Half-Matched stem cells tested as a cure for severe aplastic anemia
NCT ID NCT04558736
First seen Sep 16, 2026 · Last updated Sep 17, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
Researchers are testing a stem cell transplant from a half-matched family member in children and young adults with severe aplastic anemia, a condition where the bone marrow stops making enough blood cells. Participants receive chemotherapy and radiation to prepare their body, then an infusion of donor blood-forming cells that have been treated to remove certain immune cells. The goal is to see whether the transplant can take hold and keep working, and whether it improves survival. The study also tracks side effects like graft-versus-host disease and infections.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- A half-matched family donor stem cell transplant using T-cell-depleted blood-forming cells, with chemotherapy and a white blood cell infusion
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could give children and young adults with severe aplastic anemia a curative option even when no fully matched donor exists.
- What could go wrong
- The trial is small and early-stage, so the approach may fail to engraft or cause serious immune reactions. Graft-versus-host disease and infections remain major risks.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 2
Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.
- Participants
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About 21 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Jan 2021
- Expected to finish
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Jul 2030
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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Up to 21 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria for Transplant Recipient 1. Age less than or equal to 21 years at time of enrollment. 2. Confirmed diagnosis of SAA or a single lineage cytopenia (a) SAA or single lineage cytopenia will be defined as follows: * i. Bone marrow cellularity \< 25% or hypocellular marrow for age, AND * ii. One or more of the following (in peripheral blood): (i) Neutrophils \< 0.5 x10\^9/L (ii) Platelets \< 20 x10\^9/L, or platelet transfusion dependence (iii) Hemoglobin \<8g/dL, or red blood cell transfusion dependence 3. Does not have a suitable HLA-matched sibling donor (MSD) or volunteer 10/10 HLA-matched unrelated donor (MUD) available in the necessary time for progenitor cell donation. 4. Failed at least one trial of immunosuppressive therapy (IST) by being refractory (persistence of severe cytopenias and fulfillment of SAA disease criteria at least 3 months after initial IST) or having relapsed (initial improvement of cytopenias after first-line IST but then a later return to fulfillment of SAA disease criteria when IST is decreased or ceased). IST could have included ATG based regimens, calcineurin inhibitors and/or other higher dose therapy directed at the treatment of primary SAA. Patients with very severe aplastic anemia who are likely not to benefit from IST do not need to have failed a trial of IST and can proceed directly to HCT if they meet the rest of the criteria. 5. Has a suitable single haplotype matched (≥ 3 of 6) family member donor. 6. Patient and/or legal guardian must sign informed consent for HCT. 7. Adequate organ function defined as: 1. Left ventricular ejection fraction \> 40% or shortening fraction ≥ 25%. 2. Creatinine clearance (CrCl) or glomerular filtration rate (GFR) ≥ 50 ml/ min/1.73m2. 3. Forced vital capacity (FVC) ≥ 50% of predicted value; or pulse oximetry 4. ≥ 92% on room air if patient is unable to perform pulmonary function testing. 5. Karnofsky or Lansky (age-dependent) performance score ≥ 50. 6. Bilirubin ≤ 3 times the upper limit of normal for age. 7. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≤ 5 times the upper limit of normal for age. 8. Females and males of childbearing potential must agree to practice 2 effective methods of contraception at the same time or agree to abstinence until after the last dose of chemotherapy has been administered Exclusion Criteria for Transplant Recipient: 1. Diagnosis of Fanconi anemia. Fanconi anemia must be excluded by diepoxybutane (DEB) or equivalent testing. 2. Known clinical or genetic diagnosis of dyskeratosis congenita 3. Clonal cytogenetic abnormalities consistent with pre-myelodysplastic syndrome (pre- MDS) or MDS on marrow examination (e.g. Monosomy 7). 4. Diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). 5. Presence of anti-donor HLA antibodies (positive anti-donor HLA antibody is defined as a positive cross-match test of any titer by complement- dependent cytotoxicity or flow cytometric testing or the presence of anti- donor HLA antibody to the high expression loci HLA-A, B, C, DRB1, or DPB1 with mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) \> 1000 by solid phase immunoassay). 6. Prior allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant. 7. Prior solid organ transplant. 8. Known life-threatening reaction (i.e., anaphylaxis) to ATG that would prohibit use for the patient. 9. Uncontrolled bacterial, viral, or fungal infection at the time of enrollment. Uncontrolled is defined as progression or no clinical improvement on appropriate medical treatment. 10. Female patients who are pregnant (per institutional practice) or breast- feeding. 11. Prior malignancies except resected basal cell carcinoma or treated cervical carcinoma in situ. Cancer treated with curative intent \> 5 years previously will be allowed. Cancer treated with curative intent ≤ 5 years previously will not be allowed unless approved by the PI. 12. Alemtuzumab or ATG within 2 weeks of enrollment. Inclusion Criteria for Haploidentical Donor 1. At least single haplotype matched (≥ 3 of 6) family member. 2. At least 18 years of age. 3. HIV negative. 4. Not pregnant as confirmed by negative serum or urine pregnancy test within 14 days prior to enrollment (if female). 5. Not breast feeding. 6. Related donors must be ruled out for telomere disease by appropriate clinical and diagnostic measures (for example, clinical evaluation, telomere length testing, genetic testing, and/or bone marrow examination). 7. The HAPLO donor and/or legal guardian must be able to sign informed consent documents. 8. The potential HAPLO donor must be willing and able to donate PBSCs.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The study's own enquiry address
This study publishes an address for enquiries. See it below .
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Show contact details
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Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
Study contacts
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Contact
Email: •••••@•••••
Locations
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St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
RECRUITINGMemphis, Tennessee, 38105, United States
Contact Email: •••••@•••••
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Can a pill revive bone marrow in aplastic anemia?
- Can a drug revive blood cell production in children with aplastic anemia?
- Could a platelet-boosting drug shorten recovery after stem cell transplants?
- A common antioxidant may help platelets recover faster after stem cell transplant
- Could a cancer antibody reboot blood production in aplastic anemia?
- Triple therapy aims to overcome antibody barrier in Half-Matched stem cell transplants