Dose Escalation Study Of Palifermin in Pediatric Research Participants Undergoing Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Overview

Mucositis is a well-known complication of both autologous and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Many who suffer this disorder require total parental nutrition and intravenous narcotics for pain control. Palifermin (Kepivance\[TM\]) is a human keratinocyte growth factor that is produced by recombinant DNA technology in E. coli. Palifermin is a FDA-approved, commercially available pharmacologic agent that is manufactured by Amgen. As keratinocyte growth factor receptors have been found within the epithelium of gastric mucosa, the use of palifermin has been proven to decrease the frequency and duration of severe mucositis in adult studies. Whereas the appropriate dosing regimen has been determined for adults at 60mcg/kg/day, the dosing of palifermin has not been established in the pediatric setting. This initial pediatric study of palifermin will determine the maximum tolerated dose, evaluating the use of this agent at three dose levels, below, at, and above the recommended adult dose. Non-hematologic, life-threatening NCI grade IV or grade V toxicities definitely related to the administration of palifermin from the first infusion until day +6 after HSCT (post palifermin administration day +3) will comprise the safety endpoints of the study. The study is designed to evaluate palifermin at 3 dose levels. The study population will be recipients of either a matched family member donor or matched unrelated donor HSCT. The pharmacokinetics of palifermin at each dose level will be described to help determine the appropriate dose for future studies, which will evaluate efficacy

Secondary objectives of this study include exploring the pharmacoeconomics of palifermin in this particular patient population through an assessment of inpatient days, intravenous nutrition, and analgesia requirements within 100 days post-transplantation. We will also explore the research participants' rates of immune reconstitution, specifically T and B-lymphocytes and NK cells, within the first year of HSCT.