Success in half match transplants

[Marlene]

Here's an article on the success of doing half match transplants at Hopkins. This good news for those who are not successful in finding a matching donor. They've minimized GVHD by utilizing cytoxan after the transplant.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0707101956.htm

[Lbrown]

Sounds like you have to be prepared to stay on those drugs forever after that, but if you're ok with it, I guess that's good. I wouldn't be ok with that, but that's me, and I have the luxury of not having to make that choice.

Deb

[Greg H]

Thanks Marlene!

Very interesting. I had heard that Hopkins was working on half-matched SCT's, but hadn't looked up the details.

There's some more detailed info on the protocol on clinicaltrials.gov. Unfortunately, the full text of the article, published in Blood, is behind a paywall.

Turns out the post-transplant prophylaxis is in fact not a forever kind of thing. according to the protocol: "Participants will receive MMF for about 5 weeks and tacrolimus for about 6 months."

Take care!

Greg

[mausmish]

My doctor is the department chair at Hopkins and is very excited about their progress with haplo transplants. Before i found a donor, he assured me that a haplo would be no problem even with an older donor.

Luckily I ended up with a fully matched unrelated donor. However, I did participate in the post transplant Cytoxan trial to prevent GvHD without the use of other drugs (Dr. Leo Luznik, whom I adore), and am happy to be one of their success stories thus far. I'm more than 7 months post transplant and have not had to take any immunosuppresants, anti-rejection drugs, or steroids - just prophylactic anti-virals and antibiotics plus antinausea and anti-reflux meds. My presumed (nothing confirmed) GvHD has been very minimal, in my hematologist's words, "the perfect amount [for the graft vs. Leukemia effect]." I had the Cytoxan for only two days after the transplant. I have dry eyes and mouth and hyper-pigmeted/mottled skin on my neck and back. My liver enzymes are slightly elevated. That's about it. I was skeptical but am so glad now that I did the trial.

[Gokcen]

My mother will have half-matched SCT after her induction chemo which may start next week.
Pls send her some good vibes & prayers.

http://gazette.jhu.edu/2011/08/01/ha...emia-lymphoma/

[Birgitta-A]

Hi Gokcen,
We hope that your mother will tolerate the induction chemo and manage well during the SCT including the therapy after the transplantation.
Kind regards
Birgitta-A

[Gokcen]

Thank you Birgitta...
My mom doing well now so far, chemo will start soon.

Take care, regards.