Clinical response was evaluated at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after the start of ruxolitinib therapy. If a new immunosuppressive medication (ISM) was given after the start of ruxolitinib treatment, the response assessment was discontinued. Complete remission (CR) was defined as the resolution of all symptoms of cGvHD without initiation of new or additional ISM during treatment with ruxolitinib. Partial remission (PR) was defined as an improvement of at least one organ grade without progression of cGvHD in other organs, whereas mixed response (MR) was defined as an improvement in one organ, while progression occurred elsewhere. Progressive disease (PD) was defined as progression of at least one organ site without any improvements in other sites. Stable organ involvement without any changes in grading was classified as stable disease (SD). For evaluation of predictive markers, patients were divided into "responder" (CR, PR) and "nonresponder" (MR, SD, PD, and additional ISM) categories.
Failure-free survival (FFS) was defined as absence of relapse of the underlying disease or NRM, and no addition of further ISM. Calculation of overall response rates (ORRs) was based on an intention-to-treat analysis. If a patient did not complete the entire follow-up period of 12 months, the respective patient was excluded from ORR and FFS calculations from the first follow-up time point that had not been completed (i.e., 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, or 12 months) onward. To assess infectious adverse events (AEs) and hematological toxicities, the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5.0 (CTCAE 5.0) was used.
Failure-free survival (FFS) was defined as absence of relapse of the underlying disease or NRM, and no addition of further ISM. Calculation of overall response rates (ORRs) was based on an intention-to-treat analysis. If a patient did not complete the entire follow-up period of 12 months, the respective patient was excluded from ORR and FFS calculations from the first follow-up time point that had not been completed (i.e., 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, or 12 months) onward. To assess infectious adverse events (AEs) and hematological toxicities, the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5.0 (CTCAE 5.0) was used.
