Graft vs Host Disease

Background: Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) is an immune system disorder that can occur in people who have had a stem cell transplant. cGVHD can affect multiple organs and increase risk of disability and death. New treatments are needed to treat cGVHD after stem cell transplant. Objective: To test a drug (pacritinib) in people with moderate or severe cGVHD that has not responded to previous treatment. Eligibility: People aged 18 years and older with moderate or severe cGVHD that has not responded to 2 or more lines of previous treatment. Design: Participants will be screened. They will have blood and urine tests. They will have tests of their heart and lung function. They may also have a CT scan. Some may have other specialized tests. Participants will take the study drug at home every day. Pacritinib is a capsule taken by mouth. The study doctor will determine the dosage and schedule. Participants will keep a medication diary. They will record the date and time of each drug dose and any missed doses. Participants will visit the clinic every 2 weeks for the first 4 months. Then they will visit the clinic once every 4 weeks. They will have blood and urine tests. During some visits, other screening tests will be repeated, and participants will fill out questionnaires about their quality of life. Photographs may be taken of skin rashes and joints affected by cGVHD. Participants will give saliva samples. Optional biopsies may be taken of the skin and mouth. Participants will take pacritinib for 6 to 12 months if no side effects develop. Follow-up visits will continue for up to 2 years. ...

The purpose of this study is to find out whether adding belumosudil to a usual approach for reducing the risk of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) may be an effective GVHD prevention approach for people with blood cancer who have a stem cell transplant. The investigators will also look at the safety of the study approach.

The purpose of the study is to assess the efficacy and safety of ruxolitinib in Chinese adult and pediatric participants aged 12 years or older with corticosteroid-refractory chronic graft vs. host disease (SR-cGvHD).

This study will provide follow-up evaluation and care of patients who have undergone allogeneic (donor) stem cell transplantation at the NIH Clinical Center. Patients are monitored for their response to treatment, disease relapse, and later-occurring effects of the transplant. Patients between 10 and 80 years of age who received a donor stem cell transplant at the NIH Clinical Center under an NHLBI protocol may be eligible for this study. Candidates must have had their first transplant at least 3 years before entering the current study. Participants are generally seen in the clinic every 12 months for some or all of the following procedures: * Periodic physical examinations, eye examinations, and blood and urine tests. * Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy: A sample of bone marrow is obtained for microscopic examination. The patient is given local anesthesia or conscious sedation. An area of the hipbone is numbed, a thin needle is inserted through the skin into the bone, and a small amount of marrow is withdrawn. * Tissue biopsy: A small piece of tissue or tumor is obtained for microscopic examination. Depending on the site of the biopsy, the tissue may be removed using a cookie cutter-like "punch" instrument, a needle, or a knife. The area is numbed and the tissue is removed with the appropriate tool. * Imaging tests to visualize organs, tissues, and cellular activity in specific tissues. For these tests, the patient lies on a table that slides into the scanner. They may include the following: 1. Nuclear scans use a sensitive camera to track a small amount of radioactive material (radioisotope) that is given to the patient by mouth or through a vein. The scan may show abnormal areas of tissue in the bones, liver, spleen, kidney, brain, thyroid, or spine. 2. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses a magnetic field and radio waves to examine small sections of body organs and tissues. 3. Computerized tomography (CT) uses x-rays and can be done from different angles to provide a 3-dimensional view of tissues and organs. 4. Positron emission tomography (PET) uses a fluid with a radioisotope attached to it to show cellular activity in specific tissues. The fluid is given through a vein and travels to the cells that are most active (like cancer cells), showing if there is an actively growing tumor. * Pulmonary (lung) function tests: The patient breathes into a machine that measures the volume of air the person can move into and out of the lungs. * Heart function tests may include the following: 1. Electrocardiogram (EKG) evaluates the electrical activity of the heart. Electrodes placed on the chest transmit information from the heart to a machine. 2. Echocardiogram (Echo) is an ultrasound test that uses sound waves to create an image of the heart and examine the function of the heart chambers and valves. 3. Multiple gated acquisition scan (MUGA) is a nuclear medicine test that uses a small amount of radioactive chemical injected into a vein. A special scanner creates an image of the heart for examining the beating motion of the muscle. Disease relapse or progression, or transplant-related problems may be treated with standard medical, radiation, or surgical therapy, or patients may be offered experimental therapy.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a personalized strategy for discontinuing Letermovir (a drug used to prevent Cytomegalovirus \[CMV\] infection) based on the recovery of the patient's own immune system. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common and serious complication after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Currently, Letermovir is typically given as a standard prevention for about 100 days post-transplant. However, some patients may recover their CMV-specific immunity earlier, while others may need longer protection. In this study, researchers will use a dynamic monitoring technology (QuantiFERON-CMV) to detect the level of CMV-specific T-cells in patients. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the experimental group or the control group: Experimental Group: Letermovir discontinuation will be guided by T-cell recovery. If the test shows that the patient's CMV-specific T-cells have recovered, Letermovir may be stopped earlier than the standard 100 days. Control Group: Patients will receive the standard Letermovir prophylaxis for approximately 100 days, regardless of T-cell status. The study aims to determine if this immune-guided strategy can effectively prevent CMV infection while potentially reducing the duration of medication and associated costs, without increasing the risk of CMV disease.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is an effective treatment for various hematologic diseases. However, one of the major challenges of allo-HSCT is the occurrence of graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), particularly acute gastrointestinal GvHD (GI-GvHD). GvHD occurs when donor T cells recognize the recipient's tissue as foreign and mount an immune attack against it. Acute GI-GvHD is a common complication following allo-HSCT and a significant cause of mortality. If the initial steroid treatment for acute GvHD fails, mortality rates can reach as high as 81%. Recent studies have shown a strong association between reduced gut microbiota diversity and high mortality in patients with acute GI-GvHD, highlighting the critical role of the gut microbiome in regulating immune responses and maintaining intestinal homeostasis. Consequently, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has emerged as a potential therapeutic strategy aimed at restoring a healthy gut microbiome and improving clinical outcomes in patients with acute GI-GvHD. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of FMT in patients with steroid-refractory or steroid-resistant acute GI-GvHD. The findings of this research will contribute to establishing FMT as a potential and effective treatment option for managing severe acute GI-GvHD, thereby improving patient outcomes and reducing transplant-related mortality.

Sclerotic chronic graft-versus-host disease (scl-cGVHD) is a severe subtype of chronic GVHD after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), characterized by skin sclerosis, fascial involvement, and restricted joint mobility, leading to substantial functional impairment and reduced quality of life. Current standard therapies, including corticosteroids and other immunosuppressive agents, have limited efficacy in patients with refractory or steroid-dependent disease. Madecassoside tablets, a standardized extract of Centella asiatica, have demonstrated anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic properties in previous studies and may provide therapeutic benefit in fibrotic diseases. This study is a prospective, multicenter, single-arm phase 2 clinical trial designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of madecassoside tablets combined with standard therapy in patients with scl-cGVHD after allo-HSCT. Eligible participants will receive oral madecassoside tablets (0.2 g three times daily) in addition to standard treatment for 6 months. Clinical assessments will be performed at baseline and at weeks 4, 8, 12, and 24. The primary endpoint is the improvement rate of skin and/or joint/fascia NIH cGVHD scores at 6 months according to the 2014 NIH consensus criteria. Secondary endpoints include overall cGVHD response rate, failure-free survival, non-relapse mortality, corticosteroid dose reduction, patient-reported outcomes, and safety assessments. Peripheral blood samples will also be collected to explore changes in inflammatory cytokines and lymphocyte subsets during treatment.

This is a multicenter randomized, double blind, Phase 2 trial for patients receiving transplants from 7 of 8 HLA matched donors, in which an extended dosing regimen of abatacept, and a short-term dosing regimen + placebo, when added to standard calcineurin inhibitor + methotrexate-based prophylaxis, will be compared for their ability to improve outcomes in patients with a minimum follow-up of one year post-transplant. All patients will receive 4 doses of abatacept (Days -1, +5, +14, +28). Prior to the fifth dose, patients will be randomly assigned to the 4-dose abatacept arm and receive 4 doses of placebo or 8-dose abatacept arm and receive 4 more doses of abatacept. The primary endpoint of the study will be severe AGVHD-free, severe CGVHD-free, relapse-free survival (SGRFS). The study will end when the last patient has reached 2 years after transplant. Results will first be calculated and the study unblinded when the last patient has reached one year post-transplant.

This study will evaluate the effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) on treating emerging indications (i.e., conditions that have shown to potentially benefit from HBOT) using the Multicenter Registry for Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment. The study team aims to collect ongoing data on how well HBOT treats these emerging indications, and to add these data to the growing HBO Registry. The research team hypothesizes that HBOT will result in improvements of the condition of the various emerging indications.

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is one of the only curative intent therapies available for hematologic malignancies. HLA-matched sibling donors have historically offered the best clinical results but are unavailable for the majority of patients, while most patients do have readily available haploidentical donors. One of the risks of a haploidentical HCT is graft vs. host disease (GVHD), but it is difficult to reduce the incidence of GVHD without compromising the graft vs. leukemia (GVL) effect. The hypothesis of this study is that JAK inhibition with and without CTLA-4 Ig with haploidentical HCT may mitigate GVHD and cytokine release syndrome while retaining the GVL effect and improving engraftment.

Patients in need of an allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) are at risk of developing graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD). In certain clinical situations, the optimal approach to minimize the risk of GVHD is to perform ex vivo alpha-beta T-cell depletion of the donor cells. However, the CliniMACS® Device is FDA-approved only for a narrow indication. All other uses of ex vivo processed cells must be done under a feasibility study protocol.

This study is about determining if an aerobic and resistance exercise intervention is feasible in patients diagnosed with acute or chronic GVHD (Graft-Versus-Host Disease) after having an allogeneic stem cell transplant. The names of the study interventions involved in this study are: * Aerobic and resistance exercise (A+R) - Home-based aerobic and resistance exercise program * Attention control (AC) - Home-based stretching program

The goal of this observational study is to investigate the development of vulvovaginal graft-versus-host- disease (GVHD), an under-reported and under-recognized manifestation of chronic GVHD. This study aims to characterize the vaginal microbiome in participants undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). The main questions it aims to answer are: * Is the vaginal microbiome altered during allogeneic HCT? * What changes may help researchers understand the development of vulvovaginal GVHD? Participants will be asked to undergo an assessment of vulvovaginal symptoms through a vulvovaginal symptom questionnaire once pre-transplant, 6 months post-transplant, and twelve12 months post- transplant. Participants will also be asked to undergo a vaginal microbiome (collection of bacteria, fungi, and viruses that live on our bodies) evaluation through a vaginal exam performed by a gynecologist with collection of vaginal samples once pre-transplant and again six months post-treatment and twelve months post-transplant. If a participant develops symptoms of vulvovaginal GVHD at any point in time during the post-transplant follow up, the participant may partake in additional vaginal exams to diagnose GVHD at the time of symptom onset.

Patients undergoing allogenic stem cell transplantation are regularly followed up in the outpatient clinic at Karolinska University Hospital. Here, patients are offered participation the fatigue study measuring both fatigue and cognitive impairment systematically by international standard. Meanwhile liquor samples and advanced PET imaging techniques are available for these patients as part of a research project allowing extensive immunological and radio-morphological studies.

This research study is evaluating the safety and efficacy of the IS-free Treg-cell graft-engineered haplo transplant method in people with relapsed/refractory and Ultra-high risk acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and/or myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) receiving a haploidentical donor allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). The names of the study interventions involved in this study are: * Radiation-Total Myeloid and Lymphoid Irradiation (TMLI) * Chemotherapy (Fludarabine, Thiotepa, Cyclophosphamide plus Mesna) * Infusion of haplo Treg-enriched donor cells (experimental therapy) * Infusion of unmodified haplo donor T cells (includes cancer-fighting T effector cells) * Infusion of haplo donor CD34+ Peripheral Blood Stem Cells

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection is one of the most common and serious complications after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Standard monitoring uses HCMV DNA testing, but this method may not detect the virus early enough to guide timely treatment. This multicenter observational study will evaluate a new high-performance microRNA (miRNA) detection technology (PSTM-qPCR) for monitoring HCMV infection in allo-HSCT patients. Approximately 300 patients and their donors will be enrolled across several major transplant centers in China. Blood samples will be collected before and after transplantation to test for both HCMV-miRNA and HCMV-DNA. The study will compare the sensitivity and timing of miRNA detection with conventional DNA testing and explore whether miRNA can serve as an early biomarker of infection and related complications. The goal is to improve early diagnosis and management of HCMV infection, reduce infection-related complications, and ultimately improve survival outcomes in patients undergoing allo-HSCT.

This is a prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled trial designed to evaluate whether the combination of ruxolitinib and etanercept provides superior efficacy compared with ruxolitinib monotherapy in patients with severe corticosteroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease (SR-aGVHD) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) is one of the most common and life-threatening complications following allo-HSCT. Although corticosteroids remain the standard first-line treatment, many patients do not respond adequately. For patients with severe steroid-refractory aGVHD, the prognosis is extremely poor, with high short-term mortality and very low long-term survival. Ruxolitinib, a JAK1/2 inhibitor, has been approved for the treatment of SR-aGVHD, but response rates remain suboptimal, particularly in patients with gastrointestinal involvement. Etanercept, a tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) inhibitor, has shown activity in GVHD by targeting inflammatory pathways. Previous observational studies from our center suggested that combining ruxolitinib with etanercept may improve response rates, especially in gastrointestinal and hepatic GVHD, without significantly increasing relapse risk. In this trial, approximately 122 patients with grade III-IV SR-aGVHD will be randomized 1:1 to receive either ruxolitinib alone or ruxolitinib plus etanercept. The primary endpoint is the overall response rate (ORR) at day 28. Secondary endpoints include durable response, best overall response, failure-free survival, overall survival, cumulative incidence of relapse, non-relapse mortality, incidence of chronic GVHD, and safety outcomes. This study seeks to provide new clinical evidence for an optimized treatment strategy for patients with severe SR-aGVHD, aiming to improve outcomes in this high-risk population.

The investigators hypothesize that single oral high dose supplementation with vitamin A will reduce the incidence of moderate-severe chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) compared with placebo.

The study will be conducted in two phases. The phase I portion will employ a 3+3 dose-escalation design to define the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of abatacept added to PTCy and bortezomib following HSCT. The phase II portion will consist of two single-arm, open-label, optimal 2-stage Simon design studies conducted in two separate strata for HLA-matched and HLA-mismatched donor transplants.

The objective of this study is to describe the type of cell death induced by extracorporeal photochemotherapy, depending on the cell type, using a panel of complementary analysis techniques.

This is a single arm, open-label, multi-center, pilot studies (Investigator Initiated Trial, IIT) to evaluate the safety, tolerability, efficacy, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of universal T-cells engineered with chimeric natural killer receptor (CNK-UT) to treat the patients with steroid-refractory/resistant or steroid-dependent GVHD.

Allogeneic Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is an effective treatment for all array of blood or blood-producing organ disorders. Graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD) occurs as a result of an overactive immunological system against normal host tissues. It can happen in the liver, skin, mucosal surface of the eye, gastrointestinal tract, and genitalia. Ocular GVHD occurs in 30-70% of patients after HSCT. It mainly affects the ocular surface, including the conjunctiva and cornea. In severe cases, multiple clinical manifestations can lead to painful non-healing corneal ulcers, secondary infections, and visual loss. oGVHD can be debilitating and severely impact patients' quality of life. However, there are no widely accepted guidelines available for prevention and management. In collaboration with the Department of Haematology of Queen Mary Hospital, the investigators set out to establish a territory-wide cohort of patients receiving HSCT. Primarily, the investigators aim to establish the population-based epidemiology of oGVHD and understand the natural history and the long-term ophthalmic outcomes of oGVHD via this study.