Clinical Research Directory

Improved Methods of Cell Selection for Bone Marrow Transplant Alternatives

Bone marrow transplants (BMT) are one form of treatment for disorders of the blood, including leukemia. However, because the procedure is often associated with potentially life-threatening reactions, it is usually reserved for patients with serious illnesses under the age of 60 years old. One serious reaction complicating bone marrow transplants is referred to as graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). GVHD is a potentially fatal incompatibility reaction. The reaction is caused by antigens found on the cells of the patient that are not present on the cells of the donor. The antigens are recognized by transplanted white blood cells (lymphocytes). These lymphocytes begin attacking the recipient s cells and tissues and may lead to death. In order to avoid GVHD, researchers have developed a technique using peripheral blood instead of bone marrow that allows transplantation of stem cells and removal of lymphocytes. Stem cells are the cells responsible for returning blood cell production to normal. Lymphocytes are the white blood cells that can cause GVHD. The technique requires two steps. In the first step blood cells are collected from donors who have received doses of a growth factor. The growth factor (granulocyte colony stimulating factor) is designed to increase the production of donor stem cells. In the second step white blood cell lymphocytes are removed from the collected blood, leaving only the stem cells. The main goal of this study is to develop and improve the method of processing cells that are collected after stimulation with growth factor (G-CSF), by removing the white blood cell lymphocytes which can cause graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) while keeping the stem cells necessary for healthy blood cell building. In addition, researchers are interested in studying whether giving G-CSF has an effect on lymphocyte function, which may influence the immune reactions occurring in bone marrow transplantation.

A Study of Photobiomodulation (PBM) Therapy in People With Oral Graft-Versus-Host Disease (GVHD) After Stem Cell Transplant

The purpose of this study is to find out whether photobiomodulation/PBM therapy using the Thor LX2.3 therapy system is a safe and effective treatment for oral Graft-Versus-Host Disease/GVHD.

Prospective Clinical Trial for Children With TCRαβ Depleted vs Traditional Haplo Identicle HSCT

This is a single-center prospective, non-randomized controlled clinical study in China using CliniMACS TCRα/β+ cell depleted stem cell haploidentical donors versus conventional Beijing protocol for haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in children.

Minitransplants With HLA-matched Donors : Comparison Between 2 GVHD Prophylaxis Regimens

The present project is a multicenter phase II trail aiming at comparing which of the two postgrafting immunosuppressive regimens proposed in this study will be best suited to prevent graft-versus-host disease (GVDH). The immunosuppressive regimens will consist of: Tacrolimus plus Mycophenolate Mofetil or Tacrolimus plus Sirolimus. Before grafting patients will undergo a reduced-intensity conditioning with Fludarabine/total body irradiation (TBI) or Fludarabine/Busulfan/anti-thymoglobuline. Following the interim analysis of October 2014, the protocol has been amended to allow inclusion only after Flu-TBI conditioning. The hypothesis is that the Tacrolimus plus Sirolimus regimen will be associated with better progression-free survival due to a lower incidence of relapse/progression.