Allogeneic Cell Therapy for Adults With Hematologic Malignancies

This is a research study involving the treatment of leukemia or lymphoma (lymph gland cancer) in adults who have leukemia or lymphoma that is unlikely to be cured with regular anticancer drugs or radiation treatments. Intensive treatment with high doses of chemotherapy followed by a bone marrow transplant (BMT) from an HLA-(tissue-type) matched related donor would provide the best chance for cure of this leukemia or lymphoma. However, the success of BMT from relatives is limited in patients who are older than 50 years and/or have organ dysfunction by substantial complications due to the high dose chemotherapy related toxicity, graft-versus- host disease (GVHD), and relapse. Patients eligible for this study have an HLA matched sibling, but a BMT from the sibling would carry a high risk for severe side effects due to the patient's age, and/or organ dysfunction.

Researchers are evaluating a new treatment for adult patients with leukemia and lymphoma which involves regular dose chemotherapy and blood stem cell transplantation from an HLA-matched relative, with injections of donor immune cells (a type of white blood cells) given if you later relapse. In this study, the safety and feasibility of this treatment strategy are being investigated.

Inclusion criteria

• To be eligible as a recipient for this study, patients must have chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML) in chronic phase and be older than 60 years of age, have advanced myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and be over 60 years of age, have chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and be over 50 years of age, or have low grade lymphoma and be over 50 years of age. HLA typing of the recipient's family will be used to identify potential donors. Please contact study nurse for additional eligibility criteria. Final eligibility will be determined by the health professionals conducting this clinical trial.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with an active, invasive/systemic fungal infection and patients with serologic evidence of antibodies to HIV I/II will be excluded from participating as recipients in this study. Additional exclusion factors include: patients who are pregnant or lactating, those with active central nervous system (CNS) malignant disease, and patients whose life expectancy is limited by diseases other than the disease for which the transplant is being performed. Please contact study nurse for additional ineligibility criteria. Final eligibility will be determined by the health professionals conducting this clinical trial.