New treatment option introduced for patients with the study indication

In this study we will combine mycophenolate mofetil and imatinib mesylate to treat steroid-refractory sclerotic/fibrotic type chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) to see the response rate and to find the safety of combination.

Sclerotic/fibrotic type chronic GVHD is one of the most severe forms of the disease and is frequently refractory to standard treatment approaches. Imatinib mesylate, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has been shown to be effective in patients with sclerotic/fibrotic type chronic GVHD by strongly inhibiting both PDGF (Platelet-derived growth factor) and TGF-β (transforming growth factor-β) intracellular signaling, which is responsible for the expression of extracellular matrix genes.

Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is one of effective agent for the treatment of chronic graft-versus-host disease. MMF is rapidly absorbed after oral administration and hydrolyzed to the active metabolite, MPA (mycophenolic acid). MPA selectively inhibits inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase, blocking the pathway of purine synthesis in T and B lymphocytes. In this study we will combine MMF and imatinib mesylate to treat steroid-refractory sclerotic/fibrotic type chronic GVHD to see the response rate and to find the safety of combination.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients must have a diagnosis of chronic GVHD with fibrotic/scleroderma-like features. This diagnosis can be made clinically or by histopathology.
• Patients must have active disease with at least one of the following manifestations: skin sclerosis, symptomatic bronchiolitis obliterans, extensive lung fibrosis, pathologically demonstrated visceral fibrotic involvement of the gut.
• Patients with corticosteroid refractory or dependant cGVHD are eligible. Steroid-refractory chronic GVHD is defined as chronic GVHD of sustained severity during the last full month during which the patients received the equivalent of prednisone 0.5 mg/kg or more per day or 1 mg/kg or more every other day.
• Age under 21 years old

Exclusion criteria

• Patients who have had chemotherapy, radiotherapy within 4 weeks prior to entering the study.
• Patients who have not recovered from adverse events.
• Prior treatment with imatinib mesylate or other tyrosine kinase inhibitor after the date of transplant.
• Patients on pregnancy or lactating