ALLOGENEIC HEMATOPOIETIC STEM CELL TRANSPLANTATION

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is an important therapeutic approach for hematologic malignancies, and the impact of donor age on transplant outcomes remains an active area of investigation. Older donors may be associated with impaired stem cell fitness, delayed immune reconstitution, and reduced T-cell function. However, randomized controlled trials directly comparing transplant outcomes by donor age are difficult to conduct because of ethical constraints, and previous retrospective studies have yielded inconsistent findings due to confounding bias and limited causal interpretability. Target trial emulation (TTE) is a methodological framework that uses observational data to emulate the design principles of a randomized trial, thereby reducing biases such as immortal time bias, time-varying confounding, and prevalent-user bias, and improving the validity of causal inference. Therefore, this study will use a large single-center retrospective clinical cohort to perform a TTE analysis, aiming to approximate the causal framework of an randomized trial and systematically evaluate the effect of donor age on clinical outcomes after allo-HSCT, thereby providing higher-quality evidence to optimize donor selection strategies.

The purpose of this study is to determine if it is possible to treat an infection with a cell-based immunotherapy (therapy that uses the patient's own immune system to treat the infection). This treatment is called adoptive T cell therapy. Another purpose is to learn about the side effects and toxicities of adoptive T cell therapy. Adoptive T cell therapy is an investigational (experimental) therapy that works by using the blood of a donor that has immunity against the virus. The donor cells are collected and then the cells, called T cells, that are capable of defending against the virus are selected out. These selected T cells are then infused back into the patient, to try to give the immune system the ability to fight the infection. Adoptive T cell therapy is experimental because it is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

This study is a prospective, multicenter, open-label, phase II clinical trial designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of moxibustion in patients with steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease (SR-aGVHD) following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). A total of 42 patients with SR-aGVHD, primarily involving the gastrointestinal tract and presenting with abdominal pain and diarrhea, will be enrolled. All participants will receive standard second-line therapy based on best available treatment (BAT), including ruxolitinib, basiliximab, or methotrexate, according to clinical judgment. In addition, patients will receive moxibustion at specific acupoints (Tianshu \[ST25\], Shenque \[CV8\], and Qihai \[CV6\]) for 30 minutes once or twice daily for 28 days. The primary endpoint is the overall response rate (ORR) at Day 28. Secondary endpoints include durable ORR at Day 56, incidence and severity of chronic GVHD (cGVHD), non-relapse mortality (NRM), overall survival (OS), and changes in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome scores. Safety will be assessed by monitoring adverse events throughout the study period. This study aims to explore whether moxibustion, as an adjunctive therapy, can improve clinical outcomes and provide a safe and effective treatment strategy for patients with SR-aGVHD after allo-HSCT.

This is a prospective, open-label phase 1b/2 clinical trial to explore the safety and efficacy profiles of baricitinib in patients with thrombopoietin-receptor-agonist-refractory persistent thrombocytopenia after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Many children and adults receiving medical treatments have higher costs, which can make it harder for them to afford groceries. When someone can't afford enough food, and they do not receive proper nutrition it can make treatment more difficult. By doing this study investigators hope to learn more about whether addressing food insecurity by giving patients bags of food in clinic can help improve nutrition, reduce costs, and improve transplant and cellular therapy outcomes.

Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation (Allo-HCT) serves as a curative treatment modality for the vast majority of patients with hematological malignancies. Historically, due to the relatively high treatment-related mortality rate associated with Allo-HCT, this therapy was primarily administered to younger patients. However, the median age at onset of most hematological malignancies falls within the elderly population. For instance, the median ages at onset of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) are 68 and 77 years, respectively. In recent years, with the advancement of transplantation techniques and the application of Reduced-intensity Conditioning (RIC) regimens, a growing number of elderly patients have undergone Allo-HCT. Data from the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) indicate that in 2017, 31% of patients who received Allo-HCT were aged over 60 years, and 6% were over 70 years old. Over the past decade, the number of elderly patients undergoing Allo-HCT has increased significantly. Given that most elderly patients cannot tolerate conventional myeloablative conditioning regimens, RIC regimens based on Fludarabine (Flu) combined with Busulfan (Bu), or Fludarabine (Flu) combined with Melphalan (Mel) are currently widely used in elderly patients undergoing Allo-HCT. Nevertheless, the post-transplant relapse rate remains as high as 30%-55%, and the long-term GVHD-free and Relapse-free Survival (GRFS) rate fluctuates between 21% and 59%, suggesting that the efficacy of transplantation needs to be further improved. Further comparison of the commonly used RIC regimens in elderly patients-namely Flu+Bu (2-day), Flu+Bu (4-day) and Flu+Mel-has demonstrated that the Flu+Mel regimen yields superior transplantation outcomes over the Flu+Bu regimens. At present, the optimal RIC regimen for elderly patients with hematological malignancies has not yet been clearly defined. The selection of transplantation conditioning regimens for elderly patients should strike a balance between reducing non-relapse mortality and decreasing post-transplant relapse. Over the past 20 years, an increasing number of targeted drugs acting on specific cellular signaling pathways, anti-apoptotic proteins, epigenetic regulators, and monoclonal antibodies have been introduced into clinical practice, thereby revolutionizing the treatment landscape of hematological malignancies. These novel targeted therapies not only bring hope of achieving remission to patients with hematological tumors resistant to traditional chemotherapy, but also the combined application of novel drugs and Allo-HCT is bound to fundamentally transform the overall technical system of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Venetoclax is a potent and selective oral inhibitor targeting the BH3 domain of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. In 2018, the FDA approved Venetoclax as a first-line induction chemotherapy agent for elderly AML patient's ineligible for intensive chemotherapy, with a complete remission rate of up to 67% and favorable tolerability¹¹. Preclinical studies using Allo-HCT animal models have confirmed that the addition of a Bcl-2 inhibitor to RIC regimens can promote donor cell engraftment, reduce the incidence of GVHD, without impairing the graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect¹². In recent years, clinical trials have reported the efficacy and safety of the conditioning regimen combining Venetoclax with Flu+Bu in patients with myeloid malignancies undergoing Allo-HCT. Our research center has demonstrated the favorable safety profile and promising long-term survival outcomes of the Venetoclax plus Flu+Mel conditioning regimen in a phase II clinical trial involving patients aged over 50 years with AML/MDS undergoing Allo-HCT (2024 EBMT Poster B093; 2025 EBMT Poster B126). However, the long-term superiority of this novel regimen over the conventional Flu+Mel conditioning regimen remains to be clarified. Therefore, based on the existing findings from clinical studies and Allo-HCT animal model research, we hypothesize that incorporating Venetoclax into the Fludarabine+Melphalan conditioning regimen for elderly patients undergoing Allo-HCT is expected to improve long-term post-transplant survival and further enhance the transplantation efficacy in this patient population.

This is a prospective, single-arm, phase II study. Patients will be treated with an allogeneic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) using fludarabine, melphalan and total body irradiation (TBI) conditioning with different melphalan and TBI doses based on patient- and disease-related risk.

The goal of this observational study is to characterize the clinical features of metallo-β-lactamase-producing carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (MBL-CRE) colonization and subsequent infection in patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The study aims to estimate the incidence of perianal MBL-CRE colonization, the proportion of subsequent infections, the associated risk factors, mortality, and the underlying antibiotic resistance mechanisms. The main questions this study seeks to answer are: 1. What is the incidence of perianal MBL-CRE colonization following allogeneic HSCT? 2. Among colonized patients, what proportion subsequently develop MBL-CRE infections? 3. What are the risk factors for colonization and infection, the patterns of antimicrobial resistance, and the mortality among infected patients? Participants will undergo perianal swab screening for CRE as part of their routine post-transplant care. MBL-CRE isolates identified from perianal swabs will undergo antimicrobial resistance genomic analysis to investigate bacterial transmission dynamics and resistance mechanisms.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) represents a major therapeutic strategy for malignant hematologic diseases, with the number of procedures steadily increasing in France each year. Conditioning and maintenance regimens carry a risk of both short- and long-term cardiotoxicity, leading to serious cardiovascular events including acute coronary syndrome (ACS), cardiac dysfunction, arrhythmias, pulmonary hypertension, and pericardial effusion. The pathophysiology of cardiotoxicity in HSCT patients remains poorly understood. It is therefore crucial to investigate underlying mechanisms and identify predictive factors of cardiotoxicity in order to provide appropriate cardiological follow-up and management. Current European Society of Cardiology guidelines recommend routine monitoring of HSCT patients with echocardiography and cardiac biomarkers (NT-proBNP, troponin), although these recommendations are based on small-scale studies. The cardiodepressor factor DPP3 has shown promising results in cardio-oncology, with a causal role in anthracycline-induced cardiac dysfunction. Its role in HSCT-related cardiotoxicity requires further evaluation. This multicenter study of HSCT recipients will be a valuable resource, enabling a better understanding of the pathophysiology of cardiotoxicity and prognosis. It will highlight imaging (echocardiography, calcium score, supra-aortic Doppler), electrocardiographic, and biological markers (including DPP3) associated with prognosis.

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether a virtual reality (VR) intervention based on the Symptom Management Model can reduce physical and psychosocial symptoms during hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in adult patients undergoing allogeneic transplantation. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does the VR intervention reduce distress levels during HSCT? Does the VR intervention decrease state anxiety and symptom severity compared to standard care? Does the VR intervention positively affect physiological outcomes and engraftment times? Researchers will compare a group receiving standard clinical care plus a VR nature-themed video during HSCT to a group receiving standard care only to see if the VR intervention improves symptom management outcomes. Participants will: Be randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group. In the intervention group: Watch a 15-minute nature-themed VR video during stem cell infusion using Meta Quest 3. The video content will be specifically created by the research team based on the principles of Attention Restoration Theory (ART). In both groups: Complete pre- and post-intervention assessments including: Distress Thermometer State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale Physiological measures (vital signs) Engraftment tracking Satisfaction and open-ended feedback forms

Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a globally prevalent, human-specific herpesvirus characterised by a lifelong latency after primary infection, an often asymptomatic reactivation and affecting up to 100% of adults based on region and age. CMV reactivation has serious risks for immunocompromised patients, especially those undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). In these patients, CMV can lead to graft failure, multiorgan disease, increased risk of other infections, GVHD, post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders, and higher transplant-related mortality (TRM). Although antiviral prophylaxis, CMV infection occurs in 38-80% of HSCT recipients, but current antiviral drugs are insufficiently effective and they are associated with adverse effects. Furthermore, treatment failure is due to the high genetic variability of CMV. The protective role of virus-specific antibodies remains under debate. Some studies suggest that high neutralizing antibody titers protect transplant recipients from CMV, while others highlight the importance of T-cell responses. However, recent animal studies showed that humoral immunity alone can prevent CMV reactivation, even without T or NK cells. In solid-organ transplant patients, antibody titers ≥480 have been linked to reduced infection, shorter treatment, and full protection from CMV disease. Although the use of anti-CMV immunoglobulin remains controversial, the IRCCS Burlo Garofolo has used it as post-transplant prophylaxis and second-line treatment for over a decade. The main objective of their study was to assess whether CMV-specific immunoglobulin prophylaxis reduces CMV incidence and severity in pediatric HSCT patients. Secondary goals included evaluating its effect on transplant outcomes and its efficacy across different ethnic groups. A population pharmacokinetic (POP/PK) study was also conducted to better understand the drug's distribution and elimination and to identify factors influencing its pharmacokinetics in patients.

This comprehensive, multidimensional evaluation assesses patient-related factors, disease-related factors, donor-related factors, and treatment-related factors. The study aims to identify potential risk factors influencing transplant outcomes in elderly patients and enhance the outcomes of allo-HSCT.

This study is a prospective, phase II clinical trial with the primary objective of assessing the effectiveness of demethylating agents combined with venetoclax in the prevention of recurrence after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) of high risk T-lymphoblastic lymphoma/leukemia (T-LBL/ALL) patients.

To investigate the impact of abnormal glucose tolerance in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation donors on patients' post-transplant survival outcomes.

Clinical observational studies using epidemiologic theories and methods. Through the collection of various clinically relevant data, specific outcomes are evaluated in hematologic transplant patients, providing high quality real-world data for clinical practice, informing public health decision-making, and reducing the burden of disease

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), a hematological malignant neoplasm of immature T cells, accounting for a morbidity of 10-15% among pediatric and 20-25% among adult patients of ALL. Despite the application of improved intensive therapies, the overall survival (OS) of T-ALL patients is still unsatisfactory, with a 5-year OS rate of less than 60% in adults and 85% in children. Over the past few decades, allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) has emerged as a potential and the most likely curative treatment for patients with high-risk hematological malignant neoplasms, and it has been proven that allo-HSCT could hold the potential to improve the prognosis of T-ALL patients and may even cure T-ALL. The two most common myeloablative conditioning regimens for T-ALL patients with allo-HSCT were total body irradiation (TBI) plus cyclophosphamide (TBI-Cy) and busulfan (Bu) plus cyclophosphamide (BuCy). The most common use conditioning regimen for ALL patients is the TBI-Cy conditioning regimen over other hematological malignancy patients because TBI possess potent and distinct anti-leukemic effects, particularly in organs not easily affected by systemic chemotherapy and intense immunosuppressive effects. However, TBI-based conditioning regimens may cause a high risk of cataracts, interstitial pneumonitis (IP), engraftment failure and even subsequent malignant neoplasms (SMNs). To avoid these disadvantages, intravenous Bu replaced TBI as a part of conditioning. Extensive studies have shown that allo-HSCT with conditioning regimens based on TBI could benefit survival compared with conditioning regimens based on chemotheraphy in treating ALL. We retrospectively analyzed post-10-year data from T-ALL patients from two transplant centers, and all the databases were used to eliminate confounding factors via PSM. We demonstrated that the TBI-Cy conditioning regimen had inferior efficacy to the BuCy conditioning regimen, especially for T-ALL patients who were children, refractory, had extramedullary disease before transplantation, had active disease or an MRD-positive status at allo-HSCT, or who received haplo-HSCT.

This project aims to document and analyse - with a three-fold anthropological, psychosocial and economical approach - the consequences of the geographical distance from mainland France on the alloSCT on both patients, their caregivers and the healthcare system. It is organised in 3 working packages (WP).

Prognosis of patients with graft failure is dismal, and re-transplantation is the sole option for long-term survival. Currently, there is no consensus concerning therapeutic options in patients with primary or secondary (within the 60 days post-transplantation) graft failure and finding a new donor within an acceptable delay is challenging. Literature is poor on the subject while the overall survival of such patients is about 30% at 1 year. This situation thus represents today a very challenging unmet medical need. Recently, haploidentical (haplo) related donor Stem Cell Transplantation (haplo-SCT) have improved dramatically outcomes using T-cell replete grafts with administration of post-transplantation cyclophosphamide (PTCy, which targets alloreactive T cells generated early after an HLA-mismatched transplant, sparing regulatory T cells and leaving unaffected the non-dividing hematopoietic stem cells) and standard post-transplant immune suppression with a calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) and mycophenolate mofetil. Our group re-transplanted a patient who experienced two consecutive graft failures and was successfully managed through a third haplo-SCT from her son using PTCy. We then retrospectively collected and analyzed data from 26 primary graft failure patients transplanted between 2011 and 2017 in 15 centers on behalf of French Society for Stem Cell Transplantation and Cell Therapy (SFGM-TC). The study population consisted mainly of patients with primary or secondary (within the 60 days post-transplantation) graft failure who underwent haplo-SCT and received PTCy as graft-versus-host-disease prophylaxis. The 1-year overall survival was about 60% suggesting that this approach might be a valid option in this particular poor clinical situation but now need validation through a phase II multicenter, national, prospective cohort study.

The study concerns donors and patients receiving allogeneic stem cell haematopoietic transplantation. The aim of the study is to analyse HSC graft content in immune effector T (naive, memory, activated, exhausted) and immunoregulatory cell subtypes (Tregs, iNKT, MDSC) and correlate the results with post-transplant immune reconstitution of those different cell subtypes and clinical events (graft-versus-host-disease, relapse, infections). An ancillary study will focus on the impact of microbiota dysbiosis on post-transplant immune response and regulatory cell subsets.