Fludarabine Phosphate, Radiation Therapy, and Rituximab in Treating Patients Who Are Undergoing Donor Stem Cell Transplant Followed by Rituximab for High-Risk Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia or Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 2018-03-30

Summary

This phase II trial studies how well fludarabine phosphate with radiation therapy and rituximab followed by donor stem cell infusions work in treating patients with high-risk chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) with low side effects. Nonmyeloablative stem cell transplants use low doses of chemotherapy (fludarabine phosphate) and radiation to suppress the patient's immune system enough to prevent rejection of the donor's stem cells. Following infusion of donor stem cells, a mixture of the patient's and the donor's stem cells will exist and is called "mixed chimerism". Donor cells will attack the patient's leukemia. This is called the "graft-versus-leukemia" effect. Rituximab will be given 3 days before and three times after infusing stem cells to help in controlling CLL early after transplant till the "graft-versus-leukemia" takes control. Further, rituximab could augment the "graft-versus-leukemia" effect by activating donor immune cells and hence improve disease control. Sometimes the transplanted cells from a donor can also attack the body's normal cells. Giving cyclosporine and mycophenolate mofetil after the transplant may stop this from happening.

• Phase: Phase 2

Details

• Lead Sponsor: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
• Collaborator: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
• Treatments: Antibodies; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological; Cyclosporine; Cyclosporins; Fludarabine; Fludarabine phosphate; Immunoglobulins; Mycophenolate mofetil; Mycophenolic Acid; Rituximab; Vidarabine