Adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stromal cells as part of therapy for chronic graft-versus-host disease: A phase I/II study

Abstract Background aims Despite the efficacy of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), the procedure is still associated with high toxicity in patients with refractory graft-versus-host disease (GvHD). Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are a new mode of therapy in the context of allo-HSCT. The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of the use of adipose tissue–derived MSCs (AT-MSCs) in patients with chronic GvHD. Methods Fourteen patients with moderate (n = 7) or severe (n = 7) chronic GvHD received 1 × 106/kg (group A, n = 9) or 3 × 106/kg (group B, n = 5) AT-MSCs with cyclosporine and prednisone as first-line therapy. Results Ten of the…