Antithymocyte Globulin and Cyclosporine to Treat Myelodysplasia

Summary

This study will determine the safety and effectiveness of a combination of the immune-suppressing drugs antithymocyte globulin (ATG) and cyclosporine for treating myelodysplasia, a disorder of low blood cell counts. It will: evaluate whether this drug combination can increase blood counts in patients and reduce their need for transfusions; compare survival of patients who respond to ATG and cyclosporine treatment with those who do not respond; and determine the side effects of the treatment. Myelodysplasia is thought to result from an immune system abnormality in which cells called lymphocytes attack the marrow's blood-forming cells. The resulting deficiencies of platelets and red and white blood cells cause anemia, susceptibility to infections, and easy bruising and bleeding. Various therapies, such as blood transfusions for anemia and bleeding, antibiotics for infection, chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation are used to treat myelodysplasia, but all have disadvantages and some carry serious risks. Patients 18 years of age and older with myelodysplasia may be eligible for this study. Candidates will be screened with a physical examination and medical history, blood tests, chest X-ray, electrocardiogram and bone marrow biopsy (removal of a marrow sample from the hipbone for microscopic examination).

Timeline

Start

2000-06

Primary completion

2008-03

Completion

2008-03

Publications

• Background Bynoe AG, Scott CS, Ford P, Roberts BE. Decreased T helper cells in the myelodysplastic syndromes. Br J Haematol. 1983 May;54(1):97-102. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2141.1983.tb02071.x.
• Background Porta F, Facchetti F, Tettoni K, Laffranchi MG, Arrighini A, Ugazio AG. Myelodysplastic syndrome in an infant: induction of remission by cyclosporin. Lancet. 1998 Nov 14;352(9140):1600-1. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(05)61048-3. No abstract available.
• Background Nydegger UE. Suppressive and substitutive immunotherapy: an essay with a review of recent literature. Immunol Lett. 1985;9(4):185-90. doi: 10.1016/0165-2478(85)90031-8. No abstract available.
• Mehta SD, Moses S, Agot K, Maclean I, Odoyo-June E, Li H, Bailey RC. Medical male circumcision and herpes simplex virus 2 acquisition: posttrial surveillance in Kisumu, Kenya. J Infect Dis. 2013 Dec 1;208(11):1869-76. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jit371. Epub 2013 Jul 30.

Drugs

Indications