimus,  are commonly used in the prophylaxis of GvHD. For full-intensity stem cell transplantation most centres use a combination of a calcineurin inhibitor, such as ciclosporin or tacrolimus, given in combination with methotrexate. Low-dose methotrexate was the first generally

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Thymogen (ATG) before stem cell transplant

The regimen of busulafan. fludarabine and thymogen has been very quickly adopted and now studies of it as a base for adding additonal drugs have been initiated. However, there is room for caution. Thymoglobulin added to busulfan and fludarabine to conditioning before an allogeneic stem cell transplant may reduce the incidence and severity of graft versus host disease, especially in matched unrelated graft, but it can potentially promote higher reapse

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Allogeneic transplantation in the elderly

The ability to escalate therapy and then salvage with stem cells from a donor has been a boon for patients with many types of cancer and hematologic malignancies, making possible a chance of cures in previously hopeless situations. In addition to the ability to markedly escalate the aggressiveness of chemotherapy that can be salvaged with transplanted stem cells, these outside donor cells, if properly managed, can provide an anticancer or anti-

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Conditioning for allogeneic transplantation in Aplastic Anemia

Stem cell Transplantation is the only curative therapy long term for Aplastic Anemia(AA). Before stem cells can be transfused, the marrow needs to be conditioned. In younger patients with Aplastic Anemia, the standard conditioning proposed by the Working Party(WPSAA) on AA is cyclophosphamide 50 mg/kg 32 × 4 + ATG. This regimen does not completely destroy the patient’s bone marrow and it is highly immunosuppressive in order prevent graft rejection

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