
“I think it’s really important that people keep signing up to these type of trials to push research forward.”
Please note - this trial is no longer recruiting patients. We hope to add results when they are available.
This trial is looking at giving extra T cells after a mini transplant for cancers of the blood or lymphatic system. These are called haematological cancers.
Some people with such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma have a stem cell or bone marrow transplant using cells taken from their brother or sister. This is called a sibling allogeneic transplant. They often have lower doses of chemotherapy so it is sometimes called a mini (or reduced intensity) transplant.
People who have a transplant have medication to damp down the immune system (immunosuppressants) afterwards. This helps stop the new cells attacking the patient’s own cells, a condition called graft versus host disease or GVHD. But it also increases the risk of getting an infection.
T cells are lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell. They are part of our immune system. Doctors hope that giving specific T cells called CD4 cells may help boost immunity and reduce the risk of infection. In this trial they are giving extra CD4 cells from the donor a few months after the transplant. This is called a donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI).
The doctors also hope the CD4 cells will recognise and kill any cancer cells left behind – something called the graft versus lymphoma, or graft versus leukaemia (GvL) effect. If this happens it will reduce the risk of the cancer coming back.
The aim of this trial is to find out if giving extra CD4 T cells after a stem cell or bone marrow transplant will
You may be able to enter this trial if you
You cannot enter this trial if you
This is a phase 2 trial. It will recruit 56 people into one of two groups. For every 2 people joining group 1, one person will join group 2.
Everyone taking part in this trial will have a mini stem cell or bone marrow transplant using cells from their brother or sister. About a month after your transplant you begin to lower your dose of immunosuppressant drugs, stopping completely about a month after that. About a month later the doctors will do tests to see how well the transplant has worked.
If the treatment hasn’t worked and the cancer has come back, you won’t be able to take part in the rest of the trial. But if the treatment has worked, you can go on to the take part in the rest of the trial. If so, you will be put into one of the treatment groups by a computer. Neither you nor your doctor will be able to decide which group you are in. This is called a randomised trial.
If you are in group 1 you have the T cells from your donor about 3 to 4 months after your transplant. You have them as an infusion into a vein.
If you are in group 2 you won’t have the infusion of extra T cells. You will continue to see your doctor as usual.
You will see the doctors and have some tests before you take part in this trial. The tests include
Having a bone marrow or stem cell transplant is an intensive treatment. You will see the doctors and have tests regularly after your transplant whether you take part in this trial or not.
If you are in group 1, you will need to go to the outpatients department after your transplant to give a blood sample. Then about 3 to 4 months after your transplant to have the T cell infusion. This will take about half an hour.
Everyone taking part will need to give extra blood samples at the start of the trial and about 3, 6, 9 and 12 after the transplant. The research team will use these blood samples to try and find out more about cancer and its treatment.
Everyone taking part will see the doctors at 6, 9 and 12 months after your transplant, and then once a year after that.
All treatments have some side effects. The possible side effects of a T cell infusion include
There is a small risk of getting an infection from the T cells, although the research team screen the donors and check the donated cells to help prevent this.
We have more information about the side effects of a bone marrow or stem cell transplant.
Please note: In order to join a trial you will need to discuss it with your doctor, unless otherwise specified.
Professor Ronjon Chakraverty
Bloodwise
Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC)
NIHR Clinical Research Network: Cancer
University College London (UCL)
Freephone 0808 800 4040
“I think it’s really important that people keep signing up to these type of trials to push research forward.”