Safety Trial of NK Cell DLI 3-5/6 Family Member Following Nonmyeloablative ASCT

The use of non-selected donor lymphocyte infusions (DLIs) (to help early immune recovery and induce antitumor response) following nonmyeloablative allogeneic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is also complicated by the risk of acute graft versus host disease (aGVHD) with 30-40% of patients experiencing grade III-IV aGVHD. Data suggests that the use of natural killer (NK) cells (instead of nonselected DLIs) in this setting may mediate a graft versus tumor (GVT) effect independently of aGVHD.

This pilot study is designed to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of donor natural killer (NK) cell selection and infusion following nonmyeloablative allogeneic stem cell transplantation from mismatched donors.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients with who have undergone a non-myeloablative allogeneic transplant, using a 3-5/6 HLA matched sibling donor. Measureable disease is not needed at study entry.
• Performance status must be Karnofsky 50-100%.
• Donor cellular engraftment of at least 2.5% from the non-myeloablative procedure.
• ≤ Grade 2 acute GVHD at time of infusion of NK cell infusion. Patients with treated acute GVHD must be on a stable dose of therapy (no increase in immunosuppressive therapy for the 2 weeks before planned NKI). The dosage/level of immunosuppressive therapy at the time of NKI should be no greater than 1 mg/kg of prednisone daily or mycophenolate 1000 mg bid daily or cyclosporine with a target level of 200 or equivalent.
• Estimated survival at least 8 weeks.
• Age > or equal to 18 years of age.

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnant or lactating women,
• Patients with other major medical or psychiatric illnesses, which the treating physician feels, could seriously compromise tolerance to this protocol.
• Patients who had biopsy proven overall Grade 4 GVHD lasting longer than 7 days, from the non-myeloablative therapy, are not eligible