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NCT Number: NCT06799195

Optimizing GVHD Prophylaxis After Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

This study will compare post-transplant health-related quality of life following the use of standard versus attenuated dose of post-transplant cyclophosphamide in addition to two-drug graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis among recipients of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant.

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Key information

Age range

60 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 2

Primary location

University of Nebraska Medical Center

Omaha, Nebraska, 68198, United States

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

A

CONTACT

Moataz Ellithi, MBChB

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Taylor Johnson

CONTACT

[email protected]

402-559-4596

About this study

This is a single-center phase II study of 126 participants (63 per arm) with hematological malignancies. Participants will be randomized to receive high doses (standard arm) or attenuated doses of cyclophosphamide in addition to two-drug GVHD prophylaxis. Participants will be monitored for health-related quality of life [Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Bone Marrow Transplant, FACT-BMT(1)], functional outcomes (Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS), activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, Clock-in-the-Box Test, Fried Frailty Index, fall history, BMI, and Geriatric Depression Scale-15, GVHD, relapse, survival, and toxicities (using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, CTCAE version 5.0).

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Adults aged 60 years or older
  • Diagnosis of a hematological malignancy or other serious hematological disorder that requires an allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation
  • Planned to receive any reduced-intensity conditioning regimen (any graft source is acceptable) and availability of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched donor at HLA loci A, B, C, and HLA-DR beta chain antigen (DRB1)
  • Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) of 70% or higher.

Exclusion criteria

  • Previous history of one or more prior allogeneic stem cell transplants (i.e., second or third allogeneic transplant)
  • Planned use of high doses of cyclophosphamide (e.g., a total cyclophosphamide dose of approximately 50 mg/kg or more) as part of the conditioning regimen prior to allogeneic stem cell transplant. A lower dose of cyclophosphamide (e.g., fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and low-dose total body irradiation regimen that uses 2 doses of cyclophosphamide at 14.5 mg/kg) is acceptable.
  • Known diagnosis of liver cirrhosis or other advanced liver disease that may impact cyclophosphamide metabolism.
  • Diagnosis of myelofibrosis
  • Creatinine clearance less than 40 mL/min/1.73 m², which may increase the risk of hemorrhagic cystitis with post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy)
  • Systolic cardiac dysfunction with an ejection fraction of less than 45%.
  • Use of a haploidentical or mismatched donor.
  • Any other condition judged by the physician to increase the risk of toxicities associated with PTCy.

Treatment and study plan

Attenuated-dose Cyclophosphamide

Drug

Cyclophosphamide administered at an attenuated dose of 25 mg/kg on days +3 and +4 post-transplant for GVHD prophylaxis.

high-dose cyclophosphamide

Drug

Cyclophosphamide administered at the standard high dose of 50 mg/kg on days +3 and +4 post-transplant for GVHD prophylaxis.

sirolimus

Drug

Sirolimus is started on day +5 with a loading dose of 6 mg, followed by a maintenance dose of 2 mg daily, adjusted to target trough levels of 8-12 ng/mL. Sirolimus taper is recommended to start at day +90 and to be completed by day +180, provided there is no evidence of acute GVHD.

Mycophenolate Mofetil (MMF)

Drug

MMF is started on day +5 at a dose of 15 mg/kg per dose (maximum 1 g per dose) three times daily. MMF is generally discontinued by day +35 in the absence of GVHD.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Health-Related Quality of Life as Measured by Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Bone Marrow Transplantation

    Time frame: Baseline and 3 months post-transplant

    The health-related quality of life will be assessed using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Bone Marrow Transplantation (FACT-BMT) trial outcome index (TOI). The FACT-BMT is a validated, patient-reported questionnaire that measures physical and functional well-being specifically in bone marrow transplant recipients. Higher scores indicate better quality of life. The primary outcome is to compare the FACT-BMT TOI scores between the attenuated-dose PTCy arm and the high-dose PTCy arm at 3 months post-transplant.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in Karnofsky Performance Scale

    Time frame: Baseline and 3 months post-transplant

    Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) is a validated tool ranging from 0 (death) to 100 (normal activity). Higher scores indicate better functional status.

  2. Change in Activities of Daily Living

    Time frame: Baseline and 3 months post-transplant

    Activities of Daily Living (ADL) measures basic self-care tasks such as bathing and dressing. The typical total score ranges from 0 to 6, with higher scores indicating better functional status.

  3. Change in Instrumental Activities of Daily Living

    Time frame: Baseline and 3 months post-transplant

    Change in Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) assesses more complex tasks (e.g., handling finances). Total scores typically range from 0 to 8 or 0 to 14 (depending on the version), with higher scores indicating greater independence.

  4. Change in Fried Frailty Index

    Time frame: Baseline and 3 months post-transplant

    The Fried Frailty Index assesses five components (weight loss, exhaustion, grip strength, walking speed, and physical activity). A higher total score indicates greater frailty.

  5. Change in Clock-in-the-Box Test

    Time frame: Baseline and 3 months post-transplant

    This is a brief test of visuospatial and executive function, typically scored on accuracy of clock drawing/placement (range 0-8). Higher scores suggest better cognitive performance.

  6. Change in History of Falls

    Time frame: Baseline and 3 months post-transplant

    The number of falls, if any, will be collected since baseline. Results will be analyzed as the proportion of participants experiencing ≥1 fall over the time frame, or as the difference in mean (or median) number of falls between arms.

  7. Change in Body Mass Index

    Time frame: Baseline and 3 months post-transplant

    Body Mass Index (BMI) is calculated as weight (kg) / [height (m)]² (kg/m²). Higher or lower values do not necessarily indicate "better" or "worse" status by themselves but will be compared between arms for changes from baseline.

  8. Change in Geriatric Depression Scale-15

    Time frame: Baseline and 3 months post-transplant

    The Geriatric Depression Scale-15 (GDS-15) is a 15-item screening tool for depression in older adults (scores 0-15). Higher scores indicate more severe depression.

  9. Gaft-Versus-Host Disease-Free, Relapse-Free Survival

    Time frame: From date of transplant to 1 year post-transplant

    Graft-Versus-Host Disease (GRFS) is defined as the time from transplant to the first occurrence of grade III-IV acute GVHD, chronic GVHD requiring systemic immune suppression, disease relapse or progression, or death from any cause. An event is counted when any of these conditions are met. The GRFS at 1 year post-transplant will be compared between the two treatment arms.

  10. Overall Survival at 1 Year Post-Transplant and Event-Free Survival

    Time frame: From date of transplant to 1 year post-transplant

    Overall Survival (OS) is defined as survival from the date of transplant until death from any cause. Event-Free Survival (EFS) is defined as survival from the date of transplant without disease relapse or progression. The study will compare the proportion of participants alive (for OS) and without relapse or progression (for EFS) at 1 year post-transplant between the two treatment arms

  11. Cumulative Incidence of Transplant-Related Mortality

    Time frame: From date of transplant to 1 year post-transplant

    Transplant-related mortality (TRM) is defined as death from causes other than disease relapse or progression. The study will estimate and compare the cumulative incidence of TRM at 1 year post-transplant between the two treatment arms.

  12. Cumulative Incidence of Grade II-IV Acute GVHD

    Time frame: From date of transplant to 1 year post-transplant

    Acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) of grade II-IV is assessed using the Mount Sinai acute GVHD grading system. The study will estimate and compare the cumulative incidence of grade II-IV acute GVHD at 1 year post-transplant between the two treatment arms.

  13. Cumulative Incidence of Chronic GVHD

    Time frame: From date of transplant to 1 year post-transplant

    Chronic GVHD is assessed using the NIH chronic GVHD grading system, which includes both classical chronic GVHD and overlap syndrome. The study will estimate and compare the cumulative incidence of chronic GVHD at 1 year post-transplant between the two treatment arms.

  14. To determine the cumulative incidence and kinetics of hematologic recovery (neutrophil and platelet) among the two treatment arms

    Time frame: From date of transplant to day +28 and day +100 post-transplant

    Hematologic recovery is evaluated by time to neutrophil engraftment (absolute neutrophil count ≥ 500/mm³ for three consecutive days) and platelet engraftment (platelet count ≥ 20,000/mm³ or ≥ 50,000/mm³ without transfusion for seven days). The study will describe and compare the cumulative incidence and kinetics of neutrophil and platelet recovery by days +28 and +100 post-transplant between the two treatment arms.

  15. Incidence of Grade III or Higher Adverse Events

    Time frame: From date of transplant to day +100 post-transplant

    Adverse events will be graded using the NCI Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 5.0. The study will assess and compare the incidence of grade III or higher adverse events by day +100 post-transplant between the two treatment arms.

  16. Cumulative Incidence of Grade II or Higher Infections

    Time frame: From date of transplant to 6 months post-transplant

    Infections will be graded according to Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network (BMT CTN) criteria. The study will estimate and compare the cumulative incidence of grade II or higher infections by 6 months post-transplant between the two treatment arms.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

IIT OFFICE

CONTACT

[email protected]

402-559-4596

Taylor Johnson

CONTACT

[email protected]

402-559-4596

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Nebraska

Other

Registry information

Official study title

A Phase II Randomized Trial to Optimize GVHD Prophylaxis After Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation in Older Adults With Hematological Malignancies: the PROMISE Trial

Acronym: PTCYGVHD

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2031
Study completion
2031
First posted
Jan 29, 2025
Registry last updated
Dec 15, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

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This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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