Graft vs. host disease represents the most formidable problem following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for hematological diseases. Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) is the most serious and common long-term complication of this treatment in patients surviving more than 100 days. Some patients are requiring immunosuppressive therapy for years. cGVHD is associated with a high degree of morbidity and mortality and remains a major cause of late death. When standard treatment with steroids is ineffective or poorly tolerated, effective therapeutic options are limited. Patients with uncontrolled cGVHD with initial therapy including systemic steroids respond poorly to second line options. Recent studies have demonstrated Bortezomib safety in the prophylaxis, and improvement of GVHD suggesting its efficacy.This study is done to evaluate the potential of bortezomib in treating refractory cGVHD.
The purpose of this study is to see if bortezomib (Velcade) is effective in the treatment of refractory cGVHD.