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"We have to be cautious about interpreting the results of a small study, but the rates of graft-versus-host disease were unexpectedly low," said senior author John F. DiPersio, MD, PhD, the Virginia E. & Sam J. Golman Endowed Professor of Medicine.

A fully matched stem cell donor is preferred for stem cell transplant patients as it reduces the risk of graft-versus-host disease.

Half-match stem cell transplants have become more common over the past decade as treatments to reduce graft-versus-host disease have improved, making such transplants safer.

All patients in the study received itacitinib before transplantation and for 4-6 months after transplant, in addition to standard care for prevention of graft-versus-host disease.

Even so, historical data suggest 10 - 15% of patients would experience severe graft-versus-host disease with standard treatment, according to the investigators.