Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) may be associated with a
clinically significant "graft-versus-tumor" (GVT) effect, even against disease that is
unresponsive to chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Graft-vs.-tumor (GVT) effects have
been described after allogeneic HCT for neuroblastoma, Ewing sarcoma, osteosarcoma,
rhabdomyosarcoma, melanoma and hepatoblastoma.
The investigators' goal is to maximize a T cell and NK cell mediated graft versus tumor
effect in poor prognosis solid tumor patients using haploidentical donors, T cell replete
bone marrow, and a unique post-transplant immunosuppression regimen containing post
transplantation Cy and shortened duration tacrolimus. This therapy will be widely
applicable because almost all patients have a half-matched donor available (parent or
sibling). The investigators hope to demonstrate the safety and feasibility of this
therapy in anticipation of combining this platform with additional post-transplantation
relapse/progression prevention therapy such as an immune checkpoint inhibitor.
TREATMENT PLAN Indwelling central venous catheter Placement of a double lumen central
venous catheter will be required for administration of IV medications and transfusion of
blood products.
Pre-treatment Evaluation All patients will require documentation of a detailed history
and physical examination and standard evaluation of cardiac, pulmonary, liver and renal
function. All patients will undergo disease evaluation as specified in Table 1, utilizing
whichever modalities following the guidelines in 6.1.3 (i). Pre-BMT blood will be drawn
per section section 5.12 for correlative labs.
Preparative regimen Fludarabine: administered as an IV infusion over 30 minutes on D-7 to
D-3. The dose will be 30 mg/m2/dose (adjusted for renal function).
Melphalan: Recommended to be administered as an IV infusion over 30-60 minutes, depending
on volume, on D-2. The dose will be 100mg/m2. Other institutional infusion standards are
acceptable and will not be a protocol deviation.
Total body irradiation: 200 cGy AP/PA with 4MV or 6MV photons at 8 12 cGy/min at the
point of prescription (average separation of measurements at mediastinum, abdomen, and
hips) will be administered in a single fraction on day -1.
Day of rest: A day of rest, i.e. after preparative regimen completion and prior to bone
marrow infusion, is not routinely scheduled. Up to one day of rest in-between TBI and the
infusion of bone marrow may be added in this window based on logistical considerations or
clinically as indicated.Bone marrow transplantation.Bone Marrow will be harvested and infused on day 0. Institutional guidelines for the
infusion of bone marrow (i.e. major or minor ABO incompatible bone marrow, etc.) will be
followed. The marrow infusion will be done by designated members of the BMT team. The
bone marrow graft will not be manipulated to deplete T cells. The donor will be harvested
with a target yield of 4 x 108 nucleated cells/kg recipient IBW. The lowest acceptable
yield is 1.5 x 108 nucleated cells/kg. The CD 34+, CD4+, CD8+, and CD3+ cell count in the
marrow will be quantified by flow cytometry.
Post-transplantation Cyclophosphamide.Cyclophosphamide 50mg/kg will be given on D+3 post-transplant (within 60-72 hr of marrow
infusion) and on D+4 post-transplant. Cyclophosphamide will be given as an IV infusion
over 1- 2 hours (depending on volume). Dosing of cyclophosphamide is based on ideal body
weight for subjects whose ideal body weights less than or equal to their actual body
weight. On occasion, a subject's actual body weight may be less than his/her ideal body
weight, in which case cyclophosphamide will be dosed using the subject's actual body
weight.
Patients will be instructed to increase fluids overnight before cyclophosphamide
administration. Hydration with normal saline at 3 cc/kg/hr iv will be started 8 hr prior
to cyclophosphamide, then the rate will be reduced to 2 cc/kg/hr for 1 hr
pre-cyclophosphamide and continued for at least 8 hr post-cyclophosphamide or
administered per institutional standards. Mesna will be given in divided doses IV 30 min
pre- and at 3, 6, and 8 hours post-cyclophosphamide or administered per institutional
standards. Mesna dose will be based on the cyclophosphamide dose being given. The total
daily dose of mesna is equal to 80% of the total daily dose of cyclophosphamide.
Patients will be instructed to increase fluids overnight before cyclophosphamide
administration. Hydration will be administered per institutional standards. Protocol
recommendation of normal saline at 3 cc/kg/hr iv will be started 8 hr prior to
cyclophosphamide, then the rate will be reduced to 2 cc/kg/hr for 1 hr
pre-cyclophosphamide and continued for at least 8 hr post-cyclophosphamide. Mesna will be
administered per institutional standards. Mesna dose will be based on the
cyclophosphamide dose being given. The total daily dose of mesna is equal to 80% of the
total daily dose of cyclophosphamide.
It is crucial that no immunosuppressive agents are given until 24 hours after the
completion of the post-transplant Cy. This includes steroids as anti-emetics.
GVHD prophylaxis.Tacrolimus On day +5, patients will begin prophylaxis with Tacrolimus (PO or IV as per
institutional standards for starting this prophylaxis).Tacrolimus begins on Day 5, at
least 24 hours after completion of posttransplantation Cy. The tacrolimus starting dose
will be given per institutional standards for adult or pediatric patients. The
recommended, but not required, The starting dose of tacrolimus is 0.015mg/kg IBW/dose IV
over 4 hours every 12 hours. , or per institutional standard. Serum trough levels of
tacrolimus should be measured around D+7 and the dose should be adjusted based on this
level to maintain a level of 5-15 ng/ml. Tacrolimus should be converted to oral dosing
when patient has a stable, therapeutic level and is able to tolerate food or other oral
medications. For pediatric patients, the oral dosing is approximately two to four times
the IV dosing. It is recommended that serum trough levels should be checked at steady
state after any dose modification and when switching from IV to oral to ensure
therapeutic trough concentrations. Serum trough concentrations should be checked at a
minimum weekly thereafter and the dose adjusted accordingly to maintain a level of 5-15
ng/ml. Tacrolimus will be discontinued after the last dose on Day 90, or may be continued
if active GVHD is present. This should be discussed with the PI. Tacrolimus may also be
discontinued early if patients have progressive disease or relapse. If tacrolimus is
stopped earlier or later than day 90 +/- 7 days , this should be discussed with the PI
This should also be discussed with the PI.
Mycophenolic acid mofetil (MMF) MMF will be given at a dose of 15 mg/kg PO TID (based
upon actual body weight) with the maximum total daily dose not to exceed 3 grams (1 g PO
TID). MMF prophylaxis will be discontinued after the last dose on D35.
Infection prophylaxis and therapy All infection prophylaxis and therapy will be
administered and discontinued as per institutional requirements. The following are
recommendations only.
i) During pre-transplant evaluation patients will be screened for respiratory syncytial
virus, influenza A, B and parainfluenza viruses if symptomatic. Assays of these viruses
must be negative for symptomatic patients to be admitted for transplant. Strong
consideration should be given to institution of ribavirin therapy if positive for
adenovirus or nalidixic acid if positive for BK virus.
ii) Oral hygiene will be maintained according to institutional standards.
iii) Prophylactic anti-microbial therapy will be started during the preparative regimen,
per institutional guidelines.
iv) Empiric therapy with broad-spectrum antibiotics will be instituted for the first
neutropenic fever (specific agents as per current practice).
Growth factor support.Patients will receive G-CSF (Filgrastim®) 5µg/kg/d SC or IV starting at Day 5 and
continuing until the ANC>1000/mm3 x 3days or two consecutive measurements over a three
day period. For use in the case of fungal infections or subsequent neutropenia
(ANC<500/mm3), G-CSF should be continued until the WBC>10,000-15,000.
Transfusion support Platelet and packed red cell transfusions will be given per current
institutional recommendations.
Anti-ovulatory treatment Menstruating females will are recommended to should be be
started on an anti-ovulatory agent, such as Lupron prior to the initiation of the
preparative regimen. The treatment administered will be at the discretion of the treating
physician.
Post-BMT evaluation Patients will be followed during (i) the initial post-BMT period (ii)
after discharge to the referring physician as per standard practice.