Home blood transfusions for people with advanced blood cancers in hospice
Supportive Transfusion Program for Patients With Hematologic Malignancies: A Cluster Randomized Trial
The study will test whether offering home blood transfusions to adults with advanced or relapsed blood cancers who are eligible for hospice helps improve quality of life, mood, and end-of-life care.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 700 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (Boston, Massachusetts and 1 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT06487247 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
The HEME-Hospice program offers palliative red blood cell and platelet transfusions at home for patients with relapsed or refractory hematologic malignancies who are enrolled in hospice. In a cluster randomized design, hematologic oncologists are randomly assigned to provide access to HEME-Hospice or to continue usual care, and patients receive services based on their physician's assignment. Outcomes include hospice enrollment, patient quality of life and mood, end-of-life healthcare utilization, and caregiver quality of life and mood. The trial is run through Dana-Farber and Brigham and Women's Hospital for patients living in the Care Dimensions Hospice catchment who receive primary oncology care at Dana-Farber.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults with relapsed or refractory hematologic malignancies who have received at least one prior transfusion, receive primary oncologic care at Dana-Farber, live within the Care Dimensions Hospice service area, and have a physician-estimated prognosis of six months or less.
Not a fit: Patients already enrolled in hospice, those living in nursing homes or assisted living, people outside the hospice catchment area, or individuals with a history of serious transfusion reactions are unlikely to qualify or benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could allow patients to receive needed transfusions at home, reduce symptom burden, increase hospice enrollment, and improve quality of life for both patients and caregivers.
How similar studies have performed: Transfusions are known to relieve symptoms for patients with blood cancers, but randomized trials of home-transfusion programs in hospice are limited and this clustered care-delivery model is relatively novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria for Patient Participants: * Diagnosis of a relapsed/refractory hematologic malignancy * Age ≥ 18 years * Receipt of primary oncologic care at DFCI (at least 2 outpatient visits in 12 months prior to enrollment) * Has received at least one red blood cell (RBC) or platelet transfusion since blood cancer diagnosis in the clinic or hospital setting without a severe transfusion reaction * Patient resides within catchment served by Care Dimensions Hospice * Physician-estimated prognosis of six months or less Inclusion Criteria for Caregivers: * Identified informal caregiver of enrolled patient with hematologic malignancy * Age ≥ 18 years Exclusion Criteria for Patient Participants: * Age \< 18 years * Already enrolled in hospice * Resides in nursing home or assisted living facility * History of previous serious adverse transfusion reaction Exclusion Criteria for Caregivers: -Age \< 18 years
Where this trial is running
Boston, Massachusetts and 1 other locations
- Brigham and Women's Hospital — Boston, Massachusetts, United States (Recruiting)
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute — Boston, Massachusetts, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Oreofe Odejide, MD, MPH — Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
- Study coordinator: Oreofe Odejide, MD, MPH
- Email: Oreofe_Odejide@dfci.harvard.edu
- Phone: 617-632-6864
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.