Cord Blood Transplant for Blood Cancers

Recruiting at 6 trial locations

Overseen By Ann Jakubowski, MD, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Phase 2

Sponsor: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Must not be taking: Checkpoint inhibitors

Disqualifiers: Myelofibrosis, CNS disease, HIV, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Prior Safety Data This treatment has passed at least one previous human trial

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

54 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to evaluate an improved method for performing cord blood transplants in adults with certain blood cancers. It examines patient outcomes after receiving the transplant, focusing on side effects, cancer recurrence, and immune system recovery. Suitable candidates include adults with high-risk blood cancers, such as certain types of leukemia and lymphoma, who have faced challenges with previous treatments. The study seeks to refine and improve transplant procedures to enhance patient outcomes. As a Phase 2 trial, this research measures the treatment's effectiveness in an initial, smaller group of participants.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor to get specific guidance.

What prior data suggests that this optimized cord blood transplant practice is safe?

Research has shown that cord blood transplants (CBT) are generally safe for treating blood cancers. Studies have found that CBT, even with cord blood from unrelated donors, is both safe and effective for patients with high-risk blood cancers. For instance, using two units of cord blood for a transplant yields safety results similar to those from other types of stem cell transplants, such as those from matched donors.

One study highlighted that umbilical cord blood transplants can help the immune system recover and accept the transplant more easily. Another study found that survival rates after using two units of cord blood are similar to those after transplants from matched donors.

While all medical treatments can have side effects, evidence suggests that cord blood transplants are generally well-tolerated. This makes them a promising option for people with blood cancers. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Unlike the standard of care for blood cancers, which often involves bone marrow transplants, the cord blood transplant uses stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood. This method is exciting because it offers a more readily available source of stem cells and potentially reduces the risk of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), a common complication in transplants. Additionally, it allows for a less stringent donor match compared to traditional bone marrow transplants, which can be particularly beneficial for patients who have difficulty finding a compatible donor. Researchers are optimistic about this approach as it could make life-saving transplants accessible to more patients with high-risk blood cancers.

What evidence suggests that this optimized cord blood transplant practice is effective for blood cancers?

Research shows that cord blood transplants (CBT), which participants in this trial will receive, effectively treat blood cancers. Studies have found that survival rates without leukemia after using two units of cord blood match those from transplants with matched donors. Cord blood serves as a good alternative source for stem cells, and its use in transplants can speed up recovery. Improved methods developed by MSK focus on better preparing, treating, and monitoring patients to enhance results. Overall, CBT offers a promising option for those fighting blood cancers. ^{2 3 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Ann Jakubowski, MD

Principal Investigator

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults with various high-risk blood cancers, including different types of leukemia and lymphoma. Participants must meet specific criteria such as being in a certain phase of remission, having adequate organ function, and not having had certain previous treatments like stem cell transplants within the last year.

Inclusion Criteria

I have a high-risk form of MDS or MPD.

My Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is at high risk of getting worse if not in remission.

My organs are functioning well and I can do most activities.

Exclusion Criteria

I have been diagnosed with myelofibrosis or another cancer that affects my bone marrow.

My brain or spinal cord cancer is still visible on scans.

I had a stem cell transplant from my own cells within the last year.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Conditioning Treatment

Participants receive standard chemotherapy and total body irradiation therapy to prepare for the transplant

1-2 weeks

Transplantation

Infusion of the double-unit cord blood graft

1 day

Inpatient stay for transplantation

Post-Transplant Monitoring

Participants are monitored for side effects, disease relapse, GVHD, and immune system recovery

Up to 45 days

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

6 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Conditioning Chemotherapy
• Cord blood graft

Trial Overview

The study tests an 'optimized' cord blood transplant (CBT) process developed by MSK. It includes evaluation methods, conditioning chemotherapy, total body irradiation before the transplant, and post-transplant care to assess side effects, disease relapse rates, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), and immune recovery.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Cord Blood Transplant Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Adult patients with high-risk hematologic malignancies and a suitable double-unit CB graft will undergo work-up to assess protocol eligibility. CB graft selection will be based on established MSKCC guidelines. Patients will receive standard conditioning with Cy 50 mg/kg, Flu 150 mg/m2, Thio 10 mg/kg, and TBI 400 cGy according to the eligibility criteria. GVHD prophylaxis will consist of CSA and MMF starting day -3. The double-unit CB graft will be infused on day 0 per standard practice. Optimized CBT practices, will be implemented in this protocol.

Conditioning Chemotherapy is already approved in European Union, United States, Canada, Japan, China, Switzerland for the following indications:

Approved in European Union as Chemotherapy for:

• Blood cancers
• Leukemia
• Lymphoma
• Multiple myeloma

Approved in United States as Chemotherapy for:

• Blood cancers
• Leukemia
• Lymphoma
• Multiple myeloma

Approved in Canada as Chemotherapy for:

• Blood cancers
• Leukemia
• Lymphoma
• Multiple myeloma

Approved in Japan as Chemotherapy for:

• Blood cancers
• Leukemia
• Lymphoma
• Multiple myeloma

Approved in China as Chemotherapy for:

• Blood cancers
• Leukemia
• Lymphoma
• Multiple myeloma

Approved in Switzerland as Chemotherapy for:

• Blood cancers
• Leukemia
• Lymphoma
• Multiple myeloma

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,998

Recruited

602,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Umbilical cord blood transplantation (CBT) has seen significant advancements over the past 20 years, improving myeloid and platelet engraftment rates, particularly through strategies like double CBT and ex-vivo graft engineering.

Despite these improvements, delayed immune reconstitution remains a major challenge, especially in adult recipients, leading to increased risks of infections; ongoing research is focused on enhancing T cell recovery and preserving thymopoiesis to further improve patient outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Cord blood transplantation: evolving strategies to improve engraftment and immune reconstitution. Escalón, MP., Komanduri, KV.[2019]

The pilot study involving 17 adult patients with advanced hematologic malignancies demonstrated the feasibility of reduced-intensity cord blood transplantation (RI-CBT) using a non-total body irradiation (TBI) regimen, with 9 out of 13 evaluable patients achieving successful engraftment.

Among the patients who achieved engraftment, 6 were alive in remission at a median follow-up of 13.1 months, suggesting that RI-CBT can provide a clinically significant graft-vs-tumor effect when disease progression is managed effectively.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Successful engraftment of mismatched unrelated cord blood transplantation following reduced intensity preparative regimen using fludarabine and busulfan. Komatsu, T., Narimatsu, H., Yoshimi, A., et al.[2013]

Cord blood stem cell transplantation (CBST) has been successfully performed in over 300 patients, showing a probability of event-free survival comparable to traditional bone marrow transplantation (BMT).

CBST may provide a solution to the challenges of finding suitable donors and reducing the risk of severe graft-versus-host disease (GVH), making it a promising alternative for treating hematologic and solid malignancies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Present state of cord-blood stem cell transplantation]. Nishihira, H., Ohnuma, K., Toyoda, Y.[2007]

Umbilical cord blood transplantation serves as a crucial alternative for patients lacking matched adult donors, especially benefiting those from diverse ethnic backgrounds who face challenges in finding suitable donors.

This method has led to over 25,000 patients being cured, highlighting its efficacy as a curative treatment for various blood-related diseases and genetic disorders.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Update on umbilical cord blood transplantation. Ballen, K.[2019]

Umbilical cord blood (CB) transplantation offers significant advantages over traditional bone marrow transplantation, including better matching, quicker availability, and reduced risk of graft-versus-host disease, making it a promising option for patients with hematological malignancies.

CB-derived T cells can be expanded and modified for enhanced immunotherapy, and combining these with vaccination strategies may lead to more effective treatments against tumors.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Use of cord blood derived T-cells in cancer immunotherapy: milestones achieved and future perspectives. Lo Presti, V., Nierkens, S., Boelens, JJ., et al.[2019]

In a study of 71 children with acute leukemia undergoing cord blood transplantation, those who received the TCF conditioning regimen (total body irradiation, cyclophosphamide, and fludarabine) had a 100% engraftment rate, compared to only 77.4% in the non-TCF group.

The TCF group also experienced significantly lower rates of cytomegalovirus disease (5.6% vs. 30.2%) and had a higher 5-year overall survival rate of 77.8%, compared to 44.2% in the non-TCF group, indicating that the TCF regimen is more effective and safer for these patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Conditioning with 10 Gy Total Body Irradiation, Cyclophosphamide, and Fludarabine without ATG Is Associated with Improved Outcome of Cord Blood Transplantation in Children with Acute Leukemia. Cho, HW., Ju, HY., Hyun, JK., et al.[2021]

In a study of 171 adults with hematologic malignancies, unrelated cord blood transplantation (CBT) showed similar overall engraftment rates compared to related donor transplants, despite a significant delay in engraftment after CBT.

CBT recipients experienced significantly lower rates of severe acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and had comparable transplantation-related mortality, relapse rates, and disease-free survival compared to those receiving related bone marrow or peripheral blood stem-cell transplants.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Comparative single-institute analysis of cord blood transplantation from unrelated donors with bone marrow or peripheral blood stem-cell transplants from related donors in adult patients with hematologic malignancies after myeloablative conditioning regimen. Takahashi, S., Ooi, J., Tomonari, A., et al.[2021]

High-dose conditioning agents used before hemopoietic stem cell transplants can lead to significant procedure-related mortality (10-30%), prompting research into low-dose alternatives to reduce risks.

New low-toxicity conditioning agents, such as radiolabeled immunoglobulins, show promise in improving the safety and efficacy of stem cell transplants by targeting only the necessary tissues, potentially increasing the therapeutic index.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Aims of conditioning. Vriesendorp, HM.[2019]

A new reduced-intensity conditioning regimen (Flu/MEL/LD-rATG) for umbilical cord blood transplantation achieved a 100% engraftment rate and a 5-year event-free survival rate of 90.9% in 11 children, indicating its high efficacy.

This regimen outperformed previous conditioning methods that included irradiation, which had a significantly lower 5-year event-free survival rate of 30.0%, suggesting that the new approach is safer and more effective for treating rare hematological disorders.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Radiation-sparing reduced-intensity unrelated umbilical cord blood transplantation for rare hematological disorders in children. Sawada, A., Shimizu, M., Koyama-Sato, M., et al.[2022]

Hematopoietic stem cell transplants have become more common and effective due to advances in technology, with peripheral blood stem cells now preferred over bone marrow for autologous transplants, and non-myeloablative conditioning regimens being explored to reduce toxicity.

Despite improvements in safety and supportive care, stem cell transplants still carry risks of complications, making proactive assessment and management of potential side effects crucial for successful outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Managing the toxicity of hematopoietic stem cell transplant. Pallera, AM., Schwartzberg, LS.[2005]

Chemotherapy patients commonly face complications like neutropenia, fever, and infections, but the use of antibodies, antimycotics, and G-CSF can help manage these risks effectively.

Nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy can often be prevented with proper antiemetic treatments, while anemia can be treated with red cell concentrates and erythropoietin, highlighting the importance of supportive care in managing chemotherapy side effects.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Patient treated with chemotherapy. Alarm signs requiring immediate intervention]. Mende, S.[2006]

Umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT) using an improved myeloablative conditioning regimen (TBI/Ara-c/CY) resulted in 100% engraftment among 40 adult patients with hematological malignancies, demonstrating its efficacy in establishing donor cell engraftment.

The treatment showed a two-year overall survival rate of 58.8%, with lower relapse rates and chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) occurrences in high-risk and advanced patients, indicating a favorable safety profile and potential benefits for these challenging cases.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Unrelated umbilical cord blood transplantation with TBI/Ara-c/CY non-ATG conditioning regimen for adults with hematologic malignancies]. Sun, ZM., Liu, HL., Geng, LQ., et al.[2012]

Umbilical cord blood (CB) is increasingly used for hematopoietic cell transplants in patients with high-risk blood disorders, showing decreased relapse rates compared to other donor sources, although it may lead to higher transplantation-related mortality.

The use of double CB units has effectively addressed the dose limitations of single units, allowing for successful transplants in larger children and adults, while reduced intensity conditioning has made it possible to treat older patients who cannot handle more aggressive treatment regimens.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Umbilical cord blood transplantation: a maturing technology. Oran, B., Shpall, E.[2016]

In a study involving 25 patients with refractory cancers, low-dose total body irradiation (100 cGy) followed by allogeneic stem cell transplantation showed promising results, particularly in hematologic malignancies, where 9 out of 11 patients achieved donor chimerism.

Among the patients with hematologic cancers, 4 achieved sustained complete remission, indicating that this approach may be effective and less toxic compared to conventional high-dose conditioning regimens.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Low dose total body irradiation followed by allogeneic lymphocyte infusion for refractory hematologic malignancy--an updated review. Ballen, KK., Colvin, G., Porter, D., et al.[2019]

Citations

1.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4250219/

Concise Review: Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation

Umbilical cord blood has emerged as an effective alternate source of hematopoietic stem cell support. Transplantation with cord blood allows for faster ...

2.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2996124/

relative risks and benefits of double umbilical cord blood

We conclude that leukemia-free survival after dUCB transplantation is comparable with that observed after MRD and MUD transplantation.

3.

clinicaltrials.gov

clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT00864227

Evaluating the Safety and Effectiveness of an Umbilical ...

The purpose of the study is to examine the safety and effectiveness of a nonmyeloablative stem cell transplant that uses umbilical cord blood as a treatment ...

4.

nejm.org

nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1405584

One-Unit versus Two-Unit Cord-Blood Transplantation for ...

We found that among children and adolescents with hematologic cancer, survival rates were similar after single-unit and double-unit cord-blood transplantation.

5.

sciencedirect.com

sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950328025000391

Outcomes of myeloablative allogeneic hematopoietic cell ...

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) remains the only potentially curative therapy for many hematologic malignancies. However, access to fully ...

6.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40298875/

Combined unrelated donor allogeneic hematopoietic stem ...

Our data show that URD-HSCT in combination with unrelated cord blood transfusion is a safe and effective therapy for patients with intermediate- to high-risk ...

7.

astctjournal.org

astctjournal.org/article/S2666-6367(25)01408-3/fulltext

Efficacy and Safety of Haploidentical Hematopoietic Stem ...

Umbilical cord blood (UCB) infusion may mitigate these risks by promoting immune tolerance and hematopoietic recovery. However, the efficacy of ...

8.

ashpublications.org

ashpublications.org/blood/article/116/22/4693/107883/Allogeneic-hematopoietic-cell-transplantation-for

relative risks and benefits of double umbilical cord blood

We conclude that leukemia-free survival after dUCB transplantation is comparable with that observed after MRD and MUD transplantation.