A PTCy of Relief: GVHD Prophylaxis in Matched Unrelated Donors

In this latest episode of ASTCT Talks, Dr. Rebecca Gonzalez sits down with Dr. Katie Gatwood and Dr. Timothy Porter to kick off National Pharmacy Month by discussing the clinical implications of post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) use outside of the haploidentical setting. They delve into their respective cancer centers' primary donor sources for match unrelated donors and the breakdown of conditioning intensity within their hematologic patients. They delve into the future of PTCy discussing the potential for earlier de-escalation of immunosuppressants to limit drug-related toxicities and optimize patient outcomes as well as important supportive care considerations. Despite the exciting prospects, the need for robust prospective data before implementation is emphasized.

About Dr. Rebecca Gonzalez
Dr. Rebecca Gonzalez (@xnyerin) received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Florida College of Pharmacy. She completed her PGY2 Oncology residency at West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia. Following post-doctoral training, Dr. Gonzalez was a Hematology Clinical Pharmacist at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute prior to transitioning to Moffitt Cancer Center in 2015. She is Board Certified in Oncology Pharmacy and currently practices as a Clinical Pharmacist in Blood and Marrow Transplant/Cellular Immunotherapy at Moffitt in Tampa, Florida. She was a past chair of the ASTCT Pharmacy Program Planning Committee in 2021-2022 and has been involved in several ASTCT teaching activities since 2017. Her interests include survivorship, GVHD, supportive care and infectious disease complications related to transplant and immune cellular therapy.

About Dr. Katie Gatwood
Dr. Gatwood is a Board-Certified Oncology Pharmacist and Clinical Pharmacist Specialist specializing in Adult Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. She holds a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Michigan and completed her residency training at the University of North Carolina Health Care. Dr. Gatwood is the chair-elect of the ASTCT Pharmacy SIG Sterring Committee. She was also awarded the 2021 ASTCT Pharmacy SIG New Practitioner Award and is passionate about clinical research and education, with a focus on VOD, CAR T-cell therapy, and oncology pharmacists' role in ambulatory care.

About Dr. Timothy Porter
Dr. Timothy Porter is a Board-Certified Oncology Pharmacist and practices as a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Immunotherapy at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, FL. He earned a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Duquesne University School of Pharmacy and then completed a PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA, followed by a PGY2 Oncology Pharmacy Residency at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD. He then practiced as a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy at The Johns Hopkins Hospital before transitioning to Moffitt Cancer Center in 2022. Dr. Porter is a member of the ASTCT Pharmacy SIG Education Committee and serves as the Journal Club Lead. His professional interests include management of infectious complications in immunocompromised patients, GVHD, CAR T-cell therapy, clinical research, and education.