In an effort to reduce graft versus host disease (GVHD) and enhance graft versus leukemia (GVL) effect post allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT), recent research has focused on host immune cell depletion. Frame shifting anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) backwards to earlier days before days 0 can result in deeper host and less graft T-cell depletion, leading to better immune reconstitution. Preliminary data where 80% of the ATG dose is given on days -6,-5,-4 and 20% given on day -1, showed effective prevention of severe acute GVHD, chronic GVHD and favorable early immune reconstitution. We hypothesize that our 2 step ATG dosing platform when combined with standard tacrolimus and mini methotrexate can prevent grade III-IV acute GVHD and chronic GVHD, resulting in improvement of GVHD/relapse free survival at one year post transplant.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
56
On Day -8, you will be admitted to the hospital and receive a dose of prednisone at 1 mg/kg (ATG premedication). You will receive a steroids 3 hours before every ATG infusion. On day -7, you will receive a small dose of ATG as an intravenous (IV) infusion. ATG will be repeated on days -6, -5 and -1. Routine transplant chemotherapy agent fludarabine will be given on days -7 to -3 as daily IV infusions. Melphalan, another routine transplant chemotherapy will be given on day -4 as IV infusion. Tacrolimus (standard immune suppression agent) will start on day -3 as continuous IV infusion and switched to oral after engraftment. Methotrexate is another standard immune suppression medication which is given IV on day +1, +3, +6, and +11 post-transplant. We plan to draw blood on days -4,, -1, +3, +7, and +14 to measure ATG levels.
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama, United States
RECRUITINGRate of GRFS (graft versus host disease GVHD, relapse free survival) at one year post transplant.
Rate of GRFS is defined as the time from date of first dose of fludarabine until occurrence of grade III-IV aGVHD, and or cGVHD requiring systemic immune suppression, and or disease progression or death whichever comes first.
Time frame: 1 year post transplant
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.