Clinical Research Directory

Radiation- and Alkylator-free Bone Marrow Transplantation Regimen for Patients With Dyskeratosis Congenita

Dyskeratosis congenita is a disease that affects numerous parts of the body, most typically causing failure of the blood system. Lung disease, liver disease and cancer are other frequent causes of illness and death. Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) can cure the blood system but can make the lung and liver disease and risk of cancer worse, because of DNA damaging agents such as alkylators and radiation that are typically used in the procedure. Based on the biology of DC, we hypothesize that it may be possible to avoid these DNA damaging agents in patients with DC, and still have a successful BMT. In this protocol we will test whether a regimen that avoids DNA alkylators and radiation can permit successful BMT without compromising survival in patients with DC.

Cancer in Inherited Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes

Background: A prospective cohort of Inherited Bone Marrow Failure Syndrome (IBMFS) will provide new information regarding cancer rates and types in these disorders. Pathogenic variant(s) in IBMFS genes are relevant to carcinogenesis in sporadic cancers. Patients with IBMFS who develop cancer differ in their genetic and/or environmental features from patients with IBMFS who do not develop cancer. These cancer-prone families are well suited for cancer screening and prevention trials targeting those at increased genetic risk of cancer. Carriers of IBMFS pathogenic variant(s) are at increased risk of cancer. The prototype disorder is Fanconi's Anemia (FA); other IBMFS will also be studied. Objectives: To determine the types and incidence of specific cancers in patients with an IBMFS. To investigate the relevance of IBMFS pathogenic variant(s) in the carcinogenesis pathway of the sporadic counterparts of IBMFS-associated cancers. To identify risk factors for IBMFS-related cancers in addition to the primary germline pathogenic variant(s). To determine the risk of cancer in IBMFS carriers. Eligibility: North American families with a proband with an IBMFS. IBMFS suspected by phenotype, confirmed by pathogenic variant(s) in an IBMFS gene, or by clinical diagnostic test. Fanconi's anemia: birth defects, marrow failure, early onset malignancy; positive chromosome breakage result. Diamond-Blackfan anemia: pure red cell aplasia; elevated red cell adenosine deaminase. Dyskeratosis congenita: dysplastic nails, lacey pigmentation, leukoplakia; marrow failure. Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome: malabsorption; neutropenia. Amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia: early onset thrombocytopenia. Thrombocytopenia absent radii: absent radii; early onset thrombocytopenia. Severe Congenital Neutropenia: neutropenia, pyogenic infections, bone marrow maturation arrest. Pearson's Syndrome: malabsorption, neutropenia, marrow failure, metabolic acidosis; ringed sideroblasts. Other bone marrow failure syndromes: e.g. Revesz Syndrome, WT, IVIC, radio-ulnar synostosis, ataxia-pancytopenia. First degree relatives of IBMFS-affected subjects as defined here, i.e. siblings (half or full), biologic parents, and children. Grandparents of IBMFS-affected subjects. Patients in the general population with sporadic tumors of the types seen in the IBMFS (head and neck, gastrointestinal, and anogenital cancer), with none of the usual risk factors (e.g. smoking, drinking, HPV). Design: Natural history study, with questionnaires, clinical evaluations, clinical and research laboratory test, review of medical records, cancer surveillance. Primary endpoints are all cancers, solid tumors, and cancers specific to each type of IBMFS. Secondary endpoints are markers of pre-malignant conditions, such as leukoplakia, serum or tissue evidence of carcinogenic viruses, and bone marrow morphologic myelodyplastic syndrome or cytogenetic clones....

Nucleoside Therapy in Patients With Telomere Biology Disorders

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if a combination therapy of deoxycytidine (dC) plus deoxythymidine (dT) is safe in patients with telomere biology disorders. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Is the therapy safe with tolerable side effects in patients with telomere biology disorders? * Are problems with the bone marrow or blood or lungs changed after 6 months of dC+dT treatment in patients with telomere biology disorders? Participants will: * Take study drug by mouth three times daily for 24 weeks * Make approximately 2 visits to Boston Children's Hospital during the 24 weeks: once at the beginning of treatment and once at the end of treatment. * Go to a lab for a blood draw an additional 6 times during treatment. * Have 9 phone calls with a research nurse, including one 4 weeks after treatment ends. * Keep a diary to track doses of study drug that were taken or missed.

Familial Investigations of Childhood Cancer Predisposition

NOTE: This is a research study and is not meant to be a substitute for clinical genetic testing. Families may never receive results from the study or may receive results many years from the time they enroll. If you are interested in clinical testing please consider seeing a local genetic counselor or other genetics professional. If you have already had clinical genetic testing and meet eligibility criteria for this study as shown in the Eligibility Section, you may enroll regardless of the results of your clinical genetic testing. While it is well recognized that hereditary factors contribute to the development of a subset of human cancers, the cause for many cancers remains unknown. The application of next generation sequencing (NGS) technologies has expanded knowledge in the field of hereditary cancer predisposition. Currently, more than 100 cancer predisposing genes have been identified, and it is now estimated that approximately 10% of all cancer patients have an underlying genetic predisposition. The purpose of this protocol is to identify novel cancer predisposing genes and/or genetic variants. For this study, the investigators will establish a Data Registry linked to a Repository of biological samples. Health information, blood samples and occasionally leftover tumor samples will be collected from individuals with familial cancer. The investigators will use NGS approaches to find changes in genes that may be important in the development of familial cancer. The information gained from this study may provide new and better ways to diagnose and care for people with hereditary cancer. PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: * Establish a registry of families with clustering of cancer in which clinical data are linked to a repository of cryopreserved blood cells, germline DNA, and tumor tissues from the proband and other family members. SECONDARY OBJECTIVE: * Identify novel cancer predisposing genes and/or genetic variants in families with clustering of cancer for which the underlying genetic basis is unknown.

Alpha/Beta TCD HCT in Patients With Inherited BMF Disorders

This is a phase II trial of T cell receptor alpha/beta depletion (α/β TCD) peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) transplantation in patients with inherited bone marrow failure (BMF) disorders to eliminate the need for routine graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) immune suppression leading to earlier immune recovery and potentially a reduction in the risk of severe infections after transplantation.

Regenerative Medicine to Restore Hematopoiesis and Immune Function in Immunodeficiencies and Inherited Bone Marrow Failures

Phase II prospective trial to assess the rates of donor engraftment using reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) and post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) for patients with primary immune deficiencies (PID), immune dysregulatory syndromes (IDS), inherited bone marrow failure syndromes (IBMFS), short telomere syndromes, Fanconi anemia, and non-Fanconi DNA double-strand break (DNA-dsb) repair disorder.

Investigation of the Genetics of Hematologic Diseases

The purpose of this study is to collect and store samples and health information for current and future research to learn more about the causes and treatment of blood diseases. This is not a therapeutic or diagnostic protocol for clinical purposes. Blood, bone marrow, hair follicles, nail clippings, urine, saliva and buccal swabs, left over tissue, as well as health information will be used to study and learn about blood diseases by using genetic and/or genomic research. In general, genetic research studies specific genes of an individual; genomic research studies the complete genetic makeup of an individual. It is not known why many people have blood diseases, because not all genes causing these diseases have been found. It is also not known why some people with the same disease are sicker than others, but this may be related to their genes. By studying the genomes in individuals with blood diseases and their family members, the investigators hope to learn more about how diseases develop and respond to treatment which may provide new and better ways to diagnose and treat blood diseases. Primary Objective: * Establish a repository of DNA and cryopreserved blood cells with linked clinical information from individuals with non-malignant blood diseases and biologically-related family members, in conjunction with the existing St. Jude biorepository, to conduct genomic and functional studies to facilitate secondary objectives. Secondary Objectives: * Utilize next generation genomic sequencing technologies to Identify novel genetic alternations that associate with disease status in individuals with unexplained non-malignant blood diseases. * Use genomic approaches to identify modifier genes in individuals with defined monogenic non-malignant blood diseases. * Use genomic approaches to identify genetic variants associated with treatment outcomes and toxicities for individuals with non-malignant blood disease. * Use single cell genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics to investigate biomarkers for disease progression, sickle cell disease (SCD) pain events and the long-term cellular and molecular effects of hydroxyurea therapy. * Using longitudinal assessment of clinical and genetic, study the long-term outcomes and evolving genetic changes in non-malignant blood diseases. Exploratory Objectives * Determine whether analysis of select patient-derived bone marrow hematopoietic progenitor/stem (HSPC) cells or induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells can recapitulate genotype-phenotype relationships and provide insight into disease mechanisms. * Determine whether analysis of circulating mature blood cells and their progenitors from selected patients with suspected or proven genetic hematological disorders can recapitulate genotype-phenotype relationships and provide insight into disease mechanisms.