The described invention relates to methods for preventing or treating graft-versus-host disease while preserving a graft-versus-tumor effect, increasing survival of, preserving alloreactivity, or a combination thereof in a patient with a tumor receiving a transplant. The described methods comprise administering to the patient a therapeutic amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a Rho kinase inhibitor compound, e.g., telmisartan or related angiotensin receptor blockers, and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. The therapeutic amount may be effective to attenuate graft-versus-host disease and to preserve the graft-versus-tumor effect of the transplant.
