Clinical Research Directory

HA-1 T TCR T Cell Immunotherapy for the Treatment of Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Acute Leukemia After Donor Stem Cell Transplant

This phase I trial studies the side effects and best dose of CD4+ and CD8+ HA-1 T cell receptor (TCR) (HA-1 T TCR) T cells in treating patients with acute leukemia that persists, has come back (recurrent) or does not respond to treatment (refractory) following donor stem cell transplant. T cell receptor is a special protein on T cells that helps them recognize proteins on other cells including leukemia. HA-1 is a protein that is present on the surface of some peoples' blood cells, including leukemia. HA-1 T cell immunotherapy enables genes to be added to the donor cells to make them recognize HA-1 markers on leukemia cells.

A Study to Find the Highest Dose of Imetelstat in Combination With Fludarabine and Cytarabine for Patients With AML, MDS or JMML That Has Come Back or Does Not Respond to Therapy

This phase I trial tests the safety, side effects, and best dose of imetelstat in combination with fludarabine and cytarabine in treating patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) that has not responded to previous treatment (refractory) or that has come back after a period of improvement (recurrent). Imetelstat may stop the growth of cancer cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Chemotherapy drugs, such as fludarabine and cytarabine, work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Giving imetelstat in combination with fludarabine and cytarabine may work better in treating patients with refractory or recurrent AML, MDS, and JMML.

A Two-Step Approach to Reduced Intensity Bone Marrow Transplant for Patients With Hematological Malignancies

This phase II trial studies how well reduced intensity donor stem cell transplant works in treating patients with hematologic malignancies. Giving chemotherapy and total-body irradiation before a donor peripheral blood stem cell transplant helps stop the growth of cells in the bone marrow, including normal blood-forming cells (stem cells) and cancer cells. It may also stop the patient's immune system from rejecting the donor's stem cells. When the healthy stem cells from a donor are infused into the patient they may help the patient's bone marrow make stem cells, red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. The donated stem cells may also replace the patient's immune cells and help destroy any remaining cancer cells. Sometimes the transplanted cells from a donor can make an immune response against the body's normal cells (called graft-versus-host disease). Giving tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil after the transplant may stop this from happening. Once the donated stem cells begin working, the patient's immune system may see the remaining cancer cells as not belonging in the patient's body and destroy them. Giving an infusion of the donor's white blood cells (donor lymphocyte infusion) may boost this effect.

FH-FOLR1 Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell Therapy for Treating Pediatric Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia

This phase I trial tests the safety, side effects, and best dose of FH-FOLR1 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells in treating pediatric patients with FOLR1+ acute myeloid leukemia (AML) that has come back after a period of improvement (recurrent) or has not responded to previous treatment (refractory). CAR T-cell therapy is a type of treatment in which a patient's T cells (a type of immune system cell) are changed in the laboratory so they will attack cancer cells. T cells are taken from a patient's blood. Then the gene for a special receptor that binds to a FOLR1 on the patient's cancer cells is added to the T cells in the laboratory. The special receptor is called a chimeric antigen receptor. Large numbers of the CAR T cells are grown in the laboratory and given to the patient by infusion for treatment of certain cancers. Chemotherapy drugs, such as fludarabine and cyclophosphamide, are given to a patient before the manufactured FH-FOLR1 CAR T cells are infused back into the patient to assist in the CAR T cell activity in the patient. The trial is evaluating if giving FH-FOLR1 CAR T cell therapy is safe and tolerable for pediatric patients with recurrent or refractory AML.

Total Marrow and Lymphoid Irradiation and Chemotherapy Before DSCT in Treating Patients With High-Risk ALL or AML

This phase II trial studies the safety and efficacy of total marrow and lymphoid irradiation (TMLI) in combination with two chemotherapy drugs, etoposide and cyclophosphamide, as a preparative regimen before donor stem cell transplant in treating patients with high-risk acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) or acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who have failed previous therapy. Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) uses imaging to provide a three-dimensional view of the area to be irradiated. Doctors can then shape and direct the radiation beams at the area from multiple directions while avoiding, as much as possible, nearby organs. TMLI is a method of using IMRT to direct radiation to the bone marrow. Radiation therapy is given before transplant to suppress the immune system, prevent rejection of the transplanted cells, and wipe out any remaining cancer cells. TMLI may allow a greater radiation dose to be delivered to the bone marrow as a preparative regimen before transplant while causing fewer side effects than standard radiation therapy.

Ex Vivo Drug Sensitivity Testing and Multi-Omics Profiling

Functional precision medicine (FPM) is a relatively new approach to cancer therapy based on direct exposure of patient- isolated tumor cells to clinically approved drugs and integrates ex vivo drug sensitivity testing (DST) and genomic profiling to determine the optimal individualized therapy for cancer patients. In this study, we will enroll relapsed or refractory pediatric cancer patients with tissue available for DST and genomic profiling from the South Florida area, which is 69% Hispanic and 18% Black. Tumor cells collected from tissue taken during routine biopsy or surgery will be tested.