title: Encouraging results with inolimomab (anti-IL-2 receptor) as treatment for refractory acute graft-versus-host disease.
abstract: Inolimomab [corrected] an anti-interleukin-2 receptor (anti-IL-2R) monoclonal antibody, may be useful in the treatment of steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) by inhibiting 1 of its putative immunopathogenic pathways. We retrospectively analyzed 40 consecutive patients who received inolimomab [corrected] as salvage treatment for steroid refractory aGVHD at a single institution between June 1999 and December 2004. Inolimomab [corrected] was given intravenously at a dose of 11 mg/d for 3 consecutive days, followed by 5.5 mg/d for 7 consecutive days and then 5.5 mg every other day for 5 doses. No infusion-related side effects were noted. Twenty-three patients (58%) responded, including 15 (38%) complete and 8 (20%) partial responses. Median overall survival was 294 days (58-996 days) for responders versus 14 days for nonresponders (P < .001), with a 1 year probability of 59% vs 0% for overall survival (P < .0001). Patients without gastrointestinal (GI) involvement showed a higher response rate (100% versus 50% for those without versus with GI involvement, P = .03) In addition, patients who showed some response by day 15 had a higher overall survival (73 +/- 12% vs 24 +/- 12%, respectively, P = .02). The results of this study suggest that inolimomab [corrected] may be an effective salvage therapy for patients with steroid-refractory aGVHD, particularly for those without GI disease, and supports further studies with this agent in prospective controlled trials.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Hematology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Jose Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Piñana
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Valcárcel
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Martino
authors.forename: M Estela
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sureda
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Briones
authors.forename: Salut
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brunet
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sierra
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; C079843:inolimomab