Center for Stem Cell Transplantation Research Highlights

While hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is the only potentially curative option for many patients with hematologic malignancies, complications — including but not limited to graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), infections, cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation and disease relapse — are a common cause of morbidity and occasionally mortality following this procedure. Physicians and scientists at City of Hope are working side by side in setting standards for stem cell transplantation and improving long-term outcomes for both pediatric and adult patients. Our overall research goals are:
 
To prevent infections and improve recovery of immune functions
  • Novel conditioning regimens (TMLI-based higher-intensity conditioning regimens, clofarabine in combination with melphalan)
  • Application of CAR T cells in HCT in collaboration with T Cell Therapy Center
 
To improve survival outcomes and reduce the risk of relapse
  • CMV vaccine trials
  • Human lysozyme-rich milk produced by transgenic goats, Artemis.  
 
To prevent and effectively treat GVHD, which is caused by the donor immune cells damaging the host tissues 
  • GVHD biomarker-based stratified treatments (natalizumab, JAK1 inhibitor)
 
To reduce complications/organ damages from chemotherapy/radiation therapy used in HCT 
  • Personalized use of chemotherapeutic agents based on population pharmacokinetics and metabolomics analyses 
 
To expand an access to HCT by developing a safe approach to allow mismatched donors (related or unrelated) for HCT 
  • Tolerance induction with haploidentical donor HCT using nonmyeloablative conditioning for sickle cell anemia