Clinical Trials Search at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center

This phase III trial compares hematopoietic (stem) cell transplantation (HCT) using mismatched related donors (haploidentical [haplo]) versus matched unrelated donors (MUD) in treating children, adolescents, and young adults with acute leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). HCT is considered standard of care treatment for patients with high-risk acute leukemia and MDS. In HCT, patients are given very high doses of chemotherapy or radiation therapy, which is intended to kill cancer cells that may be resistant to more standard doses of chemotherapy; unfortunately, this also destroys the normal cells in the bone marrow, including stem cells. After the treatment, patients must have a healthy supply of stem cells reintroduced or transplanted. The transplanted cells then reestablish the blood cell production process in the bone marrow. The healthy stem cells may come from the blood or bone marrow of a related or unrelated donor. If patients do not have a matched related donor, doctors do not know what the next best donor choice is or if a haplo related donor or MUD is better. This trial may help researchers understand whether a haplo related donor or a MUD HCT for children with acute leukemia or MDS is better or if there is no difference at all.

This phase I/II trial studies the side effects and best dose of vorinostat in preventing graft versus host disease in children, adolescents, and young adults who are undergoing unrelated donor blood and bone marrow transplant. Sometimes the transplanted cells from a donor can make an immune response against the body's normal cells, called graft-versus-host disease. During this process, chemicals (called cytokines) are released that may damage certain body tissues, including the gut, liver and skin. Vorinostat may be an effective treatment for graft-versus-host disease caused by a bone marrow transplant.