Belumosudil for chronic graft-versus-host disease after 2 or more prior lines of therapy: the ROCKstar Study

C Cutler, SJ Lee, S Arai, M Rotta… - Blood, The Journal …, 2021 - ashpublications.org
C Cutler, SJ Lee, S Arai, M Rotta, B Zoghi, A Lazaryan, A Ramakrishnan, Z DeFilipp…
Blood, The Journal of the American Society of Hematology, 2021ashpublications.org
Belumosudil, an investigational oral selective inhibitor of Rho-associated coiled-coil–
containing protein kinase 2 (ROCK2), reduces type 17 and follicular T helper cells via
downregulation of STAT3 and enhances regulatory T cells via upregulation of STAT5.
Belumosudil may effectively treat patients with chronic graft-versus-host disease (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 …
Abstract
Belumosudil, an investigational oral selective inhibitor of Rho-associated coiled-coil–containing protein kinase 2 (ROCK2), reduces type 17 and follicular T helper cells via downregulation of STAT3 and enhances regulatory T cells via upregulation of STAT5. Belumosudil may effectively treat patients with chronic graft-versus-host disease (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 daily (n = 66) and 200 mg twice daily (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 for belumosudil 200 mg daily and 200 mg twice daily was 74% (95% confidence interval [CI], 62-84) and 77% (95% CI, 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 daily and 200 mg twice daily 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 because of possible drug-related AEs. Belumosudil, a promising therapy for cGVHD, was well tolerated with clinically meaningful responses. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT03640481.
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