Working
Groups
This Action brought together Chronic GvHD (cGvHD) researchers across Europe for the first time, creating a network of cross-disciplinary experts in the field.
Working Group 2
Biomarkers
Lead
Magdalena Grce
Country
Croatia
grce@irb.hr
Vice Lead
Robert Zeiser
Country
Germany
robert.zeiser@uniklinik-freiburg.de
Overview
Objectives and results
This Working Group evaluated the type and amount of cGvHD biomarker information currently available in the literature and assess those which are worthy of further validation and study.
Results and publications
Beyond the organization of multiple biomarker group meetings and two Training Schools, the Biomarkers Working Group produced review articles to develop a more personalised approach to cGvHD therapy.
Dr Crossland and co-authors reviewed potential new biomarkers in cGVHD. Dr Crossland led also an original article Pover micro RNA profile expression in GVHD.
Dr Milosevic and co-authors evaluated to which extent studies on cellular and soluble biomarkers in cGvHD published in the last 10 years complied with the existing NIH recommendations.
Dr Lelas and colleagues evaluated the body of evidence linking cGVHD and inflammation, endothelial injury, and endothelial dysfunction.
Dr Saidu and co-authors discuss innovative approaches in cGVHD treatments, including small molecule inhibitors, antibodies, cytokines, and cellular therapies, with a particular emphasis on tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
Dr Partanen and co-authors summarize predictive value of genetic variations in cGvHD, highligting the role of immune-involved genes such as CTLA4, HSPE, IL1R1, CCR6, FGFR1OP, and IL10, and some non-HLA variants in the HLA gene region.
Dr Prenc and colleagues showed a significant association between glycosylation modification of IgG and cGVHD, illustrating that IgG glycosylation may play a significant role in cGvHD pathology, such as in a number of autoimmune diseases.
Follow the respective links to discover them!
Other working groups
Epidemiology
The development of an epidemiological platform on cGvHD within EUROGRAFT is a novel approach tounderstanding the disease incidence and associated comorbidities. Results of the analysis will enablea deeper understanding of the incidence of the disease and enable additional data to be included in current European wide databases for use in future clinical trials.
Socioeconomics/Quality of life
CGvHD is a long term complex disease which has several co-morbidities and as such impacts on the quality of life of patients. By studying the societal impact of the disease via documented quality of life assessments, including reduced working days due to hospital stays, EUROGRAFT will allow an improved assessment of the burden on society of cGvHD at both the individual and European level.
NIH Consensus
The NIH consensus criteria needs to be implemented uniformly if diagnosis and treatment of
cGVHD is to be optimized. The aim of this Working Group will be to aid in both the understanding and
implementation of the NIH Consensus via Training Schools and workshops.
