Clinical Research Directory

Psychosocial and Behavioral Intervention for Stem Cell Transplant Patients and Their Family Caregivers

Adherence to the medical regimen after stem cell transplant is challenging for both patients and their family caregivers. The investigators propose a randomized clinical trial testing two brief psychosocial interventions to determine if either improves patient and family caregiver psychosocial and health-related outcomes.

Shingrix In Recipients of Allogeneic Transplants

This research is designed to determine if the adjuvanted recombinant glycoprotein E (gE) herpes zoster (HZ) vaccine (Shingrix) has acceptable immunogenicity and safety in people who have undergone allogeneic stem cell transplant (allo-SCT). Specifically, it will determine the effect of the interval after transplantation on the immune response and if an additional dose of vaccine is needed to improve the vaccine-induced responses.

Behavioral Weight Loss Intervention Utilizing Mobile Health Technology in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Patients

Pilot study enrolling obese post HSCT (hematopoietic stem cell transplantation) patients at the hematology/oncology clinic at the Mattel Children's Hospital, University of California, Los Angeles. Parameters include percent over the 95th percentile (%BMIp95), zBMI, fasting metabolic metrics, addictive eating habits, and motivation for change.

Addition of Venetoclax to Combined Hematopoietic Stem Cell and Kidney Transplantation

The primary objective is to assess the safety of the addition of venetoclax to reduced intensity conditioning for HLA-matched and haploidentical combined HSC and kidney transplantation as measured by stable full donor hematopoiesis and absence of CTCAE grade IV or V toxicity attributable to venetoclax.

Framework for Optimizing, Refining, and Unifying Management of HSCT in Pediatric ALL

Current therapeutic strategies for high-risk or relapsed ALL patients often involve intensive treatments, including allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). HSCT remains a cornerstone of therapy, offering curative potential; however, it is associated with considerable risks, including non-relapse mortality (NRM), significant morbidity, and long-term complications that continue to be major concerns. In response to these challenges, the FORUM consortium has made substantial progress in improving outcomes for children with ALL undergoing HSCT. The consortium focuses on reducing life-threatening and lifelong complications, ultimately aiming to enhance quality of life for these high-risk patients. Building on the robust evidence generated by FORUM1, the FORUM2 study has been designed to further optimize the role of HSCT in ALL across all age groups and donor settings within a harmonized and internationally coordinated framework. The FORUM2 study introduces a master protocol structure that encompasses multiple hypothesis-driven substudies, each addressing a specific determinant of HSCT outcomes. This design enables simultaneous or sequential evaluation of novel strategies while ensuring uniform governance, endpoint definitions, and data-quality standards. The overarching objective is to refine the role of HSCT in ALL by reducing treatment-related toxicity while preserving the essential graft-versus-leukemia effect.

Ex Vivo T-Cell Depletion of Mobilized Peripheral Blood Stem Cells Via CD34-Selection

Participants are being asked to take part in this study because treatment of his or her disease requires a stem cell transplant. Stem cells or "mother" cells are the source of normal blood cells and lead to recovery of blood counts after bone marrow transplantation. Unfortunately, there is not a perfectly matched stem cell donor (like a sister or brother) for the participant and his or her disease does not permit enough time to identify another donor (like someone from a registry list that is not his or her relative) or another suitable donor has not been identified. However, a close relative of the patient has been identified whose stem cells are not a perfect match, but can be used. Alternatively, the patient may have already received a stem cell transplant but have evidence of mixed chimerism, which means some of the patient's own bone marrow cells are present, rather than all of the donor's cells. This may lead to an increased risk of the disease coming back. Or, the patient may have all donor cells but his or her bone marrow is not working very well, which may lead to frequent blood or platelet (cells that help in clotting blood) transfusions or infection. Regardless of the reason, it may be necessary to isolate stem cells from a haploidentical (half-match) donor in order to provide bone marrow function. Because the stem cells from the donor are only half-matched to the participant, the risk of graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) is very high. GvHD is a complication after transplant caused by donor T cells (graft) that attack the transplant recipient, and this complication can cause death after transplant. Thus, it is important that the donor's blood cells are treated to minimize cells that are most likely to attack the host's tissues. This is done by using a special device to capture the CD34+ stem cells from the donor's stem cell product prior to giving the cells to the host. This method minimizes the donor T cells, which are responsible for causing GvHD. Purpose: In an effort to lower the occurrences and severity of graft-versus-host disease in patients and to lower the rate of transplant failure, investigators would like to specially treat the donor's blood cells to minimize the cells that are most likely to attack the patient's tissues.

Monitoring Neurocognitive Dysfunction and the Impact of Metabolism and Physical Capacity After Paediatric HSCT

Today the overall survival of childhood cancers has increased to above 85%. This increase is partially caused by treatment with bone marrow transplantation. A bone marrow transplantation is an efficient treatment against high-risk leukemia, as well as other life-threatening immunological and hematological diseases. However, it is unfortunately also related to the risk of developing a long series of late effects during early adulthood, such as reduced muscle mass, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Some survivors of bone marrow transplantation in childhood also seem to experience changes in cognitive functions. These changes may be experienced as difficulties with concentration, forgetfulness, learning difficulties, and challenges in school or the labour market. Currently, the extent of cognitive changes following bone marrow transplantation in childhood is not fully understood, nor how it relates to other late effects, and what can be done to prevent cognitive impairment. This research project will examine cognitive function in a group of survivors of bone marrow transplantation in childhood and find out whether there is a correlation between reduced cognitive function and the occurrence of other late effects, including metabolic changes and reduced physical capacity. It will also explore associations between cognitive function at late follow up and blood-based biomarkers of neurological damage and systemic inflammation at the time of transplantation to identify predictors of reduced cognitive function. The goal of the study is to evaluate the level of cognitive functioning after bone marrow transplantation in childhood, see how it relates to other late effect and identify risk factors and biomarkers in the blood that can predict which patients are at risk of neurocognitive impairment. The results of this study will hopefully contribute to optimizing the prevention and treatment of cognitive impairments following bone marrow transplantation in childhood, thereby improving the quality of life for survivors of bone marrow transplantation in childhood.

Psychoeducation for AlloHCT Caregivers

Background: Caregivers of patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT) for hematological malignancies face significant challenges that can impact their well-being. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of an adapted psychoeducational intervention(PEI) designed to support these caregivers. Methods: This study will recruit caregivers of alloHCT patients. Participants will be enrolled during pre-transplant clinic visits, typically 2-4 weeks before the scheduled transplant. The intervention consists of eight sessions over 12 weeks, delivered via Microsoft Teams by a nurse facilitator. In the adapted PEI, participants will learn stress management, coping strategies, energy management, goal-setting, communication skills, and support resource access through interactive exercises. Data Collection: Participants will complete questionnaires at three time points: pre-intervention, one month post-transplant, and three months post-transplant. The final assessment will include additional questions about feasibility, acceptability and the initial efficacy of the adapted PEI. Outcomes: The primary outcomes will be the feasibility and acceptability of the adapted psychoeducational intervention (PEI). Secondary outcomes will include initial efficacy of the adapted PEI on caregiver outcomes such as depression, anxiety, satisfaction with caregiving and quality of life. Significance: This research aims to assess the feasibility, acceptability and initial efficacy of implementing the adapted PEI for alloHCT caregivers. If found feasible and acceptable, this intervention could potentially improve caregivers' ability to manage caregiving stressors and pave the way for larger-scale randomized studies and implementation.

Mosaic Trial for Stem Cell Transplant Recipients

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if using an intervention website (Mosaic) improves selected patient-reported outcomes in adult blood cancer patients undergoing allogeneic or autologous stem cell transplant, compared to using an educational website (control group). Patients will be recruited prior to their scheduled transplant, then randomized to use one of these two study websites throughout the study. They will complete five assessments during the study: one before transplant (baseline) and four after transplant (2, 4, 6, and 8 month follow-ups). The main questions this trial aims to answer are: 1. Compared to patients using the control group website, do patients using the intervention website report greater improvements in general psychological distress, cancer treatment-related distress, physical symptoms, and health-related quality of life? 2. Are these benefits at least partially explained by improvements in perceived preparedness, self-efficacy, and approach coping and/or reductions in avoidant coping and perceived stress? 3. Do some patients benefit more from using the intervention website than others? Specifically, we will examine whether patients' primary language (English/Spanish) and their initial psychological distress are related to the benefit they get from using the intervention website. We will also explore effects of sex, race, ethnicity, and transplant type.

Fertility Protection for Children, Adolescents and Young Adults

This study focuses on improving fertility preservation and long-term care for children, adolescents, and young adults (CAYA) undergoing cancer treatments or stem cell transplantation. These treatments can harm fertility, and ensuring that patients receive the right support and follow-up care is critical. The main study goals are: 1. Understanding Fertility Risks: Researchers aim to identify factors that predict fertility problems after cancer treatments, such as the type of therapy, hormone levels, body composition, or genetic predispositions. 2. Addressing Patient and Family Needs: The program will explore the concerns, needs, and challenges faced by young patients and their parents regarding fertility. It will also examine how these issues affect their quality of life. 3. Improving Clinical Care: Current practices in fertility preservation and counseling will be studied to identify gaps and improve care structures. To achieve these goals, the program will: * Create a database to collect and analyze medical data from patients before, during, and after cancer treatments. * Study the prevalence and long-term effects of fertility problems in young patients. * Document medical interventions like fertility preservation methods (e.g., freezing eggs or sperm) and treatments for late effects. * Assess patients' and families' fertility-related quality of life and their informational needs. Ultimately, the project aims to establish an interdisciplinary center to support fertility preservation and improve the quality of care for young patients facing cancer and its treatments.

Critical Care Outcomes of Hematologic Oncology Patients

Hematologic malignancy patients are admitted to ICU in increasing numbers. Successful ICU intervention has led to an increasing number of ICU survivors; however, there is a lack of information available about these patients' long term survival and quality of life. There is little Canadian data regarding ICU survival and regarding 1-year survival and functional outcomes in this group of patients. Over 500 patients are admitted annually to Canadian ICUs with an underlying hematologic malignancy or stem cell transplant, yet there is a paucity of up to date long-term outcome data. This information will facilitate a better understanding who would best benefit from critical care interventions and the impact of critical illness on their level of function at 1 year as well as survival.

Assessment of Elderly Undergoing Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Patients older than 60 years are more and more transplanted. Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) have been developed and are currently used in patients with cancer, it has been correlated with the prognosis. There is still few data in transplanted patients and the aim of this study is to assess these patients before and after transplantation in order to monitor their general health and quality of life (QOF) and correlate them to the prognostic.

Post-transplant PT/FLU+CY Promotes Unrelated Cord Blood Engraftment in Haplo-cord Setting in Childhood Leukemia

To determine if the novel regimen of PT/FLU+CY promotes cord blood engraftment in children's leukemia HSCT cohort