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Marrow MastersAuthor: The National Bone Marrow Transplant Link
This podcast series educates patients, caregivers, and health care professionals regarding important topics as they relate to bone marrow/stem cell transplant and CAR-T Cellular Therapy. Season 18 focuses on the incredible know how needed for caregivers, who make transplantation possible. Season 17 covers AYAs and the unique ways they navigate transplantation and survivorship. Season 16 focuses on GVHD and best tips from health care professionals. Season 15 covers CAR T-Cellular Therapy while Season 14 focuses on the parts of GVHD we dont often talk about. Season 13, takes a deep dive into many of the side effects survivors and caregivers handle post-transplant. Season 12 answers the critical question of "I'm Home, Now What?" Season 11 covers survivors who are thriving. Season 10 covers Graft Versus Host Disease (GVHD) focusing on hope and inspiration. Season 9 covers incredible tips before, during and after transplant--things folks wish they had known. Season 8 covers All Things Related to Clinical Trials. Seasons 7 and 6 focus on important topics related to Graft Versus Host Disease (GVHD). In earlier seasons, we covered all things survivorship (Season 5), the caregiver perspective (Season 4), the patient perspective (Season 3), busting marrow myths (Season 2), and chronic GVHD (Season 1). With more than 37,000 downloads today, we are so thrilled to offer these podcasts. Language: en Genres: Education, Health & Fitness, Medicine Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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Chronic GVHD: New Hope, New Treatments with Dr. Joesph Pidala
Episode 1
Thursday, 18 December, 2025
In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Joseph Pidala from the Moffitt Cancer Center to discuss chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), a complex condition affecting many stem cell transplant survivors. We focus on the latest prevention strategies, treatment innovations, and the critical role that clinical trials continue to play in advancing care.We begin with promising news around prevention. Dr. Pidala shares data from the BMT CTN 1703 trial, which compared conventional GVHD prevention to a newer approach using post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy). This newer strategy significantly reduced the incidence of both acute and chronic GVHD, signaling a major step forward in preventing this debilitating condition.Despite advancements, many patients still experience chronic GVHD, which drives the need for new treatments. We explore several groundbreaking clinical trials that are rethinking traditional steroid-heavy treatment protocols. One study is testing Rezurock (Belumosudil) as a preemptive treatment during early symptoms, while another is investigating whether Jakafi (Ruxolitinib) can be used as a first-line treatment to reduce steroid reliance. These trials challenge old norms and aim to improve long-term outcomes.We also take a look at the four FDA-approved therapies currently available for steroid-refractory chronic GVHD: Ibrutinib, Jakafi, Rezurock, and the most recent addition, Axatilimab (Niktimvo). These drugs, each with different mechanisms and side effects, give patients and clinicians more flexibility than ever before. We touch on other widely used therapies like ECP (photopheresis), which, while not FDA-approved, remain an important part of care.Patient involvement is a key theme throughout. Dr. Pidala emphasizes that progress would be impossible without those who enroll in clinical trials, sharing inspiring examples of patients who benefited from early access to now-approved drugs. He encourages patients to advocate for themselves and speak up about symptoms, improvements, or quality of life changes. Patient-reported outcomes are becoming standard in trials, offering critical insight into treatment success from the patient's perspective.Dr. Pidala also highlights the importance of addressing GVHD holistically. Beyond core treatments, supportive care—including help with dry eyes, itching, joint mobility, pain, and mental health—is crucial to improving day-to-day life. He stresses that long-term recovery is possible and shares a moving story of a young woman with severe GVHD who, through persistent treatment, regained functionality and returned to a fulfilling life.We close with advice for patients: be proactive, informed, and open to trial participation. And when seeking information on trials, always start by asking your clinical team—they’ll know what’s available and suitable for your specific situation. Above all, Dr. Pidala leaves us with a message of hope—there’s real progress being made, and the future looks brighter than ever.Thanks to our Season 19 sponsors, Incyte and Sanofi.https://incyte.com/https://www.sanofi.com/en00:40 – Introduction to Dr. Joseph Pidala01:21 – New GVHD Prevention Approaches02:44 – Why Clinical Trials Matter03:22 – Challenging Steroid-Based Treatment Norms06:14 – Timeline for New Treatment Results07:02 – FDA-Approved Drugs for Chronic GVHD09:09 – Individualized Treatment Approaches10:69 – The Role of Patient-Reported Outcomes13:44 – Symptom Management and Supportive Care15:20 – Addressing Mental Health in GVHD17:30 – Inspirational Patient Story21:12 – Advice for GVHD Patients23:02 – How to Find Clinical Trials25:06 – Final Thoughts and Message of Hope National Bone Marrow Transplant Link - (800) LINK-BMT, or (800) 546-5268.nbmtLINK Website: https://www.nbmtlink.org/nbmtLINK Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/nbmtLINKFollow the nbmtLINK on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/nbmtlink/The nbmtLINK YouTube Page can be found by clicking here.To participate in the GVHD Mosaic, click here: https://amp.livemosaics.com/gvhdThis content is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It is crucial to consult directly with a qualified healthcare professional regarding any medical conditions, treatment options, or other health concerns.The views and opinions expressed by the speakers are their own and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the nbmtLINK. Unless otherwise stated in an official policy, the nbmtLINK does not endorse any specific treatments, products, or services mentioned by the speakers. Reliance on any information provided is solely at your own risk. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
