New biomarker to prevent graft-versus-host disease in stem cell transplants discovered

(Medical University of South Carolina) With more than $1.5 million in funding from the National Cancer Institute, MUSC Hollings Cancer Center researchers discovered a new biomarker, plasmacytoid dendritic cells expressing the ICOS ligand, whose activity can be blocked by the dual-acting drug candidate ALPN-101 to prevent graft-versus-host disease following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.