Phase 2a Study of Adding Ruxolitinib With Tacrolimus/Methotrexate Regimen for Graft-versus-Host Disease Prophylaxis in Myeloablative Conditioning Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation in Pediatric and Young Adult Patients
This phase II trial tests how well ruxolitinib with tacrolimus and methotrexate work to prevent the development of graft versus host disease in pediatric and young adult patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant for acute myeloid leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, or myelodysplastic syndrome. Ruxolitinib is a type of medication called a kinase inhibitor. It works by blocking the signals of cells that cause inflammation and cell proliferation, which may help prevent graft versus host disease (GVHD). Tacrolimus is a drug used to help reduce the risk of rejection by the body of organ and bone marrow transplants by suppressing the immune system. Methotrexate stops cells from making DNA, may kill cancer cells, and also suppress the immune system, which may reduce the risk of GVHD. Giving ruxolitinib with tacrolimus and methotrexate may prevent GVHD in pediatric and young adults undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplants.
• Documented informed consent of the participant and/or legally authorized representative
⁃ Assent, when appropriate, will be obtained per institutional guidelines
• Agreement to allow the use of archival tissue from diagnostic tumor biopsies
⁃ If unavailable, exceptions may be granted with study primary investigator (PI) approval
• Age: 2-22
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) ≤ 2
• Performance status: Karnofsky ≥ 60% for patients ≥ 16 years old OR Lansky status ≥ 60% for patients \< 16 years old
• Candidate for allogeneic bone marrow transplant with and available matched related donor (MRD) or an 8/8 matched unrelated donor (MUD) who is willing to donate bone marrow (BM) or mobilized peripheral blood stem cells
⁃ Note: Donor selection process will be in accordance with City of Hope (COH)-standard operating procedures (SOPs) (B.001.09 Allogeneic Cellular Therapy Product Donor Evaluation, Selection \& Consent), which follows Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines for donation of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HPCs) obtained from peripheral blood or bone marrow
• Diagnosis of acute leukemia (acute myeloid leukemia \[AML\] or acute lymphoblastic leukemia \[ALL\]) in complete remission, or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)
• Fully recovered from the acute toxic effects (except alopecia) to ≤ grade 1 from prior anti-cancer therapy
• Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP): negative urine or serum pregnancy test. If the urine test is positive or cannot be confirmed as negative, a serum pregnancy test will be required (to be performed within 30 days prior to day 1 of protocol therapy)
• Agreement by females and males of childbearing potential to use an effective method of birth control or abstain from heterosexual activity for the course of the study through at least 6 months after the last dose of protocol therapy
⁃ Childbearing potential defined as not being surgically sterilized (men and women) or have not been free from menses for \> 1 year (women only)