Clinical Research Directory

Phase I/II Study to Reduce Post-transplantation Cyclophosphamide Dosing for Older or Unfit Patients Undergoing Bone Marrow Transplantation for Hematologic Malignancies

Background: Certain blood cancers can be treated with blood or bone marrow transplants. Sometimes the donor cells attack the recipient's body, called graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). The chemotherapy drug cyclophosphamide helps reduce the risk and severity of GVHD. Researchers want to learn if using a lower dose of cyclophosphamide may reduce the drug's side effects while maintaining its effectiveness. Such an approach is being used in an ongoing clinical study at the NIH with promising results, but this approach has not been tested for transplants using lower doses of chemotherapy/radiation prior to the transplant. Objective: To learn if using a lower dose of cyclophosphamide will help people have a successful transplant and have fewer problems and side effects. Eligibility: Adults ages 18-85 who have a blood cancer that did not respond well to standard treatments or is at high risk for relapse without transplant, and their donors. Design: Participants may be screened with the following: Medical history Physical exam Blood and urine tests Heart and lung tests Body imaging scans (they may get a contrast agent) Spinal tap Bone marrow biopsy Participants will be hospitalized for 4-6 weeks. They will have a central venous catheter placed in a chest or neck vein. It will be used to give medicines, transfusions, and the donor cells, and to take blood. In the week before transplant, they will get 2 chemotherapy drugs and radiation. After the transplant, they will get the study drug for 2 days. They will take other drugs for up to 2 months. Participants must stay near NIH for 3 months after discharge for weekly study visits. Then they will have visits every 3-12 months until 5 years after transplant. Participants and donors will give blood, bone marrow, saliva, cheek swab, urine, and stool samples for research.

LLM-Generated Plain-Language Patient Synopses to Improve Comprehension in Hematology and Oncology (oncOPAL)

This study tests whether patients with blood cancer or other cancers better understand their medical information when it is rewritten in plain language by an artificial intelligence (AI) system. When patients are discharged from the hospital, they receive a medical letter summarizing their diagnosis, treatment, and next steps. These letters are often written in technical language that is difficult for patients to understand. In this study, an AI language model running on the hospital's own secure servers rewrites parts of this letter into simpler language. A physician checks the simplified version before the patient receives it. Patients are randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group receives both the standard medical letter and the AI-simplified version. The other group receives the standard letter only. A separate group of patients who do not speak German well will receive a simplified and translated version. After reading their letter, all participants fill out a short questionnaire about how well they understood the information. The study takes place at TUM University Hospital (Klinikum rechts der Isar) in Munich, Germany.

Influenza Vaccination Strategy for Patients With Hematologic Malignancy

This randomized controlled trial evaluates and compares the immunogenicity of three different influenza vaccine formulations: high-dose trivalent (HD-IIV3), MF59-adjuvanted quadrivalent (aIIV4), and standard-dose trivalent (SD-IIV3) vaccines. The study population consists of patients with hematologic malignancies, including those undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation or CAR-T cell therapy. The primary goal is to identify which vaccine strategy elicits the most robust antibody and T cell-mediated immune responses in this severely immunocompromised population

Pre-myeloid Cancer and Bone Marrow Failure Clinic Study

This clinical trial tests next generation sequencing (NGS) for the detection of precursor features of pre-myeloid cancers and bone marrow failure syndromes. NGS is a procedure that looks at relevant cancer associated genes and what they do. Finding genetic markers for pre-malignant conditions may help identify patients who are at risk of pre-myeloid cancers and bone marrow failure syndromes and lead to earlier intervention.

Collection of Tissue Specimens From Patients With Solid Tumors or Blood Disorders and Their HLA-Compatible Family Members

This study will collect biological samples for use in research experiments aimed at better understanding the clinical features of certain diseases. The specimens may be used to evaluate the effectiveness of known therapies, refine treatment approaches, identify potential new therapies, and explore opportunities for disease prevention. The following individuals 2 years of age or older may be eligible for this study: * Patients with a cancerous solid tumor or a cancerous or non-cancerous blood disorder who are being screened for or who are enrolled in a treatment study at the NIH Clinical Center * HLA-compatible donor family members (18 years of age or older) of the above patients who are being evaluated for or are enrolled in an NIH study as a stem cell transplant donor * Patients with a cancerous solid tumor or a cancerous or non-cancerous blood disorder or a bone marrow failure condition who cannot participate in an NIH treatment protocol or travel to the NIH Clinical Center and who are referred for participation through their home health care provider. Research samples will be collected from participants when blood is drawn or bone marrow, urine, or stool is collected, or tumor or other tissue is biopsied as part of their general medical care. Investigators may periodically request an additional sample of blood, stool, or urine. Participants who are 18 years of age or older may donate a large number of white blood cells through a procedure called leukapheresis. This procedure is not part of general medical care and would be done for research purposes only. For apheresis, a catheter (plastic tube) is placed in a vein in the subject's arm. Blood flows from the vein into a cell separator machine, where the white cells are separated from the red cells, platelets, and plasma by a spinning process. The white cells are removed and collected, and the rest of the blood is returned to the subject through a second tube placed in the other arm.

Donor Lymphocyte Infusion After Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for High-Risk Hematologic Malignancies

Background: People with blood cancers often receive blood or bone marrow transplants. But even with these treatments, the risk of relapse is high. Researchers want to see if giving the transplant recipient an infusion of lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) from their transplant donor early after the transplant can reduce that risk. Objective: To learn if giving donor lymphocytes early after a transplant will help reduce the risk of relapse for people with certain blood cancers. Eligibility: Adults aged 18-65 with high-risk leukemia, lymphoma, myelodysplastic syndrome, or multiple myeloma that does not respond well to standard treatments and/or has a high risk of relapse. Healthy potential bone marrow and lymphocyte donor relatives aged 12 and older are also needed. Design: Participants will be screened with: Physical exam Blood and urine tests Spinal tap Eye exam Dental exam Heart and lung tests Imaging scans. A radioactive substance may be injected in their arm if a PET scan is needed. Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy Some screening tests will be repeated during the study. Participants will stay at the NIH hospital for about 4 weeks. They will receive a central venous catheter. They will get chemotherapy and other drugs starting 6 days before transplant. Then they will have their transplant. They will receive donor white blood cells 7 days later. They will give blood, bone marrow, urine, and stool samples for research. They must stay near NIH for at least 100 days after transplant. Participants will have periodic follow-up visits for 5 years. Healthy donors will have 2-3 visits. They will give blood, bone marrow, white blood cells, and stool samples for research. Participation will last for 5 years....

Phase I Trial Integrating HLA-Haploidentical Anti-CD19 CAR-T Cells With Post-Transplantation Cyclophosphamide-Based HLA-Haploidentical Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

Background: High-risk blood cancers (leukemias and lymphomas) often come back after treatment, and many cannot be cured with chemotherapy alone. These cancers may be treated and potentially cured in 2 ways: (1) Bone marrow transplant (allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation, or alloHCT) gives immune and blood stem cells from a donor. These new cells can attack the cancer and also grow into healthy blood. (2) Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy takes immune cells and changes them in a lab to better recognize and target certain cancers. But these 2 treatments are not usually given at the same time. Objective: To test alloHCT and CAR-T cell therapy, used together, in people with high-risk blood cancers. Eligibility: People aged 18 to 75 years with an aggressive blood cancer that has a protein on the surface called CD19. A healthy related donor aged 12 years or older is also needed; this donor may be a parent or child or may be some siblings or even extended family members, but has to be half-matched at something called the HLA (human leukocyte antigen). Design: Participants will be screened. They will have imaging scans, blood tests, and tests of their heart and lung function. They will have eye and dental exams. They may have fluid drawn from around their spinal cord (spinal tap) and tissue taken from inside a bone (bone marrow biopsy). Healthy donors will provide bone marrow, immune cells, and about 9 tablespoons of blood for both the recipient s treatment and for research. They will also provide stool, saliva, and oral swabs just for research. Recipient participants will stay in the hospital for 4 to 6 weeks. They will be given drugs over 6 days to prepare for the cell therapies. Both the donor bone marrow cells and CAR-T-cells will be given through a tube inserted into a vein. They will receive drugs to reduce complications after the treatments. Participants will remain within a 1-hour drive of the hospital for 2 to 3 months after they leave the hospital. They will have frequent visits during that time. They will continue to have periodic follow-up visits for 5 years. ...

Platelet Transfusions in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (The PATH III Trial)

It is hypothesized that a strategy using prophylactic oral and intravenous Tranexamic Acid (TXA) with therapeutic platelet transfusions (if required) is safe and more effective than prophylactic platelet transfusions in patients undergoing an autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT).

Comparison of Hemanext ONE® System and Conventional Red Blood Cell Transfusion

The overall objective of this study is to collect preliminary effectiveness and safety data on the transfusion of hypoxic RBCs, manufactured with the Hemanext ONE device, in patients with hematological malignancies. The Hemanext ONE device received CE mark in April 2021.

Optimizing PTCy Dose and Timing

Background: Stem cell or bone marrow transplants can cure or control blood cancers. Sometimes the donor cells see the recipient's body as foreign. This can cause complications. A high dose of the drug cyclophosphamide (PTCy) can help reduce these risks. Researchers want to see if a lower dose of PTCy can have the same benefits. Based on encouraging results from the first part of the study, researchers now are investigating whether a lower dose of PTCy can allow other immunosuppression to be decreased. Objective: To see if a lower dose of PTCy and now also shorter duration of another immunosuppressant called mycophenolate mofetil will help people with blood cancers have a more successful transplant and fewer side effects. Eligibility: People ages 15-65 with leukemia, lymphoma, or multiple myeloma that is not curable with standard therapy and is at high risk of returning without transplant, and their healthy adult relatives Design: Transplant participants will be screened with: Blood, urine, breathing, and heart tests Scans Chest x-ray Bone marrow samples: A needle inserted into the participant s pelvis will remove marrow and a bone fragment. Transplant recipients will stay at the hospital and be prepped with chemotherapy over 6 days for the transplant. They will get stem cells through a catheter in the chest or neck. They will get the cyclophosphamide chemotherapy. They will stay in the hospital about 4 more weeks. They will have blood transfusions. They will have frequent blood tests and 2 bone marrow samples within 1 year after the transplant. Donor participants will be screened with: Blood, urine, and heart tests Chest x-ray Scans Donor participants will have bone marrow taken from their pelvis or stem cells taken from their blood. For the blood donation, blood will be taken from a vein in one arm, move through a machine to remove white blood cells, and be returned through a vein in the other arm. Participation will last up to 5 years....

Role of Fibrinolytic Activity in Neoplastic Pathologies Complicated by Coagulopathy

The aim of this research is to measure fibrinolytic activity in neoplastic pathologies in order to provide preliminary data on which to base a future, larger-scale study to determine predictive markers of complication in order to improve patient management. Primary purpose: measure plasminogen concentration on day 1 in subjects diagnosed with malignant hematological disease, solid tumors, or septic shock, with coagulopathy. Secondary purpose: * Estimate the difference in plasminogen concentration at D1 in patients with coagulopathy between subjects with a diagnosis of haematological malignancy and those with solid tumor * Estimate the difference in plasminogen concentration at D1 in patients with coagulopathy between subjects with a diagnosis of haematological malignancy and those with septic shock * Estimate the difference in plasminogen concentration on Day 1 in patients with coagulopathy between subjects with a diagnosis of solid tumor and those with septic shock. In the 3 groups, subjects with a diagnosis of haematological malignancy, solid tumor, septic shock, presenting with coagulopathy: * Evaluate the correlation between the concentration of circulating plasminogen active on Day 1 and the occurrence of a bleeding complication within 28 days of admission to critical care. * Evaluate the correlation between the concentration of circulating plasminogen active on Day 1 and the occurrence of a thrombotic complication, within 28 days of admission to critical care. * Evaluate the predictive performance of circulating active plasminogen concentration on Day 1 in the need for extra renal purification within 28 days of admission to critical care. * Estimate the differences at each time point (D1, D3, D7) in haemostasis markers and markers of fibrinolytic activity and its regulation. Assess the link between fibrinolytic activity and : * The diagnosis of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), * The risk of haemorrhage * Risk of organ failures * Thrombotic risk * Risk of organ failure * Neutrophile activation and circulating NETs levels

Fludarabine and Total Body Irradiation 800 Centigray (cGy) or 1125 cGy For Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant Using Graft Versus Host Disease Prophylaxis With Post-Transplant Cyclophosphamide and Tacrolimus, Without Mycophenolate Mofetil

This is a pilot study to evaluate the feasibility, safety and potential benefits of removing one immune suppressive drug called mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) from the standard allogenic stem cell transplant treatment protocol. MMF will be omitted from the transplant regimen in 60 eligible patients with hematologic malignancies. Participants will be followed for up to 2 years post standard of care transplant at Cedars-Sinai.

A Multi-center Investigation of Family Health.

The current healthcare system is unable to identify burdened and vulnerable families affected by cancer, partly due to a lack of knowledge of how cancer affects family health during treatment and survivorship. Recent reviews have documented a general lack of cancer studies including both the patient and the family, and a particular deficiency in studies including more than the spouse. The principal aim of this study is to investigate family health, needs and perceived support, quality of life, self-efficacy, depression, stress and resilience in both patients with cancer and their families across the cancer trajectory. Additionally, the study seeks to identify particularly burdened and vulnerable families and investigate contributing factors to their vulnerability.

Mind-body Medicine for Patients With Malignant Hematological Diseases

This randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the effectiveness of a mind-body group program as a supprtivemanagement strategy for fatigue in patients with malignant hematological diseases.

The Effect of a Protective Oral Care Protocol Using Peppermint Oil Mouthwash

Hematologic malignancies are the fifth most common type of cancer in the world. Patients with hematologic malignancies receive long-term and exhausting treatments such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and supportive therapies. Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting has a significant impact on the daily lives of patients and causes physiological effects such as anorexia, malnutrition, weight loss, dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. It also has a negative impact on activities of daily living and psychological status, and may lead to poor adherence to chemotherapy regimens, refusal of chemotherapy or discontinuation of treatment. Oral mucosa is one of the areas most affected by the cytotoxic damage of chemotherapy. Disruption of the oral mucosa causes nausea, vomiting and feeding problems. Patients resort to non-drug approaches to manage these problems. It is important that these non-pharmacologic approaches are supported and controlled by reliable and evidence-based studies in order to prevent adverse effects on patient outcomes. In the literature, it has been determined that peppermint oil has antiemetic, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antiseptic, antioxidant, antiviral, antifungal and spasmolytic effects, protects the integrity of the oral mucosa and has positive effects on nausea-vomiting and anorexia. In this context, the aim of the study was to investigate the effect of a preventive oral care protocol with peppermint oil mouthwash on chemotherapy-induced nausea, vomiting and appetite in patients with hematologic malignancy. Research Hypotheses H01: The protective oral care protocol applied with peppermint oil in patients with hematological malignancies has no effect on the development of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. H02: The protective oral care protocol applied with peppermint oil in patients with hematological malignancies has no effect on the severity of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. H03: The protective oral care protocol applied with peppermint oil in patients with hematological malignancies has no effect on the development of chemotherapy-induced anorexia. H04: The protective oral care protocol applied with peppermint oil in patients with hematological malignancies has no effect on the severity of chemotherapy-induced anorexia. Methods: The type of study is a single-blind randomized controlled experimental study. The research will be conducted between September 10, 2025, and April 10, 2026, with patients admitted to the hematology clinic of a university hospital for chemotherapy treatment. The study will be conducted with a total of 72 people who will be randomly assigned to the intervention (n=36) and control groups (n=36) by stratified and block randomization method. Patients who are 18 years of age or older, have hematologic malignancy, with a history of at least one chemotherapy cycle, and scheduled to receive chemotherapy with high or moderate emetogenic risk agents, do not have oral mucositis before chemotherapy, do not have metastasis, are literate and volunteer to participate in the study will be included in the study. Research data will be collected using the "Patient Introduction Form", "Rhodes Nausea-Vomiting and Retching Index", "Oral Assessment Guide", "Appetite Assessment Chart \[(Visual Analog Scale (VAS)\]", "Peppermint Oil Protective Oral Care Protocol", "Food Intake Record Form", "Allergic Reaction Monitoring Form" and "Patient Monitoring Form and Antiemetic Record Chart". In addition to the routine protective oral care (saline solution mouthwash and/or sodium bicarbonate mouthwash) in the clinic, "Peppermint Oil Protective Oral Care Protocol" will be applied to the intervention group for 6 days from the start of chemotherapy treatment. Patients will receive mouthwash prepared with 1 ml of peppermint oil and 50 ml of prepared drinking water 3 times a day. Patients in the intervention group will be monitored for 6 days by evaluating oral assessment, development of oral mucositis, appetite follow-up and compliance with mouthwash. The development of allergy due to the use of peppermint oil in each mouthwash application will be evaluated. The control group will not receive any oral care intervention by the researcher and will receive routine preventive oral care in the clinic. In the evaluation of the data, descriptive statistics, Chi-square / Fisher's Exact test will be used for the relationship between categorical variables, Mann Whitney U test, Wilcoxon test, Kruskal-Wallis H test will be used for the relationship between continuous variables in groups that do not show normal distribution; one-way analysis of variance / repeated measures analysis of variance, t test for dependent and independent groups will be used in groups with normal distribution. Correlation analysis and regression analysis will be used to examine the relationship between variables.

Microbiome in Cancer Patients With High Dose Chemotherapy With Stem Cell Transplantation

Numerous in vitro and animal studies as well as growing number of clinical studies support the important role of microbiome in carcinogenesis and cancer treatment. Detection of changes in patients´ microbiome following hematopoietic cell transplantation/CAR-T cell therapy and correlations with adverse transplant outcomes, mainly infectious complications, acute and chronic GvHD, disease recurrence etc. could serve as predictive markers of immune recovery and treatment response.

Prospective Validation of the OHI Index

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) associated with hematologic malignancies (HM-HLH) is a syndrome with an abysmal prognosis (10-30% 5 years overall survival). The investigators have recently established an improved diagnostic and prognostic index for HM-HLH, termed the Optimized HLH Inflammatory (OHI) index. The OHI index is comprised of the combined elevation of soluble CD25 (sCD25) \> 3,900 U/mL and ferritin \>1,000 ng/mL . However, the true incidence and outcomes of HLH/OHI+ in an unselected cohort are unknown, and so is the mechanism of HM-HLH.

UWCCC Molecular Tumor Board Registry

This study seeks to evaluate the clinical utility of the Precision Medicine Molecular Tumor Board, and to track patient outcomes.

Cognitive Training Intervention and Attitudes Towards Genetics

A pilot study to evaluate feasibility of enrollment of patients in an intervention to improve neurocognitive function in hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) survivors using the cognitive training Lumosity program. In addition, patients' interest in receiving information regarding genetic risk of cognitive impairment post-HCT will be measured.

Ceftolozane/Tazobactam vs. Piperacillin/Tazobactam for the Treatment of Bacteremia in Hemato-oncological Patients

Patients with hematological malignancies receive highly myelotoxic chemotherapy regimens that cause periods of severe myelosuppression, which places them at high risk of developing bacteremia. At a global level, a very significant increase in multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative microorganisms, particularly Enterobacteriaceae producing extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) and MDR P.aeruginosa, have been described during the last decade. Among the strategies to reduce bacterial resistance, ceftolozane/tazobactam (C/T) as a "carbapenem-sparing" antibiotic has been proposed. C/T has broad-spectrum activity since it has action against ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae and MDR P. aeruginosa. Studies carried out in the real world using this antibiotic in patients with hematological malignancies have demonstrated clinical success in reports and case series, considered a therapeutic option in patients with Enterobacteriaceae and P. aeruginosa infections, particularly in MDR pathogens. At the National Cancer Institute (in Spanish, Instituto Nacional de Cancerologia), Gram-negative bacilli have been identified for more than 20 years as the pathogens most frequently associated with bacteremia. Escherichia coli occupies the first place in 25% (41% ESBL), followed by Klebsiella spp. in 5.6% (11.2% ESBL) and P. aeruginosa in 5.6% (11.2% MDR). The protocol for approaching and treating hematological malignancy patients with severe neutropenia and fever is to initiate an antimicrobial regimen with piperacillin/tazobactam (P/T). In patients who persist with fever after 48 to 72 hours of starting antibiotics, who present with clinical deterioration, or in whom P/T-resistant bacteria are identified, this is escalated to carbapenem. Therefore, it is proposed to compare the clinical and microbiological response in patients with hematological malignancies who present with severe neutropenia and fever and who present clinical data of bacteremia, with empirical treatment with C/T vs. P/T, trying to reduce the use of carbapenems in this group of patients.

Bleeding In Thrombocytopenia Explained

Multicenter case cohort study investigating clinical risk factors for clinically relevant bleeding in hemato-oncology patients, as well as bleeding related biomarkers during intensive treatment.

Study of Gene Modified Donor T Cell Infusion in Patients With Recurrent Disease After Allogeneic Transplant

A Phase I study of BPX-501 T cell infusion in adults with recurrent or minimal residual disease (MRD) hematologic malignancies post-allogeneic transplant. The treatment consists of increasing doses of BPX-501 T cell infusions to achieve a clinical response. Rimiducid will be investigated for the treatment of aGvHD after BPX-501 T cell infusion to determine a dose that can mitigate GvHD and preserve the graft versus leukemia effect.

Immunological Profile for Patients Treated With CAR-T Cells

In the frame of Si-CART study, blood will be collected from patients treated with CAR-T cells: before (at Day (D)-6 and D0 before cells injection), post infusion at D3, D5,D7, D9, D11, D14, D18, D 21, Month (M) 2 and M12 post injection. A cerebrospinal fluid sample will also be collected if a Cerebrospinal Fluid Analysis Lumbar puncture is performed