Patrick Daly

Cancer Nursing Today nonprod

An optimal second-line treatment has not been established for graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) that is resistant to first-line corticosteroids. One treatment that has shown promise is extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP), which involves collecting white blood cells, altering them with 8-methoxypsoralen and ultraviolet-A radiation, and reinfusing them back into the patient. However, the mechanisms by which ECP affects GVHD are not fully understood.In a study in Clinical Lymphoma, Myeloma &amp; Leukemia, researchers investigated whether ECP impacted the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), a function of the neutrophil immune response. According to the study&rsquo;s lead author, Idan Goldberg, ECP appeared to induce NET formation in a cohort of 6 patients.This study enrolled 2 women and 4 men with chronic GVHD who received ECP treatment at the authors&rsquo; center. Researchers collected blood samples before initiation of ECP, after the first treatment, and 24 hours after the start of the cycle. Neutrophils were obtained from the samples and assessed for NET formation via neutrophil elastase activity and immunofluorescence.According to the report, all 6 patients exhibited a sharp increase in NET formation after ECP. Specifically, neutrophil elastase activity level was increased from a mean of 2.21 &plusmn; 0.6 mU/mL at baseline to a mean of 13.82 &plusmn; 5.54 mU/mL immediately following treatment. Levels peaked at 17.35 &plusmn; 10.74 mU/mL 24 hours after cycle initiation.Overall, Goldberg and colleagues felt their preliminary data suggested that ECP acts against GVHD at least in part due to promotion of NET formation. &ldquo;Given the central role of neutrophils in the pathogenesis of GVHD, the contribution of NETs to GVHD, and to ECP mode of action, should be further investigated,&rdquo; the authors closed.View More Articles on the <a href="https://cancernursingtoday.com/page/gvhd">GVHD Knowledge Hub</a>

Exploring ECP’s Mechanism of Action Against GVHD

GVHD

Extracorporeal photopheresis improved refractory GVHD treatment by promoting neutrophil extracellular net formation.

ECPs Impact on NETS in GVHD

About Us

Editorial Policy

Authors

Advertising

eNewsletters

Contact Us

Contribute

Calendar of Events

Career Center

Blood Cancers Today

GU Oncology Now

DocWire News

MashupMD

Urban Health Today

Breast Cancer

Colorectal Cancer

GI Cancer

GU Cancer

Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month

Gyn-Onc

Blood Cancer Awareness Month

Leukemia

Lymphoma

Myeloproliferative Neoplasms

Multiple Myeloma

Myelodysplastic Syndrome

Myelofibrosis

Sickle Cell

Hem/Onc

Professional Development

Patient Voice

Lung Cancer

Skin Cancer

Other Tumor Types

News

Treatment

More

Conferences

Calendar

CARE Award

Best Practices

Expert Interviews

Subscribe