OBJECTIVES:~Provide beclomethasone dipropionate to patients with gastrointestinal graft-versus-host disease refractory to standard therapy or with a contraindication to systemic steroids.~Minimize the serious side effects associated with systemic steroid use in these patients.~OUTLINE: Patients receive oral beclomethasone dipropionate 4 times daily for 28 days in the absence of graft-versus-host disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients may then receive a second course for 31 days if symptoms of graft-versus-host disease persist. Patients may receive up to 4 treatments (1 or 2 courses each) per year.~PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 24-45 patients will be accrued for this study within 3 years.
RATIONALE: Beclomethasone may be effective in treating patients who have graft-versus-host disease of the gastrointestinal tract.~PURPOSE: Compassionate use of beclomethasone in treating patients who have graft-versus-host disease of the gastrointestinal tract that has not responded to previous therapy.