Galectin-3 Levels Are Associated with the Incidence and Severity of Chronic GVHD One Year after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

N. Navarro-Alvarez¹, A. R. Andrews¹, Z. DeFilipp², Y. A. Chen², V. T. Ho³, J. Ritz³, T. R. Spitzer⁴, C. A. Huang⁵

¹Center for Transplantation Sciences, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, ²Blood and Marrow Transplant Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, ³Hematologic Malignancies, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, ⁴Hematology/Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, ⁵Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery and Transplant Surgery Divisions, University of Colorado, Denver, Aurora, CO

Meeting: 2019 American Transplant Congress

Abstract number: A129

Keywords: Bone marrow transplantation, Fibrosis, Graft-versus-host-disease, Inflammation

Session Information

Session Name: Poster Session A: Biomarkers, Immune Monitoring and Outcomes

Session Type: Poster Session

Date: Saturday, June 1, 2019

Session Time: 5:30pm-7:30pm

Presentation Time: 5:30pm-7:30pm

Location: Hall C & D

*Purpose: Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) is a frequent complication of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) and a leading cause of late morbidity and mortality. T- and B-cell activation, as well as inflammation and fibrosis are involved. Galectin-3 (Gal3) is known to modulate T-cell proliferation and B cell fate and has been shown to play a role in systemic inflammation and fibrosis. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether Gal3 can be used as a predictive biomarker for cGVHD following HCT.

*Methods: We retrospectively studied 69 patients who underwent HCT between 2005 and 2014. The levels of Gal3 in 7 healthy controls vs. patients at 1 year post-HCT were determined. Subsequently, we analyzed Gal3 levels according to development of cGVHD, and correlated plasma levels with the severity and organ involvement of cGVHD.

*Results: Gal3 levels were significantly higher in HCT patients compared to healthy controls (median = 14.6, 8.21 ng/ml respectively, p=0.04) (Figure 1A). Among HCT patients, Gal3 levels were also significantly higher in patients who developed cGVHD (n= 28) compared with those with no cGVHD (n=41) 1 year post-HCT (median = 17, 12.55 ng/ml, p=0.02) (Figure 1B). Using the same cut-off value clinically used to predict adverse events in chronic heart failure patients (17.8 ng/ml), 48 HCT patients had Gal3 levels below (range: 5.5-17.6ng/mL; Gal3-Low) and 21 patients above this cut-off (range: 17.9-61.6 ng/mL; Gal3-High). Of the 48 Gal3-Low patients, 15 (31%) had cGVHD at 1 year post-HCT with 33% experiencing moderate-to-severe cGVHD over time. Of the 21 Gal3-High patients, 12 (57%) had cGVHD at 1 year with 47% experiencing moderate-to severe cGVHD. When analyzed by organ involvement, no clear differences were observed.

*Conclusions: These results demonstrate a significant difference in incidence and severity of cGVHD based on Gal3 levels at 1 year post-HCT, suggesting a potential role of Gal3 in the pathobiology of cGVHD. Further investigation will be required to determine whether it can serve as a predictive biomarker and potential therapeutic target for cGVHD in patients undergoing allogeneic HCT.

To cite this abstract in AMA style:

Navarro-Alvarez N, Andrews AR, DeFilipp Z, Chen YA, Ho VT, Ritz J, Spitzer TR, Huang CA. Galectin-3 Levels Are Associated with the Incidence and Severity of Chronic GVHD One Year after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2019; 19 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/galectin-3-levels-are-associated-with-the-incidence-and-severity-of-chronic-gvhd-one-year-after-allogeneic-hematopoietic-cell-transplantation/. Accessed May 13, 2025.

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