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. 2017 Feb 21;177(2):287–310. doi: 10.1111/bjh.14537

Table 5.

Studies regarding use of ECP in cGvHD

Study reference Patients (n) Study type Treatment schedule cGvHD ORR CR% PR Prior to ECP During ECP Catheter‐related
Skin Mucosa Liver GI Ocular Lung
Ussowicz et al (2013) 13 4‐year OS 67·7%
Bykova et al (2013) 49 Retrospective 74% 76% 82% OS 70%
Hautmann et al (2013) 32 Retrospective, COBE Spectra One cycle/week until improvement followed by one cycle every other week for 3–4 weeks and subsequent treatment one cycle every month 59% 60% 100% 44% 2 (6%) 12 (38%) TRM deaths 11 (34%); Relapse deaths 3 (9%) Steroids <50% in 29% patients after 3 months. 16% discontinued steroids Catheter infection: 3
AF: 1
Del Fante et al (2012) 102 64 (62·7%) had classic cGvHD,24 (23·5%) had overlap cGvHD 3 rounds of 2/week, 3 of 2 every other week, and finally 2/month until clinical improvement and/or IST tapering 80% 16 (15·7%) 38 (37·3%) Complete withdrawal of ECP in 56·25%
Dignan et al (2012c) 82 Retrospective Bimonthly for two consecutive days tapered to a monthly regimen depending on response 91% 91% 65/69 (94%) had ≥50% improvement in symptoms and signs of cGvHD 69% at 3 years None (12), one (10), two (40),three (14), ≥four (6) 80% had decreased their steroid dose (27·5% stopped, 30% had ≥75% reduction, 17·5% had ≥50% reduction and 25% had <50% reduction) Skin with CR 7/62 (11%), PR 50/62 (81%); mucosa with CR 1/32 (3%), PR 28/32 (88%)
Greinix et al (2011) 29 Open‐label crossover ECP study 3 times during week 1, then twice weekly until week 12, followed by 2 treatments monthly until week 24 31% 70% 50% 60% 57% 31% <25% reduction in corticosteroid dose at week 12 of the initial study 4 (17%) and 8 (33%) patients, a >50% reduction in corticosteroid dose at weeks 12 and 24 was observed
Flowers et al (2008) 48 Prospective phase 2 randomized study 40% 53% 29% 30% At week 12, the proportion of patients who had at least a 50% reduction in steroid dose and at least a 25% decrease in TSS was 8% in the ECP arm vs. 0% in the control arm (P = 0·04)
Jagasia et al (2009) Overlap 12; cGvHD 31 Classic and overlap Paired weekly for 3–4 weeks and then decreased to an every 2‐ to 3‐week interval 88% 3 (10%)
10 (32%)
1 (3%)
17 (55%) 36% at 3 years
Perseghin et al (2007) 25 19 treatments 80% NK NK
Gasova et al (2007) 6 87%
Motolese et al (2007) Prospective, ocular 12 months ECP 10/21 (48%)
Bisaccia et al (2006) 14 ‘3 treatments over 17 months’ 100% 42% 60% 42% 20% 100% 5‐year post‐transplantation survival: 77% 4/13(31%) discontinued steroids
Couriel et al (2006) 71 57% 78% 71% 67% 54% 61% 20% (14/71) 53% at 1 year Overall response 61%. Best responses were observed in skin, liver, oral mucosa and eye
Rubegni et al (2005) 32 100% 90% 100% 60% 78%
Garban et al (2005) 15 6 courses over 3 weeks followed by consolidation 100% 33% 77% 87% 11/15 (73%) 2/11 (18%)
Foss et al (2005) 25 Prospective 2 consecutive days every 2 weeks or one per week 80% 24% 46% 64% ORR 64%
Ilhan et al (2004) 8 2 consecutive days every 2–4 weeks 75% 75%
Seaton et al (2003) 28 Fortnightly for 4 months and then monthly 53% 50%
Messina et al (2003) 44 84% 60% 47% 44% 73% 5‐year overall survival was 96% for responders versus 58% for non‐responders (P = 0·04).
Bisaccia et al (2003) 6 Thrice weekly for mean 7·2 months 100% 100% 81%
Apisarnthanarax et al (2003) 32 A median of 6 sessions per month 56% 56% All 21 surviving patients remain on some therapy
Child et al (1999) 11 2 treatments/2 weeks for 4 months then taper 90% 75% 20% 40% PSE (9), CSA (7), Az (6), Th (3), PUVA (3) PSE (7), CSA (5), Az (4)
Greinix et al (1998) 15 2 treatments/2 weeks for 3 months then 2 treatments/4 weeks 80% 100% 70% MP (13), CSA (11), Az (1), Th (2), PUVA (2) MP (8), CSA (8), Th (1), none (2)
Smith et al (1998) 18 2–3 treatments/3 weeks 36% 30% 0% 33% PSE (18), CSA (18), Th (8), PUVA (5) PSE + CSA (all)
Besnier et al (1997) 5 3 treatments/week for 3 weeks then taper 100% 100% 100% PSE (2), MP (1), Th (1), none (2), CSA (1), Az (1) PSE/MP (3), CSA (1), Az (1), Th (1)
Rossetti et al (1996) 8 2 treatments/3 weeks for 6 months then taper 43% 20% 33% 0% 40% PSE (5), CSA (5), Az (3), Th (3), MTX (2), Ab (1), NK (2) PSE (3), CSA (3), NK (4)
Aubin et al (1995) 7 NK 70% NK NK

Ab, OKT3 monoclonal antibody; AF, atrial fibrillation; Az, azathioprine; cGvHD, chronic graft‐versus‐host disease; CR, complete response; CSA, ciclosporin; ECP, extracorporeal photopheresis; GI, gastrointestinal; IST, immunosuppressive therapy; MP, methylprednisolone; MTX, methotrexate; NK, not known; OR, overall response; PR, partial response; PSE, prednisolone; PUVA, psoralen–ultraviolet A, Th, thalidomide; TRM, treatment‐related mortality; TSS, total skin score.