Corticosteroids and Clinical Trial Design in Chronic GVHD

This is a video synopsis of a discussion involving Dr Yi-Bin Chen, Director of the Transplant and Cell Therapy Program at Massachusetts General Hospital and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School; Dr Corey Cutler, Director of the Stem Cell Transplant Program at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School; Dr Mitchell Horwitz, Professor of Medicine and Director of the Adult Blood and Marrow Transplant Program at Duke University, and Dr Hannah Choe, Assistant Professor and Director of the Graft-versus-Host-Disease (GVHD) program at Ohio State University.

The panel delves into the intricacies of managing chronic GVHD, shedding light on recent developments in treatments arising from pivotal clinical trials and new approvals, providing more therapeutic options for medical practitioners and improved accessibility for patients.

The conversation addresses the significant push to eliminate the use of steroids in chronic GVHD treatment. Dr Mitchell Horwitz emphasizes the effectiveness of steroids but highlights their double-edged nature and the associated long-term risks. The panel discusses trial designs, including the iNTEGRATE study, which explored steroids versus steroids plus a novel agent, albeit with a negative outcome. Dr Corey Cutler emphasizes the need for smarter trial designs, understanding the patient population, and considering statistical designs to capture nuanced treatment outcomes.

Dr Cutler outlines upcoming trials aiming to reduce reliance on corticosteroids in the early stages of chronic GVHD. The panel emphasizes the importance of accurately identifying patient populations that may not require immediate steroid treatment. They discuss ongoing efforts to minimize long-term corticosteroid exposure while effectively managing chronic GVHD symptoms.

This nuanced and insightful discussion provides valuable perspectives on the challenges and advancements in chronic GVHD treatment, laying the groundwork for future trials aimed at optimizing therapeutic approaches.

Video synopsis is AI-generated and reviewed by OncLive® editorial staff.