Guest editorial: role of monoclonal antibodies for the prevention and treatment of graft-versus-host disease

Excerpt

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has been established as an effective treatment for hematological disorders. However, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) remains a major problem following allogeneic HSCT. The development of GVHD is strongly associated with an increased transplant-related mortality and impaired quality of life. The development of GVHD, however, may also decrease the incidence of relapse of hematological malignancies through the graft-versus-leukemia/lymphoma (GVL) effect. Nevertheless, the increased transplanted-related mortality due to GVHD overweighs the benefit of the GVL effect in most patients, as shown in one Japanese study [1], and strategies for the prevention or treatment of GVHD remain a major issue in an effort to improve HSCT outcome. The ideal level of immunosuppression for the control of GVHD can be difficult to determine, as excessive immunosuppression may increase the incidence of disease relapse and infectious complications. In addition, each immunosuppressant has its own toxicities such as renal toxicity associated with the use of calcineurin inhibitors. …