HLA-Matched, Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation Using Low Intensity Conditioning to Treat Patients With Chronic Granulomatous Disease Who Are Actively Infected

Detailed Summary

This study will investigate the safety and effectiveness of a new stem cell transplant procedure for treating chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) in patients with active infection. CGD is an inherited disorder of neutrophils-a type of infection-fighting white blood cell-that leaves patients vulnerable to life-threatening infections. Standard treatment with antibiotics, and sometimes surgery, is not always successful, and patients with persisting infections have a poor long-term prognosis. Transplantation of donated stem cells (cells produced by the bone marrow that mature into the different blood components-white cells, red cells and platelets) can cure CGD. However, this procedure carries a significant risk of death, particularly in patients with active infection, because it requires completely suppressing the immune system with high-dose chemotherapy and radiation. In addition, lymphocytes-another type of infection-fighting white blood cell-from the donor may cause what is called graft vs. host disease (GvHD), in which the donor cells "see" patient's cells as "foreign" and mount an immune response to reject them. To try to reduce these risks, patients in this study will be given low-dose chemotherapy and no radiation, a regimen that is easier for the body to tolerate and involves a shorter period of complete immune suppression. Also, the donor's lymphocytes will be removed from the rest of the stem cells to be transplanted, reducing the risk of GvHD. Patients with CGD between the ages of age 1 and 55 years old who have an active non-viral infection may be eligible for this study. They will have a medical history, physical examination and blood tests (including testing for adequacy of the genetic match with the donor). A bone marrow sample will be taken to evaluate disease status. This test, done under a local anesthetic, uses a special needle to draw out bone marrow from the hipbone. A central venous catheter (flexible plastic tube placed in a vein) will be put in place before treatment begins. It will be used to draw and transfuse blood, give medications, and infuse the donated stem cells. Several days before the transplant procedure, patients will start low-dose chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide and fludarabine, two commonly used anti-cancer drugs. They will also be given anti-thymocyte globulin to prevent rejection of the donated cells. When this conditioning therapy is completed, the stem cells will be infused through the central line. Patients will be given cyclosporine 4 days before and 3 months after the stem cell transplant to help prevent rejection. About 3 weeks after the transplant, patients will be discharged from the hospital. They will return for follow-up clinic visits weekly and then twice weekly for 3 months. These visits will include a symptom check, physical examination, and blood tests. Blood transfusions will be given if needed. Subsequent visits will be scheduled at 4, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30 and 36 months after the transplant, or more often if required, and then yearly.

Study Details

Timeline

Interventions