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VIDEO: James L. M. Ferrara, MD, DSc, reviews “long-standing problem” of GVHD after allogeneic HSCT
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Graft-versus-host disease is “the major complication” associated with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for the treatment of leukemia, according to James L. M. Ferrara, MD, DSc, of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
Ferrara discusses the efficacy of allo-HSCT as well as the prevalence of GVHD and related complications. GVHD is “the major barrier” to more widespread use of allo-HSCT for high-risk leukemia and a “long-standing problem,” according to Ferrara: “We’ve known about it for half a century.”
He also reviews the organs affected by GVHD, the most problematic of which is the gastrointestinal tract.
“What we really need is [a treatment] that will focus on the GI-GVHD,” Ferrara said.