Tocalizumab for GVHD – pro
Several recent reports point out the efficacy of this drug for steroid-refractory GVHD. Elevated IL-6 levels in the peripheral blood are correlated with an increased incidence and severity of GVHD; administration of an anti-IL-6 receptor antibody has been shown in preclinical studies to protect mice from lethal GVHD. While reandomized studies ahd nto yet been published, a number of case sereis adn retropsective studies support it as an effective treatment.
Ganetsky A et al, Tocilizumab for the treatment of severe steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease of the lower gastrointestinal tract. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2018 May 24.
Narazaki M, Kishimoto T.The Two-Faced Cytokine IL-6 in Host Defense and Diseases.
Int J Mol Sci. 2018 Nov 9; 19(11). Epub 2018 Nov
Roddy JV, Haverkos BM, McBride A, Leininger KM, Jaglowski S, Penza S, Klisovic R, Blum W, Vasu S, Hofmeister CC, et al.Tocilizumab for steroid refractory acute graft-versus-host disease. Leuk Lymphoma. 2016; 57(1):81-5.