Relevant biomarkers in acute graft-versus-host disease secondary to transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells

Acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) is a serious complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Specific biomolecules identified in samples from patients with aGVHD have been correlated with the diagnosis, prognosis, prediction, and treatment response of aGVHD. In this review, we summarize the most promising biomarkers with clinical relevance for aGVHD. Articles were identified through a literature search in PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases up to November 1, 2022. All identified papers were manually reviewed. We included studies written in English or other languages that investigated biomarkers in GVHD. A total of 3733 studies were identified, of which 32 met the inclusion criteria and were included in this scoping review. Twenty-one different biomarkers were reviewed, including 11 plasma biomarkers and 9 organ-specific biomarkers. Nearly all biomarkers had distinct roles in aGVHD pathophysiology, while some were combined into biomarker panels along with clinical responses. The study of biomarkers in aGVHD has significantly expanded in recent years, encompassing various aspects of the disease. Currently, biomarker panels have shown the most promising results in terms of sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis and prognosis. Biomarkers hold great potential as tools for the reproducible prediction of aGVHD onset, severity, and treatment outcomes, although they remain unproven in routine clinical practice.