High-Dose Gemcitabine, Busulfan and Melphalan With Hematopoietic-Cell Support for Patients With Poor-Risk Myeloma
Condition: Myeloma
MeSH terms: Multiple Myeloma; Neoplasms, Plasma Cell
Study type: Interventional
Phase: Phase 2

Summary: 
      The goal of this clinical research study is to learn if the combination of gemcitabine,
      busulfan, and melphalan, when given before a stem cell transplant, can help to control
      refractory myeloma. The safety of this study treatment will also be studied.
    

Detailed description: 
      Study Drugs:

      Busulfan and melphalan are designed to bind to the DNA (genetic material) of cells, which may
      cause cancer cells to die. They are commonly used in stem cell transplantation.

      Gemcitabine is designed to disrupt the growth of cancer cells, which may cause cancer cells
      to die. It may help to increase the effect of busulfan and melphalan on cancer cells by not
      allowing these cells to repair the DNA damage caused by busulfan or melphalan.

      Busulfan Test Dose:

      You will receive a test dose of busulfan by vein over about 60 minutes. This low-level test
      dose of busulfan is to check how the level of busulfan in your blood levels changes over
      time. This information will be used to decide the next dose needed to reach the target blood
      level that matches your body size. You will most likely receive this as an outpatient during
      the week before you are admitted to the hospital. If it cannot be given as an outpatient, you
      will be admitted to the hospital on Day -11 (11 days before your stem cells are returned to
      your body) and the test dose will be given on Day -10.

      About 11 samples of blood (about 1 teaspoon each time) will be drawn for pharmacokinetic (PK)
      testing. PK testing measures the amount of study drug in the body at different time points
      and will help the study doctor determine what your dose of busulfan should be on study. These
      blood samples will be drawn at various timepoints before you receive busulfan and over about
      the next 11 hours. The blood samples will be repeated again on the first day of high-dose
      busulfan treatment Day -8. A temporary heparin lock line will be placed in your vein to lower
      the number of needle sticks needed for these draws. If it is not possible for the PK tests to
      be performed, you will receive the standard dose of busulfan.

      If you receive the busulfan test dose as an outpatient:

      On Days -12 (12 days before your stem cells are returned to your body) through Day -10, you
      will receive palifermin by vein over about 30 seconds to help decrease the risk of side
      effects in the mouth and throat.

      You will be admitted on Day -9 and will receive fluids by vein to hydrate you. You will swish
      the liquids caphosol and glutamine in your mouth 4 times a day, for about 2 minutes each
      time. You will swish these liquids every day until you leave the hospital. These drugs are
      also used to help decrease the risk of side effects in the mouth and throat.

      On Days -8 through -5, you will receive busulfan by vein over about 3 hours.

      On Days -8 and -3, you will receive gemcitabine by vein over about 3 hours.

      On Day -4, you will not receive any drugs.

      If you receive the busulfan test dose as an inpatient:

      On Days -13 through Day -11, you will receive palifermin by vein over about 30 seconds each
      day to help decrease the risk of side effects in the mouth and throat.

      You will be admitted on Day -11 and will receive fluids by vein to hydrate you. You will
      swish the liquids caphosol and glutamine in your mouth 4 times a day, for about 2 minutes
      each time. You will swish these liquids every day until you leave the hospital. These drugs
      are also used to help decrease the risk of side effects in the mouth and throat.

      On Day -10, you will receive the busulfan test dose by vein over 45 minutes.

      On Day -9, you will not receive any drugs.

      On Days -8 and -3, you will receive gemcitabine by vein over about 3 hours on both days.

      On Days -8 through -5, you will receive busulfan by vein over about 3 hours each day.

      Study Drug Administration (for all patients):

      On Days -9 through -2, you will receive dexamethasone by vein over about 15 minutes to help
      decrease the risk of the possible side effects of the study drugs.

      On Days -3 and -2, you will receive melphalan by vein over about 30 minutes on both days.

      On Day -1, you will not receive any drugs.

      On Day 0, your stem cells will be returned to your body by vein over 30-60 minutes.

      On Days 0 through 2, you will receive palifermin by vein over about 30 seconds each day.

      Beginning on Day 5, you will receive filgrastim (a drug that helps with the growth of white
      blood cells) through a needle under your skin 1 time each day until your blood cell levels
      return to normal.

      Study Tests:

      While you are in the hospital, you will be checked for any side effects as part of your
      standard of care. Blood (about 2 teaspoons) will be drawn every day to check for side
      effects.

      As part of standard care, you will remain in the hospital for about 3-4 weeks after the
      transplant. After you are released from the hospital, you must remain in the Houston area to
      be monitored for infections and other transplant side effects until about Day 30. During this
      time, you will return to the clinic 1 time each week and the following tests and procedures
      will be performed:

        -  You will be asked about how you are feeling and about any side effects you may be
           having.

        -  Blood (about 2 teaspoons) will be drawn for routine tests.

        -  You will have a lung function test about 30-100 days after the transplant.

      Length of Study:

      You will be followed as part as the study for at least 2 years. You may be taken off study
      early if the disease gets worse or you experience any intolerable side effects.

      At each follow-up visit the following tests and procedures will be performed:

        -  Your medical history will be recorded.

        -  You will have a physical exam.

        -  Blood (about 2 teaspoons) and urine will be collected for routine tests.

        -  If your doctor thinks it is needed, you will have a bone marrow biopsy to check the
           status of the disease.

        -  Bone survey: Only once a year.

      You must talk to the study doctor if you want to leave the study early. It may be
      life-threatening to leave the study after you have begun to receive the study drugs but
      before you receive the stem cells.

      This is an investigational study. Busulfan, gemcitabine, and melphalan are all FDA approved
      and commercially available for the treatment of lymphoma, myeloma, and several other tumors.
      The use of these study drugs together and the use of gemcitabine at the dose level used in
      this study is investigational.

      Up to 75 patients will take part in this study. All will be enrolled at MD Anderson.
    

Intervention name(s): Palifermin; Dexamethasone; Gemcitabine; Busulfan; Melphalan; Stem Cell Transplant; G-CSF
Intervention type(s): Drug; Drug; Drug; Drug; Drug; Procedure; Drug
Intervention description(s): 60 micrograms/kg infused as an IVP (by vein) over 15-30 seconds Days -12 to -10 and Days 0 to +2 as an outpatient.
60 micrograms/kg by vein on Days -13 to -11 and on Days 0, +1 and +2 as in inpatient.; 8 mg IV twice a day by vein over 15 minutes Days -9 through -2 as an outpatient or inpatient.; 1875 mg/m^2 IV (75 mg/ m2 bolus followed by 1800 mg/m^2 over 3 hours) on Day -8 and Day -3 as an outpatient or inpatient.; 32 mg/m2 test dose with PKs as outpatient before Day -12, or as an inpatient on Day -10.
Busulfan AUC 4,000 by vein on Days -8 to -5 as an outpatient or inpatient.; 60 mg/m^2 IV on Days -3 and -2 over 30 minutes on both days as an outpatient or inpatient.; On Day 0, stem cells returned to body by vein over 30-60 minutes.; 5 mcg/kg/day subcutaneously beginning on Day +5 and continuing until neutrophil recovery is documented.
Other intervention name(s): kepivance; decadron; Gemcitabine Hydrochloride; Gemzar; myleran; busulfex; Alkeran; SCT; ASCT; Filgrastim; Neupogen
Intervention MeSH terms: Dexamethasone; Gemcitabine; Melphalan; Busulfan
Intervention model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: Autologous Hematopoietic-Cell Support; Stem Cell Transplant; Busulfan; Myleran; Busulfex; Gemcitabine; Gemzar; Melphalan; Alkeran; Decadron; Dexamethasone; G-CSF; Filgrastim; Neupogen