Clinical Research Directory

Ruxolitinib With and Without CTLA-4 Ig Abatacept for the Prophylaxis of Graft-Versus-Host Disease and Cytokine Release Syndrome After T-cell Replete Haploidentical Peripheral Blood Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is one of the only curative intent therapies available for hematologic malignancies. HLA-matched sibling donors have historically offered the best clinical results but are unavailable for the majority of patients, while most patients do have readily available haploidentical donors. One of the risks of a haploidentical HCT is graft vs. host disease (GVHD), but it is difficult to reduce the incidence of GVHD without compromising the graft vs. leukemia (GVL) effect. The hypothesis of this study is that JAK inhibition with and without CTLA-4 Ig with haploidentical HCT may mitigate GVHD and cytokine release syndrome while retaining the GVL effect and improving engraftment.

A Study of Belumosudil in People at Risk of Developing Graft-Versus-Host Disease After a Stem Cell Transplant

The purpose of this study is to find out whether adding belumosudil to a usual approach for reducing the risk of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) may be an effective GVHD prevention approach for people with blood cancer who have a stem cell transplant. The investigators will also look at the safety of the study approach.

Precision Diagnostics in Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Cellular Therapy and Transplantation (The PREDICT Trial)

The goal of the Precision Diagnosis in Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Cellular Therapies, and Transplantation (PREDICT) trial is to apply a systems-biology approach to enable precision diagnostics for the key immunologic outcomes for patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Cellular Therapeutics and Transplantation. This approach will deepen the understanding of the molecular mechanisms driving auto- and allo-immune diseases and serve as a critical platform upon which to design evidence-based treatment paradigms for these patients. This research study will examine the immunology of auto- and allo-immune gastrointestinal disturbances such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), Graft-versus-Host Disease (GVHD), and Functional Gastrointestinal Disorder (FGID), as well as the immune manifestations after CAR-T and other cellular therapeutics. The Investigators seek to use blood and tissue samples in order to better understand the mechanisms driving these diseases and their therapies. The Investigators further hypothesize that longitudinal systems-based immunologic analysis will enable the patient-specific determination of the molecular evolution of IBD, GVHD and the response to cellular therapeutics, as well post-transplant defects in protective immunity, and determine which pathways, when perturbed, can cause clinical disease. The discovery of these pathways will lead to improved diagnostic, prognostic and treatment approaches, and to personalized therapeutic decision-making for these patients.

Impact of Exercise on the Complications of Corticosteroids in Patients With GVHD: the RESTART Trial

This study is about determining if an aerobic and resistance exercise intervention is feasible in patients diagnosed with acute or chronic GVHD (Graft-Versus-Host Disease) after having an allogeneic stem cell transplant. The names of the study interventions involved in this study are: * Aerobic and resistance exercise (A+R) - Home-based aerobic and resistance exercise program * Attention control (AC) - Home-based stretching program

Vulvovaginal Graft-versus-Host Disease: Diagnosis and Microbiome Evaluation

The goal of this observational study is to investigate the development of vulvovaginal graft-versus-host- disease (GVHD), an under-reported and under-recognized manifestation of chronic GVHD. This study aims to characterize the vaginal microbiome in participants undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). The main questions it aims to answer are: * Is the vaginal microbiome altered during allogeneic HCT? * What changes may help researchers understand the development of vulvovaginal GVHD? Participants will be asked to undergo an assessment of vulvovaginal symptoms through a vulvovaginal symptom questionnaire once pre-transplant, 6 months post-transplant, and twelve12 months post- transplant. Participants will also be asked to undergo a vaginal microbiome (collection of bacteria, fungi, and viruses that live on our bodies) evaluation through a vaginal exam performed by a gynecologist with collection of vaginal samples once pre-transplant and again six months post-treatment and twelve months post-transplant. If a participant develops symptoms of vulvovaginal GVHD at any point in time during the post-transplant follow up, the participant may partake in additional vaginal exams to diagnose GVHD at the time of symptom onset.

Extended vs Short-term Abatacept Dosing for Graft Versus Host Disease Prophylaxis

This is a multicenter randomized, double blind, Phase 2 trial for patients receiving transplants from 7 of 8 HLA matched donors, in which an extended dosing regimen of abatacept, and a short-term dosing regimen + placebo, when added to standard calcineurin inhibitor + methotrexate-based prophylaxis, will be compared for their ability to improve outcomes in patients with a minimum follow-up of one year post-transplant. All patients will receive 4 doses of abatacept (Days -1, +5, +14, +28). Prior to the fifth dose, patients will be randomly assigned to the 4-dose abatacept arm and receive 4 doses of placebo or 8-dose abatacept arm and receive 4 more doses of abatacept. The primary endpoint of the study will be severe AGVHD-free, severe CGVHD-free, relapse-free survival (SGRFS). The study will end when the last patient has reached 2 years after transplant. Results will first be calculated and the study unblinded when the last patient has reached one year post-transplant.

Cyclophosphamide, Abatacept, and Tacrolimus for the Prevention of GvHD

This is a single arm, open label, phase II clinical trial. Adult patients with hematological malignancies undergoing allogeneic HSCT from first- or second-degree haploidentical donor are eligible for the study if they meet the standard criteria defined in our institutional standard operation procedures (SOPs), meet all inclusion criteria, and do not satisfy any exclusion criteria. Patients will receive non-myeloablative, reduced-intensity or myeloablative conditioning regimen followed by peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cells. Patients will receive dosed reduced cyclophosphamide, abatacept, and short-duration tacrolimus for GvHD prophylaxis.

Vorinostat for Graft vs Host Disease Prevention in Children, Adolescents and Young Adults Undergoing Allogeneic Blood and Marrow Transplantation

The purpose of this study is to determine the recommended phase 2 dose of the drug Vorinostat in children, adolescents and young adults following allogeneic blood or marrow transplant (BMT) and determine whether the addition of Vorinostat to the standard graft versus host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis will reduce the incidence of GVHD.

Fatigue and Cognitive Dysfunction Due to Synaptopathy or Graft Versus Host (GVH) Disease in the Brain.

Patients undergoing allogenic stem cell transplantation are regularly followed up in the outpatient clinic at Karolinska University Hospital. Here, patients are offered participation the fatigue study measuring both fatigue and cognitive impairment systematically by international standard. Meanwhile liquor samples and advanced PET imaging techniques are available for these patients as part of a research project allowing extensive immunological and radio-morphological studies.

Patient Reported Outcomes With UVA-1 Therapy for Treatment of Sclerosing Skin Diseases

The purpose of this study is to assess the degree of improvement seen patient reported outcomes after 30 sessions of UVA-1 therapy in treating systemic scleroderma, morphea, and sclerodermatous Graft-Versus-Host Disease. While patients have verbally reported improvement of their sclerosing skin disease with UVA-1, patient reported outcomes have not been rigorously studied. In sclerosing skin diseases where clinical change is difficult to measure, patient reported outcomes may offer a better way to study the impact of treatments like UVA-1. This will be a non-blinded, non-randomized prospective trial using UVA-1 phototherapy in patients with established sclerosing skin disease. Patients will report the severity of their condition using multiple patient reported outcomes and will also be analyzed using multiple clinical investigator assessments at the beginning and end of 30 treatment sessions.

Multidisciplinary Intervention In Chronic GVHD

This research is being done to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of a multidisciplinary, patient-centered intervention, Horizons Program, versus minimally enhanced standard care to improve quality of life, symptom burden and psychological distress of adults who received an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant and developed graft versus-host disease (GVHD).

Extended Treatment Protocol for Subjects Continuing to Benefit From Ibrutinib.

Multicenter, open-label, prospective treatment protocol that provides continued access to ibrutinib to subjects who have completed parent ibrutinib studies, are still benefitting from treatment with ibrutinib, and have no access to commercial ibrutinib for their underlying disease within their region.

IS-free Treg HaploHCT

This research study is evaluating the safety and efficacy of the IS-free Treg-cell graft-engineered haplo transplant method in people with relapsed/refractory and Ultra-high risk acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and/or myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) receiving a haploidentical donor allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). The names of the study interventions involved in this study are: * Radiation-Total Myeloid and Lymphoid Irradiation (TMLI) * Chemotherapy (Fludarabine, Thiotepa, Cyclophosphamide plus Mesna) * Infusion of haplo Treg-enriched donor cells (experimental therapy) * Infusion of unmodified haplo donor T cells (includes cancer-fighting T effector cells) * Infusion of haplo donor CD34+ Peripheral Blood Stem Cells

Horizons Chronic Graft-Versus-Host-Disease Study

This research is being done to evaluate the feasibility of the Horizons Program, a group-based behavioral intervention, to enhance quality of life in patients with chronic graft-versus-host disease.

Vitamin A Supplementation in Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation.

The investigators hypothesize that single oral high dose supplementation with vitamin A will reduce the incidence of moderate-severe chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) compared with placebo.

A Randomized Phase II Study to Compare the Potential Long-Lasting Positive Effect of Decidual Stromal Cells to the Best Available Treatment in Graft Versus Host Disease

This is an academic open-label, phase II randomized study in patients with steroid resistant severe acute Graft versus host disease (GvHD) who have had allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The main purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy of Decidual Stromal Cells (DSC) with Investigators choice best available treatment (BAT). If randomized to DSC arm, patients will receive 2 infusions in the vein at least one week apart. Additional doses (up to 4 doses) of DSC may be given depending on response.

A Feasibility Study Using CLINIMACS® for Alpha/Beta T-Cell Depletion in Stem Cell Transplant

Patients in need of an allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) are at risk of developing graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD). In certain clinical situations, the optimal approach to minimize the risk of GVHD is to perform ex vivo alpha-beta T-cell depletion of the donor cells. However, the CliniMACS® Device is FDA-approved only for a narrow indication. All other uses of ex vivo processed cells must be done under a feasibility study protocol.

IRENE-G Study: Impact of Resistance Exercise and Nutritional Endorsement on GvHD Symptoms

The IRENE-G trial is a randomized controlled study that aims to investigate the effect of a supervised resistance exercise program (2x/week for 24 weeks) in combination with a nutritional intervention on physical performance/frailty in patients with GvHD symptoms treated with high dose steroids.

GvHD Prophylaxis in Unrelated Donor HCT: Randomized Trial Comparing PTCY Versus ATG

Post-transplantation cyclophosphamide (PTCY) has become increasingly popular in the haploidentical HCT setting because it overcomes the HLA-mismatch barrier and levels GVHD risk. This advantage may also prove useful in the context of unrelated donor (UD) transplantation. GVHD prophylaxis for matched unrelated donor hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT) in Europe is mainly conducted with ATG. Still, the burden of acute and chronic GVHD and especially of relapse remains high with both approaches for GVHD prevention. PTCY has not been tested against the current standard ATG for GvHD prophylaxis in large randomized trials. The goal of this trial is to compare the outcomes of PTCY and ATG for patients receiving unrelated donor PBSCT. PTCY-based prophylaxis promises to have beneficial net effects on immune reconstitution, GVHD and disease control, and thus might impact on patient survival.

A Phase I-II Study of High-Dose Post-Transplant Cyclophosphamide, Bortezomib, and Abatacept for the Prevention of Graft-Versus-Host Disease (GVHD) Following Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT)

The study will be conducted in two phases. The phase I portion will employ a 3+3 dose-escalation design to define the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of abatacept added to PTCy and bortezomib following HSCT. The phase II portion will consist of two single-arm, open-label, optimal 2-stage Simon design studies conducted in two separate strata for HLA-matched and HLA-mismatched donor transplants.

MORPHEE : Mechanisms of Cell Death Induced by Extracorporeal Photochemotherapy

The objective of this study is to describe the type of cell death induced by extracorporeal photochemotherapy, depending on the cell type, using a panel of complementary analysis techniques.

oGVHD After Bone Marrow Transplantation: a Territory-wide Cohort

Allogeneic Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is an effective treatment for all array of blood or blood-producing organ disorders. Graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD) occurs as a result of an overactive immunological system against normal host tissues. It can happen in the liver, skin, mucosal surface of the eye, gastrointestinal tract, and genitalia. Ocular GVHD occurs in 30-70% of patients after HSCT. It mainly affects the ocular surface, including the conjunctiva and cornea. In severe cases, multiple clinical manifestations can lead to painful non-healing corneal ulcers, secondary infections, and visual loss. oGVHD can be debilitating and severely impact patients' quality of life. However, there are no widely accepted guidelines available for prevention and management. In collaboration with the Department of Haematology of Queen Mary Hospital, the investigators set out to establish a territory-wide cohort of patients receiving HSCT. Primarily, the investigators aim to establish the population-based epidemiology of oGVHD and understand the natural history and the long-term ophthalmic outcomes of oGVHD via this study.