Nonmyeloablative Peripheral Blood Mobilized Hematopoietic Precursor Cell Transplantation for Sickle Cell Disease and Beta-thalassemia in People With Higher Risk of Transplant Failure

NCT ID: NCT02105766

Last Updated: 2025-03-11

Study Results

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Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

PHASE2

Total Enrollment

56 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2014-04-21

Study Completion Date

2027-12-31

Brief Summary

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Background:

\- Some sickle cell disease or beta-thalassemia can be cured with transplant. Researchers want to test a variation of transplant that uses low dose radiation and a combination of immunosuppressive drugs. They want to know if it helps a body to better accept donor stem cells.

Objectives:

\- To see if low dose radiation (300 rads), oral cyclophosphamide, pentostatin, and sirolimus help a body to better accept donor stem cells.

Eligibility:

\- People 4 and older with beta-thalassemia or sickle cell disease that can be cured with transplant, and their donors.

Design:

* Participants and donors will be screened with medical history, physical exam, blood test, tissue and blood typing, and bone marrow sampling. They will visit a social worker.
* Donors:
* may receive an intravenous (IV) tube in their groin vein.
* will receive a drug injection daily for 5 or 6 days to move the blood stem cells from the bone marrow into general blood circulation.
* will undergo apheresis: an IV is put into a vein in each arm. Blood is taken from one arm, a machine removes the white blood cells that contain blood stem cells, and the rest is returned through the other arm.
* Participants:
* may undergo red cell exchange procedure.
* will remain in the hospital for about 30 days.
* will receive a large IV line that can stay in their body from transplant through recovery.
* will receive a dose of radiation, and transplant related drugs by mouth or IV.
* will receive blood stem cells over 8 hours by IV.
* will take neuropsychological tests and may complete questionnaires throughout the transplant process.
* must stay near NIH for 4 months. They will visit the outpatient clinic weekly.

Detailed Description

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Our ongoing nonmyeloablative allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) transplant protocol (03-H-0170) for patients with severe sickle cell disease (SCD) and B-thalassemia from HLA-matched family donors has excellent results thus far. Our long term leukocyte engraftment rate is 85-90% with the same disease-free survival. None of the engrafted patients had acute sickle-related events, significant toxicity associated with the conditioning regimen, or any evidence of graft versus host disease (GVHD).

While these results rival the transplant outcomes from low risk transplant patients with B-thalassemia, there are areas for improvement. The first is the 10-15% graft rejection rate, where a majority of these individuals were male donor and female recipient pairs. Another limitation is the significant delay in donor red cell engraftment in one recipient who had pre-existing allo-antibody to donor red cells from previous transfusions. Also we have excluded another group of individuals with preformed antibodies, recipients having major ABO incompatibility to the donors.

To overcome these limitations (and reduce the transplant failure rate) in this new protocol, we will continue our nonmyeloablative approach in the patients with SCD and B-thalassemia with HLA-matched family donors, but using an increased intensity regimen in a subset considered at high risk for transplant failure. This modified regimen consists of pentostatin and oral cyclophosphamide, which we hypothesize will reduce both the T cells that mediate leukocyte rejection and the B/plasma cells that produce anti-donor erythrocyte antibodies. The main transplant backbone will remain as alemtuzumab, low dose total body irradiation of 300 cGy, and sirolimus; the transplant graft will remain as unmanipulated G-CSF mobilized, T-cell replete, PBSC product for hematopoietic and lymphoid reconstitution.

The primary endpoint of this study is the percentage/number of patients who have sustained donor type hemoglobin at 1 year post transplant for male donors - female recipients. The primary endpoint for those with pre-existing antibodies is the presence of donor red cells with reticulocytes greater than or equal to 30 k/uL at 2 years post-transplant. Other endpoints include the toxicity of the pentostatin-cyclophosphamide regimen, the degree of donor-host chimerism necessary for long-term graft survival and disease amelioration, incidence of acute and chronic GVHD, incidence of graft rejection, transplant-related morbidity, as well as disease-free and overall survival. Since SCD and B-thalassemia are non-malignant disorders of red cells, severe GVHD, lack of donor erythrocyte (prolonged donor red cell aplasia), or graft rejection is collectively considered transplant failure.

Conditions

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Sickle Cell Disease Thalassemia Stem Cell Transplantation Graft vs Host Disease

Study Design

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Allocation Method

NON_RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Female participants with SCD or Beta-thalassemia receiving stem cell transplant with male donor

Female participants with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) or Beta-thalassemia receiving stem cell transplant with male donor. Pentostatin given on days -21, -17, -13, -9 and oral cyclophosphamide from days -21 to -8, with the intention to be administered in the outpatient setting. Alemtuzumab on days 7 to 3, and 300 cGy TBI on day 2. Sirolimus started at a loading dose of 5mg PO every 4 hours for three doses on day -1 and adjusted to maintain trough levels between 10-15 ng/mL. The PBSC graft targeted to deliver .10 x 106 CD34+ cells/kg (minimum .5 x 106) and infused on day 0.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Alemtuzumab

Intervention Type DRUG

Immunosuppressant

Sirolimus

Intervention Type DRUG

Immunosuppressant

Cyclophosphamide

Intervention Type DRUG

Immunosuppressant

Pentostatin

Intervention Type DRUG

Immunosuppressant

Radiotherapy

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Immunosuppressant and myelosuppressant

Participants with pre-existing antibodies and SCD or Beta-thalassemia receiving stem cell transplant

Participants with pre-existing antibodies and Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) or Beta-thalassemia receiving stem cell transplant. Pentostatin given on days -21, -17, -13, -9 and oral cyclophosphamide from days -21 to -8, with the intention to be administered in the outpatient setting. Alemtuzumab on days 7 to 3, and 300 cGy TBI on day 2. Sirolimus started at a loading dose of 5mg PO every 4 hours for three doses on day -1 and adjusted to maintain trough levels between 10-15 ng/mL. The PBSC graft targeted to deliver .10 x 106 CD34+ cells/kg (minimum .5 x 106) and infused on day 0.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Alemtuzumab

Intervention Type DRUG

Immunosuppressant

Sirolimus

Intervention Type DRUG

Immunosuppressant

Cyclophosphamide

Intervention Type DRUG

Immunosuppressant

Pentostatin

Intervention Type DRUG

Immunosuppressant

Radiotherapy

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Immunosuppressant and myelosuppressant

Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA) Matched Related Stem Cell Donor

Participants received filgrastim to mobilize peripheral blood stem cells for apheresis collection. Collected stem cells of donor will then be infused to HLA matched sibling.

Group Type OTHER

Filgrastim

Intervention Type DRUG

mobilize peripheral blood stem cells for apheresis collection

Interventions

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Alemtuzumab

Immunosuppressant

Intervention Type DRUG

Sirolimus

Immunosuppressant

Intervention Type DRUG

Cyclophosphamide

Immunosuppressant

Intervention Type DRUG

Pentostatin

Immunosuppressant

Intervention Type DRUG

Radiotherapy

Immunosuppressant and myelosuppressant

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Filgrastim

mobilize peripheral blood stem cells for apheresis collection

Intervention Type DRUG

Other Intervention Names

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Campath Rapamune Cytoxan Deoxycoformycin Neupogen

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

1. Disease specific

Patients with severe sickle cell disease (not limited to Hb SS, SC, or S beta-thal) at high risk for disease-related morbidity or mortality, defined by having severe end-organ damage (A, B, C, D, or E) or potentially modifiable complication(s) not ameliorated by hydroxyurea or sickle specific therapy (F):

--A. Stroke defined as a clinically significant neurologic event that is accompanied by an infarct on cerebral MRI or cerebral arteriopathy requiring chronic transfusion therapy; OR

--B. Sickle cell-related renal insufficiency defined by a creatinine level greater than or equal to 1.5 times the upper limit of normal and kidney biopsy consistent with sickle cell nephropathy OR nephrotic syndrome OR creatinine clearance less than \< 50mL/min OR requiring peritoneal or hemodialysis; OR

--C. Tricuspid regurgitant jet velocity (TRV) of greater than or equal to 2.5 m/s 40, 41 at baseline; OR

--D. Recurrent priapism defined as at least 2 episodes of an erection lasting \>4 hours involving the corpora cavernosa and corpus spongiosa; OR

--E. Sickle hepatopathy defined as EITHER ferritin \>1000mcg/L OR direct bilirubin \>0.4 mg/dL at baseline

--F. Any one of the below complications:

---Complication/ Eligible for hydroxyurea\*/ Eligible for HSCT

----Vaso-occlusive crises/ At least 3 hospital admissions in the last year/ More than one hospital admission in the last year while on therapeutic dose of hydroxyurea or sickle cell therapy
* Acute chest syndrome/ 2 prior ACS/ any ACS while on hydroxyurea
* Osetonecrosis of 2 or more joints/ And significantly affecting their quality of life by Karnofsky score 50-60/ And on hydroxyurea where total hemoglobuin increases less than 1 g/dL or fetal hemoglobin increases less than 2.5 times the baseline level
* Red cell alloimmunization/ Transfusion dependent/ Total hemoglobin increases less than 1g/dL while on hydroxurea

2\. Patients with beta-thalassemia who have grade 2 or 3 iron overload, determined by the presence of 2 or more of the following:

\-- portal fibrosis by liver biopsy
* inadequate chelation history (defined as failure to maintain adequate compliance with chelation with deferoxamine initiated within 18 months of the first transfusion and administered subcutaneously for 8-10 hours at least 5 days each week)
* hepatomegaly of greater than 2cm below the costochondral margin

Non-disease specific:

-Age greater than or equal to 4 years

-6/6 HLA matched family donor available
* Ability to comprehend and willing to sign an informed consent
* Negative beta-HCG, when applicable


-6/6 HLA matched family donor deemed suitable and eligible, and willing to donate, per clinical evaluations who are additionally willing to donate blood for research. Matched related donors will be evaluated in accordance with existing Standard NIH Policies and Procedures for determination of eligibility and suitability for clinical donation. Note that participation in this study is offered to all matched related donors, but is not required for a donor to make a stem cell donation, so it is possible that not all related donors will enroll onto this study.

Exclusion Criteria

-ECOG performance status of 3 or more

-Evidence of uncontrolled bacterial, viral, or fungal infections (currently taking medication and progression of clinical symptoms) within one month prior to starting the conditioning regimen. Patients with fever or suspected minor infection should await resolution of symptoms before starting the conditioning regimen.

-Major anticipated illness or organ failure incompatible with survival from PBSC transplant

-Pregnant or lactating


-None
Minimum Eligible Age

4 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

80 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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National Cancer Institute (NCI)

NIH

Sponsor Role collaborator

National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)

NIH

Sponsor Role collaborator

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

NIH

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Matthew M Hsieh, M.D.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Locations

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National Institutes of Health Clinical Center

Bethesda, Maryland, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

References

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Inam Z, Jeffries N, Link M, Coles W, Pollack P, Luckett C, Phang O, Harvey E, Martin T, Farrey T, Tisdale JF, Hsieh MM. Two Nonmyeloablative HLA-Matched Related Donor Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Regimens in Patients with Severe Sickle Cell Disease. Transplant Cell Ther. 2025 May;31(5):305-318. doi: 10.1016/j.jtct.2025.02.021. Epub 2025 Feb 24.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 40010689 (View on PubMed)

Leonard A, Furstenau D, Abraham A, Darbari DS, Nickel RS, Limerick E, Fitzhugh C, Hsieh M, Tisdale JF. Reduction in vaso-occlusive events following stem cell transplantation in patients with sickle cell disease. Blood Adv. 2023 Jan 24;7(2):227-234. doi: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2022008137.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 36240296 (View on PubMed)

Provided Documents

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Document Type: Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Related Links

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Other Identifiers

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14-H-0077

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: secondary_id

140077

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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