6th Annual BMRP Investigator Meeting - Abstract

Stem cell transplantation

Chris Hawkey

Wolfson Digestive Diseases Centre, University Hospital Nottingham (United Kingdom) 

Stem cell transplantation continues to attract growing interest from patients with Crohn’s disease who are inadequately controlled by current therapies, particularly in the light of growing evidence that some patients experience a long lasting remission. The ASTIC (Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation International Crohn’s Disease) trial has started to recruit. At the time of writing, the first two patients were randomised to delayed transplantation. The third patient suffered a severe septic episode during mobilisation and is currently under review.

These events remind us of the hazards of the procedure and emphasise the need for it to be done under controlled conditions that will maximise objective assessment of risks and benefits. Septic complications may be related to NOD2 genotype and the trial includes early provision of this information.

The difficulties in establishing the trial through regulatory procedures has been an object lesson with some general implications for funding bodies like The Broad Foundation that will be presented.