Megadose CD34 Selected Progenitor Cells for Transplantation in Patients With Advanced Hematological Malignant Diseases

Donor Description:

Before taking part in this study, donors will have an evaluation that is the standard for any bone marrow or blood stem cell donor. These include standard blood tests, an electrocardiogram (EKG), and a chest X-ray. Donors will also be given a general health questionnaire that is given to all blood donors in the United States. It should take no more than 10 minutes to complete the questionnaire.

Donors in this study will receive standard mobilization therapy with daily G-CSF every 12 hours. The Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) will be given as an injection under the skin. The mobilization phase starts on the first day that donors receive G-CSF and continues until the final day of the stem cell collection process (leukapheresis).

Donors in this study will receive Neupogen (white blood cell growth factor) to stimulate the immature blood cells. They will receive two injections, twice a day for four days. On the fourth day, assuming they have enough immature white blood cells, researchers will start the stem cell collection process (leukapheresis).

The stem cell collection will go from 1 to 4 days until enough immature cells have been collected, but will not be done on any day the donor's platelet count falls below 75,000. The stem cell is called a CD34(+) cell. These cells will then be processed over a cell-processing machine to try to purify the immature fraction of cells and remove the T-lymphocytes that are part of the fatal graft versus host disease. The T-cell is called a CD3(+) cell.

Leukapheresis, with later CD34(+) cell selection, will start on the day when circulating CD34(+) count is at a high enough level. Leukapheresis will continue until the appropriate count is reached. If the CD3(+) count is too high, adjustments will be made.

For those donors who cannot reach the collection goal in one series of collection attempts, researchers will wait until the donor recovers from the first stem cell collection and try again. If the donor is unable to reach the collection goal again, another attempt will be made with a different donor.

The blood thinner used for the procedure will be acid citrate dextrose (ACD). Heparin may be substituted when clinically needed. No additional blood thinners or additives should be added beyond those normally used during leukapheresis. A unique identification and labeling system shall be used to track the leukapheresis product from collection to infusion.

Samples will be taken from each leukapheresis product pre- and post-selection for quality analysis.

This is an investigational study. No more than 90 donors will take part in this study. All will be enrolled at M. D. Anderson.

Recipient Description:

Before taking part in this study, recipients will have standard evaluations to determine the stage of their disease. These may include bone marrow aspirations and biopsies and if necessary, CT scans and chest x-rays. All recipients will go through cardiopulmonary evaluation.

The recipients will have an allogeneic bone marrow transplant with pre-treatment of thiotepa, fludarabine, melphalan, and antithymocyte globulin. This will be followed by infusion of the peripheral blood progenitor cells.

Recipients will have daily follow-up exams in the hospital. Recipients will be evaluated at least one to five times per week after they leave until Day 100. After that, they will have evaluations at least once every three months until about one year and then once every six months.

The CliniMACS device is being provided by used of an investigational device exemption for the FDA. Without the CliniMACS device, this procedure would not be possible.

This is an investigational study. A total of 40 patients will take part in this study. All will be enrolled at M. D. Anderson.

Inclusion criteria

• Male or female recipients must have histopathologically confirmed diagnosis of hematological or lymphatic malignancy in one of the following categories:
• Acute Leukemia: Recipients must have acute leukemia in second or greater remission in relapse, or primary refractory disease. Acute leukemia (in first remission with poor risk factors and molecular prognosis; acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) with -5, -7, t(6:9), +8, -11q23 and Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with Phil+ t(9:22), t(4:11) and secondary remission inclusive).
• Chronic myelogenous leukemia: Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) in accelerated phase, blast crisis or second chronic phase.
• Myelodysplastic syndrome (in high and intermediate risk categories) - marrow blast > 10% on differential.
• Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in relapse
• Refractory chronic lymphoid leukemia (CLL) - refractory to fludarabine based regimen, unrelated donor and haploidentical only
• The recipient must be <=60 years old at time of registration.
• The recipient must have a related donor haploidentical for human leukocyte antigen (HLA), A, B, C, or DR loci. They may be partial matched on the other haplotype.
• Recovery from prior therapy, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy, as defined by: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status equal or less than 2; have recovered from the toxicity of prior major chemotherapy at the start of the preparative regimen on this protocol
• Adequate cardiac and pulmonary function (Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) >45%, Carbon Monoxide Diffusing Capacity (DL CO)>50% corrected for hemoglobin)
• Serum creatinine <1.5 mg/dL or creatinine clearance >50 ml/min for those above serum creatinine of 1.5; serum bilirubin <2.0 mg/dL; Aspartate transaminase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) <2* Upper limits of normal (ULN) (unless secondary to disease)
• Females of childbearing potential must have a negative serum or urine beta-HCG test within three weeks of registration. Patients will be informed of the risk of not receiving adequate contraception.
• No prior cancer within five years with the exception of surgically cured non-melanoma skin cancer or in situ cancer of the cervix
• The recipient and/or the recipient's legal guardian must have been informed of the investigational nature of this study and have signed a consent form which is in accordance with Federal guidelines and the guidelines of the participating institution.
• Donor age must be 4-80 years and weight greater than 20 kg.
• Medical history and physical examination confirm good health status as defined by institutional standards
• Seronegative for HIV Ag, HIV 1+2 Ab, Human T Cell Leukemia Virus (HTLV) I/II Ab, HbsAg, HbcAb (IgM [combination screening test] and IgG), HCV, RPR for syphilis within 30 days of apheresis collection - If positive for Hepatitis B or C or syphilis, the recipient must be notified - the recipient may proceed if PI, recipient and donor agree and there is no substitute donor
• HLA matching criteria
• Female donors of child-bearing potential must have a negative serum or urine beta-HCG test within three weeks of mobilization
• Capable of undergoing leukapheresis, have adequate venous access, and be willing to undergo insertion of a central catheter should leukapheresis via peripheral vein be inadequate
• Agreeable to second donation of PBPC (or a bone marrow harvest) should the patient fail to demonstrate sustained engraftment following the transplant
• The donor, or legal guardian greater than 18 years of age, must have been informed of the investigational nature of this study and have signed a consent form in accordance with Federal Guidelines and the guidelines of the participating institution. If the donor is less than 18 years of age, parent or legal guardian consent must be obtained.
• The prospective donor will be screened for cytomegalovirus (CMV) seroreactivity and a seronegative donor will be utilized if available when the patient is seronegative.

Exclusion criteria

• Participation in other clinical trials which involve investigational drugs or devices that might influence the endpoints of this study
• Evidence of active hepatitis (B and/or C) or cirrhosis
• Neither the recipient nor the donor may be HIV positive
• Presence of any other active, uncontrolled bacterial, viral or fungal infection.
• Uncontrolled central nervous system (CNS) involvement with tumor cells
• Documented allergy to murine proteins or iron dextran
• The recipient is a lactating female or, if of child-bearing potential, is unwilling to implement adequate birth control.
• Severe end-organ dysfunctions, particularly neurologic deficits detectable by clinical examination or significant intellectual impairment in metabolic disorders
• Evidence of active infection (including urinary tract infection, or upper respiratory tract infection) or hepatitis (on screening).
• Medical or physical reason which makes the donor unlikely to tolerate or cooperate with growth factor therapy and leukapheresis.
• Factors that place the donor at increased risk for complications from leukapheresis or G-CSF therapy such as pulmonary hypertension, coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, cerebral vascular disease.
• Lactating female or, if of child-bearing potential, is unwilling to implement adequate birth control.
• Donors who are hepatitis positive, Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLVI) positive need consent of Principal Investigator and determination that this is the best donor.