Clinical Research Directory

Fludarabine Plus Melphalan Versus Addition of Venetoclax to Fludarabine/Melphalan Conditioning Regimen for Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in AML/MDS Patients Aged > 50 Years: a Multicenter, Randomized, Phase 3 Trial

Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation (Allo-HCT) serves as a curative treatment modality for the vast majority of patients with hematological malignancies. Historically, due to the relatively high treatment-related mortality rate associated with Allo-HCT, this therapy was primarily administered to younger patients. However, the median age at onset of most hematological malignancies falls within the elderly population. For instance, the median ages at onset of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) are 68 and 77 years, respectively. In recent years, with the advancement of transplantation techniques and the application of Reduced-intensity Conditioning (RIC) regimens, a growing number of elderly patients have undergone Allo-HCT. Data from the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) indicate that in 2017, 31% of patients who received Allo-HCT were aged over 60 years, and 6% were over 70 years old. Over the past decade, the number of elderly patients undergoing Allo-HCT has increased significantly. Given that most elderly patients cannot tolerate conventional myeloablative conditioning regimens, RIC regimens based on Fludarabine (Flu) combined with Busulfan (Bu), or Fludarabine (Flu) combined with Melphalan (Mel) are currently widely used in elderly patients undergoing Allo-HCT. Nevertheless, the post-transplant relapse rate remains as high as 30%-55%, and the long-term GVHD-free and Relapse-free Survival (GRFS) rate fluctuates between 21% and 59%, suggesting that the efficacy of transplantation needs to be further improved. Further comparison of the commonly used RIC regimens in elderly patients-namely Flu+Bu (2-day), Flu+Bu (4-day) and Flu+Mel-has demonstrated that the Flu+Mel regimen yields superior transplantation outcomes over the Flu+Bu regimens. At present, the optimal RIC regimen for elderly patients with hematological malignancies has not yet been clearly defined. The selection of transplantation conditioning regimens for elderly patients should strike a balance between reducing non-relapse mortality and decreasing post-transplant relapse. Over the past 20 years, an increasing number of targeted drugs acting on specific cellular signaling pathways, anti-apoptotic proteins, epigenetic regulators, and monoclonal antibodies have been introduced into clinical practice, thereby revolutionizing the treatment landscape of hematological malignancies. These novel targeted therapies not only bring hope of achieving remission to patients with hematological tumors resistant to traditional chemotherapy, but also the combined application of novel drugs and Allo-HCT is bound to fundamentally transform the overall technical system of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Venetoclax is a potent and selective oral inhibitor targeting the BH3 domain of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. In 2018, the FDA approved Venetoclax as a first-line induction chemotherapy agent for elderly AML patient's ineligible for intensive chemotherapy, with a complete remission rate of up to 67% and favorable tolerability¹¹. Preclinical studies using Allo-HCT animal models have confirmed that the addition of a Bcl-2 inhibitor to RIC regimens can promote donor cell engraftment, reduce the incidence of GVHD, without impairing the graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect¹². In recent years, clinical trials have reported the efficacy and safety of the conditioning regimen combining Venetoclax with Flu+Bu in patients with myeloid malignancies undergoing Allo-HCT. Our research center has demonstrated the favorable safety profile and promising long-term survival outcomes of the Venetoclax plus Flu+Mel conditioning regimen in a phase II clinical trial involving patients aged over 50 years with AML/MDS undergoing Allo-HCT (2024 EBMT Poster B093; 2025 EBMT Poster B126). However, the long-term superiority of this novel regimen over the conventional Flu+Mel conditioning regimen remains to be clarified. Therefore, based on the existing findings from clinical studies and Allo-HCT animal model research, we hypothesize that incorporating Venetoclax into the Fludarabine+Melphalan conditioning regimen for elderly patients undergoing Allo-HCT is expected to improve long-term post-transplant survival and further enhance the transplantation efficacy in this patient population.

Perianal MBL-CRE Colonization and Infection in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Patients

The goal of this observational study is to characterize the clinical features of metallo-β-lactamase-producing carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (MBL-CRE) colonization and subsequent infection in patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The study aims to estimate the incidence of perianal MBL-CRE colonization, the proportion of subsequent infections, the associated risk factors, mortality, and the underlying antibiotic resistance mechanisms. The main questions this study seeks to answer are: 1. What is the incidence of perianal MBL-CRE colonization following allogeneic HSCT? 2. Among colonized patients, what proportion subsequently develop MBL-CRE infections? 3. What are the risk factors for colonization and infection, the patterns of antimicrobial resistance, and the mortality among infected patients? Participants will undergo perianal swab screening for CRE as part of their routine post-transplant care. MBL-CRE isolates identified from perianal swabs will undergo antimicrobial resistance genomic analysis to investigate bacterial transmission dynamics and resistance mechanisms.

Virtual Reality Intervention for Symptom Management in Stem Cell Transplantation

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether a virtual reality (VR) intervention based on the Symptom Management Model can reduce physical and psychosocial symptoms during hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in adult patients undergoing allogeneic transplantation. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does the VR intervention reduce distress levels during HSCT? Does the VR intervention decrease state anxiety and symptom severity compared to standard care? Does the VR intervention positively affect physiological outcomes and engraftment times? Researchers will compare a group receiving standard clinical care plus a VR nature-themed video during HSCT to a group receiving standard care only to see if the VR intervention improves symptom management outcomes. Participants will: Be randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group. In the intervention group: Watch a 15-minute nature-themed VR video during stem cell infusion using Meta Quest 3. The video content will be specifically created by the research team based on the principles of Attention Restoration Theory (ART). In both groups: Complete pre- and post-intervention assessments including: Distress Thermometer State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale Physiological measures (vital signs) Engraftment tracking Satisfaction and open-ended feedback forms

Geriatric Assessment (GA) for Elderly Patients Undergoing Allo-HSCT

This comprehensive, multidimensional evaluation assesses patient-related factors, disease-related factors, donor-related factors, and treatment-related factors. The study aims to identify potential risk factors influencing transplant outcomes in elderly patients and enhance the outcomes of allo-HSCT.

Demethylating Agents Combined With Venetoclax for High-risk T-cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma/Leukemia Post-Transplant Relapse Prevention

This study is a prospective, phase II clinical trial with the primary objective of assessing the effectiveness of demethylating agents combined with venetoclax in the prevention of recurrence after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) of high risk T-lymphoblastic lymphoma/leukemia (T-LBL/ALL) patients.

Nutrition OUtReach In Systems of Healthcare

Many children and adults receiving medical treatments have higher costs, which can make it harder for them to afford groceries. When someone can't afford enough food, and they do not receive proper nutrition it can make treatment more difficult. By doing this study investigators hope to learn more about whether addressing food insecurity by giving patients bags of food in clinic can help improve nutrition, reduce costs, and improve transplant and cellular therapy outcomes.

Abnormal Glucose Tolerance in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

To investigate the impact of abnormal glucose tolerance in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation donors on patients' post-transplant survival outcomes.

BuCy Vs. TBICy for Allo-HSCT in T-ALL Patients

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), a hematological malignant neoplasm of immature T cells, accounting for a morbidity of 10-15% among pediatric and 20-25% among adult patients of ALL. Despite the application of improved intensive therapies, the overall survival (OS) of T-ALL patients is still unsatisfactory, with a 5-year OS rate of less than 60% in adults and 85% in children. Over the past few decades, allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) has emerged as a potential and the most likely curative treatment for patients with high-risk hematological malignant neoplasms, and it has been proven that allo-HSCT could hold the potential to improve the prognosis of T-ALL patients and may even cure T-ALL. The two most common myeloablative conditioning regimens for T-ALL patients with allo-HSCT were total body irradiation (TBI) plus cyclophosphamide (TBI-Cy) and busulfan (Bu) plus cyclophosphamide (BuCy). The most common use conditioning regimen for ALL patients is the TBI-Cy conditioning regimen over other hematological malignancy patients because TBI possess potent and distinct anti-leukemic effects, particularly in organs not easily affected by systemic chemotherapy and intense immunosuppressive effects. However, TBI-based conditioning regimens may cause a high risk of cataracts, interstitial pneumonitis (IP), engraftment failure and even subsequent malignant neoplasms (SMNs). To avoid these disadvantages, intravenous Bu replaced TBI as a part of conditioning. Extensive studies have shown that allo-HSCT with conditioning regimens based on TBI could benefit survival compared with conditioning regimens based on chemotheraphy in treating ALL. We retrospectively analyzed post-10-year data from T-ALL patients from two transplant centers, and all the databases were used to eliminate confounding factors via PSM. We demonstrated that the TBI-Cy conditioning regimen had inferior efficacy to the BuCy conditioning regimen, especially for T-ALL patients who were children, refractory, had extramedullary disease before transplantation, had active disease or an MRD-positive status at allo-HSCT, or who received haplo-HSCT.