Developing a Molecular Classifier to Predict Graft Loss in Lung Transplant Transbronchial Biopsies

Purpose: The molecular mechanisms involved in lung transplant graft loss are poorly understood, and studying them using transbronchial biopsies carries risk that excludes patients with advanced lung dysfunction. Mucosal biopsies (3BMBs) are safer, and provide molecular information related to graft outcome (JHLT 2020;39:1327-1337). We carried out a targeted genome-wide assessment of the molecular changes associated with graft loss in 3BMBs taken from a large prospectively collected international cohort, and developed a molecular classifier to test their prognostic value for predicting graft loss in lung transplant recipients.