Article: results of Hopkins study

[Marlene]

Here's an article with the results of the study on using post BMT chemo to reduce/prevent chronic GVHD. This is the protocol being used in half-match transplants.


http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141008122106.htm

[Neil Cuadra]

It's great news for full-match bone marrow transplant patients. It shows again that they can replace 6 months of immunosuppression with 2 days of cyclophosphamide to help prevent GVHD.

Post-transplant cyclophosphamide also apparently helps with the success of the transplant itself, reducing rejection rates. Cyclophosphamide is used to attack the old (damaged) immune system before the transplant, so it must somehow suppress a response from the old immune system without interfering with the new immune system.

[Marlene]

Amazing to see how much success is coming from a very old drug.

[KMac]

I agree Marlene, it makes one wonder what other drugs already exist which could help save lives and restore health for all sorts of illnesses in as-of-yet undiscovered treatment modes.

NIH's discovery that Eltrombopag can treat refractory SAA comes to mind. I wonder without NIH, if the manufacturer or anyone else would have ever discovered this.

At my treatment center (CBCI), they have been using post-BMT chemo treatment for the past couple of years (or longer?), and it seems the statistics have been very good with it for them.