Moxibustion for Steroid-Refractory Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease After Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

NCT07572669 | Recruiting Phase 2 DMC

• 1 other identifier: [2025]num(0924)
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 42
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study is a prospective, multicenter, open-label, phase II clinical trial designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of moxibustion in patients with steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease (SR-aGVHD) following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). A total of 42 patients with SR-aGVHD, primarily involving the gastrointestinal tract and presenting with abdominal pain and diarrhea, will be enrolled. All participants will receive standard second-line therapy based on best available treatment (BAT), including ruxolitinib, basiliximab, or methotrexate, according to clinical judgment. In addition, patients will receive moxibustion at specific acupoints (Tianshu \[ST25\], Shenque \[CV8\], and Qihai \[CV6\]) for 30 minutes once or twice daily for 28 days. The primary endpoint is the overall response rate (ORR) at Day 28. Secondary endpoints include durable ORR at Day 56, incidence and severity of chronic GVHD (cGVHD), non-relapse mortality (NRM), overall survival (OS), and changes in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome scores. Safety will be assessed by monitoring adverse events throughout the study period. This study aims to explore whether moxibustion, as an adjunctive therapy, can improve clinical outcomes and provide a safe and effective treatment strategy for patients with SR-aGVHD after allo-HSCT.

Conditions

Steroid-Refractory Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease; Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease; Graft-Versus-Host Disease; Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Overall Response Rate (ORR) at Day 28

  Overall response rate (ORR) is defined as the proportion of participants achieving complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) according to established criteria for acute graft-versus-host disease.

  Day 28

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Durable Overall Response Rate (ORR) at Day 56

  Day 56

• Incidence and Severity of Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease (cGVHD)

  Up to 180 days

• Non-Relapse Mortality (NRM)

  Up to 180 days

• Overall Survival (OS)

  Up to 180 days

• Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Syndrome Score

  Baseline, Day 14, Day 28, Day 56, Day 90, Day 180

Other Outcomes (1)

• Incidence of Adverse Events (AEs)

  From baseline to 180 days

Study Arms (2)

Moxibustion Once Daily Plus Best Available Treatment (QD Group)

EXPERIMENTAL

Procedure: Moxibustion

Moxibustion Twice Daily Plus Best Available Treatment (BID Group)

EXPERIMENTAL

Procedure: Moxibustion Twice Daily Plus Best Available Treatment (BID Group); Drug: Best Available Treatment (BAT)

Interventions

Moxibustion PROCEDURE

Moxibustion applied at Tianshu (ST25), Shenque (CV8), and Qihai (CV6), 30 minutes once daily for 28 days.

Moxibustion Once Daily Plus Best Available Treatment (QD Group)

Moxibustion Twice Daily Plus Best Available Treatment (BID Group) PROCEDURE

Moxibustion applied at Tianshu (ST25), Shenque (CV8), and Qihai (CV6), 30 minutes twice daily for 28 days.

Moxibustion Twice Daily Plus Best Available Treatment (BID Group)

Best Available Treatment (BAT) DRUG

Investigator-selected second-line therapy for SR-aGVHD, including ruxolitinib, basiliximab, or methotrexate.

Moxibustion Twice Daily Plus Best Available Treatment (BID Group)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 14 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Participants must meet all of the following criteria:
• Age 14 to 65 years, male or female. Underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Diagnosis of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) according to standard criteria, with gastrointestinal involvement (e.g., abdominal pain and diarrhea), and classified as grade II-IV.
• Steroid-refractory or steroid-dependent aGVHD, defined as:
• Disease progression within 3 days of systemic corticosteroid treatment, or No response within 7 days, or Failure to achieve complete response after 28 days of immunosuppressive therapy, or Recurrence or worsening during steroid tapering. Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 0.5 × 10⁹/L for at least 3 consecutive days. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome differentiation consistent with spleen-kidney yang deficiency.
• Female participants of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test at screening and agree to use effective contraception during the study.
• Male participants must agree to use effective contraception during the study. Ability to understand and willingness to sign a written informed consent form. Willingness and ability to comply with study procedures and follow-up.

You may not qualify if:

• Participants meeting any of the following criteria will be excluded:
• Prior treatment with ≥1 systemic therapy for aGVHD other than corticosteroids. Diagnosis of GVHD overlap syndrome according to NIH criteria. History of splenectomy after transplantation. Evidence of relapse of the underlying disease or receipt of anti-relapse therapy after transplantation.
• Unresolved toxicities or complications from prior transplantation (excluding GVHD).
• Prior moxibustion therapy after transplantation. Uncontrolled active infection. Known human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Active hepatitis B or C infection requiring treatment, or risk of HBV reactivation.
• Receipt of other investigational therapy within 21 days prior to enrollment (or within 5 half-lives, whichever is longer).
• Renal dysfunction: serum creatinine ≥ 2.0 mg/dL or creatinine clearance \< 40 mL/min.
• Hepatic dysfunction unrelated to GVHD, including cholestatic disease or unresolved hepatic veno-occlusive disease.
• Severe cardiovascular disease, including unstable angina, myocardial infarction within 6 months, NYHA class III-IV heart failure, or circulatory failure requiring vasoactive support.
• Severe respiratory disease requiring mechanical ventilation or ≥50% oxygen support.
• Use of high-dose corticosteroids (≥1 mg/kg/day methylprednisolone or equivalent) for non-GVHD indications within 7 days prior to enrollment.
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women. Severe skin damage or known allergy/intolerance to study-related procedures. Any other condition that, in the investigator's judgment, would interfere with study participation.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology: lead

Study Sites (1)

Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology

Wuhan, Hubei, 430022, China

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Graft vs Host Disease

Interventions

Moxibustion

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Immune System Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Acupuncture Therapy; Complementary Therapies; Therapeutics

Central Study Contacts

wei MD, PhD

CONTACT

+86 027-85726003; shiwei076@hust.edu.cn

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: phase 2
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 3, 2026
• First Posted: May 7, 2026
• Study Start: September 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): March 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2027
• Last Updated: May 7, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CN (1)