A prospective randomized trial comparing cyclosporine and short course methotrexate with cyclosporine and mycophenolate mofetil for GVHD prophylaxis in myeloablative allogeneic bone marrow transplantation

Bone Marrow Transplant. 2004 Oct;34(7):621-5. doi: 10.1038/sj.bmt.1704647.

Abstract

Cyclosporine (CSP) and short course methotrexate (MTX) have been the gold standard for GVHD prophylaxis for decades. Problems associated with MTX include increased time to hematopoietic engraftment, mucositis, and other organ toxicities. The combination of CSP with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) has been used successfully for the prevention of graft rejection and GVHD in nonmyeloablative transplantation. We performed a prospective randomized trial comparing CSP and MTX with CSP and MMF in myeloablative (busulfan based) allogeneic 6/6 matched sibling bone marrow transplantation (BMT). The group receiving MMF (n = 21) had significantly less severe mucositis than did the group receiving MTX (n = 19) (21 vs 65%, P = 0.008). Median time to neutrophil engraftment was more rapid in the MMF group (11 vs 18 days, P < 0.001). The incidence of acute GVHD, as well as 100 day survival, was similar for both groups. The reduced toxicity of the CSP and MMF arm resulted in premature study closure. We conclude that a GVHD prophylaxis regimen of CSP and MMF after a myeloablative allogeneic preparative regimen is associated with faster hematopoietic engraftment, decreased incidence of mucositis, similar incidence of aGVHD, and comparable survival as compared to CSP and MTX.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / administration & dosage
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation*
  • Busulfan / administration & dosage
  • Cyclosporine / administration & dosage*
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Graft vs Host Disease / drug therapy*
  • Graft vs Host Disease / mortality
  • Graft vs Host Disease / prevention & control
  • Hematologic Neoplasms / mortality
  • Hematologic Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Incidence
  • Methotrexate / administration & dosage*
  • Middle Aged
  • Mycophenolic Acid / administration & dosage*
  • Mycophenolic Acid / analogs & derivatives*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Survival Rate
  • Transplantation, Homologous
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Cyclosporine
  • Busulfan
  • Mycophenolic Acid
  • Methotrexate