Belumosudil, an investigational oral selective inhibitor of rho-associated coiled-coil-containing protein kinase-2 (ROCK2), reduces type 17 and follicular helper T cells via downregulation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and enhances regulatory T cells via upregulation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5). Belumosudil may effectively treat patients with cGVHD, a major cause of morbidity and late nonrelapse mortality after an allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant. This phase 2, randomized, multicenter registration study evaluated belumosudil 200 mg QD (n=66) and 200 mg BID (n=66) in subjects with cGVHD who had received 2 to 5 prior lines of therapy. The primary end point was best overall response rate (ORR). Duration of response (DOR), changes in Lee Symptom Scale score, failure-free survival, corticosteroid dose reductions and overall survival were also evaluated. Overall median follow-up was 14 months. The best ORR (95% CI) of belumosudil 200 mg QD and 200 mg BID was 74% (62%-84%) and 77% (65%-87%), respectively, with high response rates observed in all subgroups. All affected organs demonstrated complete responses. The median DOR was 54 weeks; 44% of subjects have remained on therapy for ≥1 year. Symptom reduction with belumosudil 200 mg QD and 200 mg BID was reported in 59% and 62% of subjects, respectively. Adverse events (AEs) were consistent with those expected in patients with cGVHD receiving corticosteroids and other immunosuppressants. Sixteen subjects (12%) discontinued belumosudil due to possible drug-related AEs. Belumosudil, a promising therapy for cGVHD, was well tolerated with clinically meaningful responses. (Funded by Kadmon Corporation, LLC; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03640481.)
The NCCN Guidelines for Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) provide recommendations for the evaluation, diagnosis, and management of patients with MDS based on a review of clinical evidence that has led to important advances in treatment or has yielded new information on biologic factors that may have prognostic significance in MDS. The multidisciplinary panel of MDS experts meets on an annual basis to update the recommendations. These NCCN Guidelines Insights focus on some of the updates for the 2022 version of the NCCN Guidelines, which include treatment recommendations both for lower-risk and higher-risk MDS, emerging therapies, supportive care recommendations, and genetic familial high-risk assessment for hereditary myeloid malignancy predisposition syndromes.
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