T-Guard as Treatment for Steroid Refractory Acute GVHD (BMT CTN 1802)

Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation (allo-HSCT) is a potent immunotherapy with curative potential for several hematological disorders. Improvements in survival following allo-HSCT have led to its increasing use, but the leading cause of non-relapse mortality (NRM) remains graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD. Despite recent advances in the understanding of transplantation immune tolerance, aGVHD is a frequent and major complication of allo-HSCT involving activation of donor T-lymphocytes, which ultimately causes host tissue damage. T-Guard has a rapid onset, preferential killing of activated T cells, and short half-life, leading to depletion of allo-reactive T cells and quick post-treatment reconstitution of the immune system.