Clinical Trials Search at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center

This phase II trial studies the treatment response for patients with acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). GVHD occurs when donor immune cells attack the healthy tissue of a bone marrow or stem cell transplant patient. The standard treatment for GVHD is to lower the activity of the donor cells by using steroid medications such as prednisone. But steroid treatment may cause many complications and the risk of these complications increases with higher doses of steroids and longer treatment. It is important to find ways to decrease the steroid treatment in patients who do not need long courses. Researchers are doing this study to find out how many subjects respond well to lower steroid dosing based on a blood test (GVHD biomarker) and if they develop fewer complications.

This study evaluates immunologic response following COVID-19 vaccination in children, adolescents, and young adults with cancer. Vaccines work by stimulating the bodys immune cells to respond against a specific disease. The immune response produces protection from that disease. Effects from cancer and from treatments for cancer can reduce the bodys natural disease fighting ability (called immunity). Factors such as vaccine type, timing of vaccine dosing related to treatment for cancer and number of vaccine doses or boosts (extra vaccine shots) may strengthen or diminish the bodys protective immune response. This study may help researchers learn more about how the bodys immune system responds to the COVID-19 vaccine when the vaccination is given during or after cancer treatment.

Difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) will be used in an open label, single agent, multicenter,
study for patients with neuroblastoma in remission. In this study subjects will receive 730
Days of oral difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) at a dose of 750 mg/m2 250 mg/m2 BID (strata 1,
2, 3, and 4) OR 2500 mg/m2 BID (stratum 1B) on each day of study. This study will focus on
the use of DFMO in high risk neuroblastoma patients that are in remission as a strategy to
prevent recurrence.