Haploidentical donor transplant for sickle cell disease in young patients
Official title: Haploidentical Donor Hematopoietic Cell Transplant for Sickle Cell Disease
Run by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital · NCT07616154 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This trial tests a gentler conditioning regimen and a post-transplant medication plan to see if children and young adults with sickle cell disease can have a successful haploidentical hematopoietic cell transplant with limited GVHD.
Quick facts
| Phase | Phase 2 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Ages | Any age to 22 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 45 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Academic / other |
| Drugs / interventions | cyclophosphamide |
| Locations | 1 site (Memphis, Tennessee) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | September 2026 |
| Main results expected | September 2034 |
| Study ends | September 2035 |
| Registry record updated | July 23, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07616154 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are patients with sickle cell disease up to age 22 who lack an HLA-matched donor but have a suitable haploidentical family donor (≥3 of 6 match).
✕Probably not a fit
Patients without access to a haploidentical donor or those unlikely to tolerate the conditioning or GVHD prophylaxis may not benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
The study uses a reduced-toxicity conditioning approach followed by a GVHD prevention regimen that includes post-transplant cyclophosphamide, sirolimus, and abatacept. It aims to see if this strategy can achieve GVHD-free, rejection-free survival in patients up to 22 years old who lack a full matched donor but have a suitable haploidentical family donor. Secondary goals include overall and disease-free survival, GVHD incidence and severity, and engraftment kinetics after transplant. The trial is conducted at St. Jude with a pediatric and young adult sickle cell disease population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, participants may experience better transplant success with fewer GVHD-related complications, potentially improving survival and quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Previous hematopoietic cell transplant approaches for sickle cell disease have shown benefit with haploidentical donors in some settings; this study tests a specific reduced-toxicity conditioning plus GVHD prophylaxis.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Transplant Recipient * Age less than or equal to 22 years. * Patients without a suitable HLA-matched sibling donor but with a suitable single haplotype matched (≥ 3 of 6) family member donor. Potential donors do not need to undergo eligibility determination prior to the recipients enrolling on the study. As long as a potential donor is identified and willing to donate hematopoietic progenitor cells, recipients can enroll on the study. * Patients with SCD (any genotype) who meet any ONE of the following criteria: * History of an abnormal transcranial Doppler measurement defined as TCD velocity ≥200 cm/sec by the non-imaging technique (or ≥185 cm/sec by the imaging technique) measured at a minimum of two separate occasions. * History of cerebral infarction on brain MRI (overt stroke, or silent cerebral infarct). * History of two or more episodes of acute chest syndrome (ACS) in the 2-years period preceding enrollment. * History of two or more SCD related pain events requiring treatment with parenteral analgesics in the last 12 months. * History of two or more episodes of priapism (erection lasting ≥4 hours or requiring emergent medical care). * Administration of regular RBC transfusions (≥8 transfusions in the previous 12 months). * Evidence of progressive end organ damage (eg. cardiomyopathy, nephropathy, pulmonary hypertension etc) that in the opinion of the treating hematologist is not responsive to medical management and may benefit from an HCT. Such a determination must be made in writing by at least two independent hematologists and documented in the patient's electronic medical record prior to enrollment. Donor * An at least single haplotype matched (≥ 3 of 6) family member. * HIV negative * Not pregnant, as confirmed by negative serum or urine pregnancy test within 14 days prior to enrollment (if female). * Not breast feeding. * Donor should not have clinically significant hemoglobinopathy. Donors with sickle cell trait are acceptable. * Regarding donation eligibility, is identified as either: * Completed the process of donor eligibility determination as outlined in 21 CFR 1271 and agency guidance; OR. * Does not meet 21 CFR 1271 eligibility requirements but has a declaration of urgent medical need completed by the principal investigator or physician sub-investigator per 21 CFR 1271. Exclusion Criteria: Transplant Recipient * Karnofsky or Lansky performance score \<60. * Pregnant, as confirmed by positive serum or urine pregnancy test within 14 days prior to enrollment (if female). * Breast feeding. * Uncontrolled bacterial, viral or fungal infections (undergoing appropriate treatment and with progression of clinical symptoms) within 1 month prior to conditioning. Patients with febrile illness or suspected minor infection should await clinical resolution prior to starting conditioning. Patients with confirmed seropositivity or positive NAAT for HIV are excluded. * Serum conjugated (direct) bilirubin \>3x upper limit of normal for age as per local laboratory. Participants with hyperbilirubinemia as the result of hyperhemolysis, or a severe drop in hemoglobin post blood transfusion, are not excluded as long as it downtrends and return to acceptable limits subsequently. * Left ventricular shortening fraction \<25% or ejection fraction \<40% by echocardiogram. * Estimated creatinine clearance less than 50 mL/min/1.73m2. * Diffusion capacity of carbon monoxide (DLCO) \<35% (adjusted for hemoglobin) OR baseline oxygen saturation \<85% or PaO2 \<70. * Presence of anti-donor specific HLA antibodies unresponsive to desensitization.
Where it's running
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St Jude Children's Research Hospital
Memphis, Tennessee, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Akshay Sharma, MD — St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
- Study coordinator: Akshay Sharma, MD
- Email: referralinfo@stjude.org
- Phone: 8662785833
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.