Collection of Peripheral Blood From Patients With Hematologic Malignancies With Thrombocytopenia

Thrombocytopenia, a condition characterized by abnormally low platelet counts, is a major complication for patients undergoing stem cell transplantation (SCT) as well as patients treated with high doses of chemotherapy for hematologic malignancies1

. Stem cell transplant is a potentially curative treatment for various blood cancers and other lifethreatening diseases. However, the conditioning regimens used before SCT, typically involving high-dose chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy, often damage the bone marrow, leading to a temporary but profound drop in platelet production. Consequences of Thrombocytopenia in SCT patients and those treated with intense chemotherapy for hematologic malignancies.

• Increased Bleeding Risk: Platelets are essential for blood clotting, and thrombocytopenia significantly increases the risk of bleeding, both minor and potentially life-threatening. This can occur anywhere in the body, including the gastrointestinal tract, lungs, and brain
• Extended Hospital Stays: Bleeding complications often require transfusions of donor platelets, which can be scarce and carry risks of transfusion reactions and infections. This can lead to prolonged hospital stays and delays in engraftment (recovery of normal blood cell production).

Current Management of Thrombocytopenia in SCT:

• Prophylactic Platelet Transfusions: To prevent bleeding, patients often receive prophylactic platelet transfusions, even if they have no symptoms. However, this approach carries risks of transfusion reactions and can strain the blood supply2
• Thrombopoietin-Stimulating Agents (TSAs): These medications stimulate the bone marrow to produce more platelets, but their effectiveness is limited and they may not be suitable for all patients3

The current protocol is aimed at testing a nanoparticle - based product that could act hemostatically as a platelet replacement. This could have several benefits.

• Addressing Platelet Shortage: The development of safe and effective off the shelf platelet replacement could address the shortage of donor platelets and reduce the reliance on donors and transfusions.
• Targeted and Controlled Platelet Function: Specific dosing studies could help understand doses of platelet replacement products for treatment of bleeding as well as the doses and concentrations required for achieve hemostasis and prevent bleeding.
• Reduced Transfusion-Related Risks: Avoiding frequent transfusions would eliminate the risk of transfusion reactions and infections, leading to improved patient safety and outcomes

This protocol is aimed at obtaining one peripheral blood sample from patients who have severe thrombocytopenia defined as 30,000 platelets/mcl or less, so that the effects of a platelet replacement product can be tested in vitro by Haima Therapeutics. This research cannot be done on samples that have been stored or frozen, as these conditions negatively impact remaining platelet function, altering the baseline of the experiments.

Inclusion criteria

• Adults 18 years or older
• Platelet counts of 30,000/mcl or less

Exclusion criteria

• Chemotherapy within the last 24 hours from the planned blood sample draw for research purposes.
• Use of anticoagulant agents in the last 48 hours.
• Active infection (i.e. one that has received less than 48 hours of active treatment).
• Adults 89 years or older