Preventing severe CAR T side effects with early dexamethasone and anakinra
BMT Core- The Ohio State University blood and marrow transplant research consortium
We will see if giving two medicines, dexamethasone and anakinra, right after CAR T therapy can prevent dangerous inflammation and brain problems in adults with blood cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ohio State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbus, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11170579 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You will have simple blood tests (CRP and ferritin) before CAR T to identify if you are at high risk for severe reactions. If eligible, you would be randomly assigned to receive dexamethasone plus anakinra or a placebo in the first days after CAR T infusion. The medical team will closely monitor you for signs of cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity during the first 30 days when risk is highest. The trial plans to enroll about 182 patients to compare how often serious side effects occur between the two groups.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults (21+) with leukemia or lymphoma who are scheduled for CAR T-cell therapy and who show blood-marker signs (CRP and ferritin) that put them at high risk for severe CRS or neurotoxicity.
Not a fit: Children, people not receiving CAR T, or patients judged to be low-risk by the CRP/ferritin tests would not be eligible and are unlikely to benefit from this trial.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could reduce the chance of life-threatening inflammatory and neurologic complications after CAR T and make the therapy safer.
How similar studies have performed: Smaller studies have shown that using dexamethasone or anakinra alone appears safe and promising for preventing CAR T toxicities, but the combination has not yet been tested in a large randomized trial.
Where this research is happening
Columbus, UNITED STATES
- Ohio State University — Columbus, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vasu, Sumithira — Ohio State University
- Study coordinator: Vasu, Sumithira
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.