Low-Dose Total Lymphoid Irradiation in Treating Patients With Refractory Chronic Graft-versus-Host Disease After Donor Stem Cell Transplant

This phase I trial studies the side effects and best dose of low-dose total lymphoid irradiation (LD-TLI) in treating patients with chronic graft-versus-host disease that has not responded to treatment with steroids. LD-TLI is a procedure in which all of the body's major lymph nodes are treated with small doses of radiation in order to reset the dysfunctional immune system. LD-TLI may work as a treatment for graft-versus-host disease caused by a bone marrow or stem cell transplant.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To determine the safety of total lymphoid irradiation (TLI) in cohorts of a selected population of refractory chronic graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) patients, given to cohorts with a total cumulative doses of TLI of 100, 150, 200, 250 or 300 centigray (cGy).

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To evaluate the efficacy (failure free survival \[FFS\] at 6 months) of this therapy in the study population.

II. Approximate the efficacy at different dose levels using the GvHD summary scores.

TERTIARY OBJECTIVES:

I. Determine the effect of this therapy on relevant subpopulations of immune cells in an attempt to elucidate a mechanism of action.

OUTLINE: This is a dose-escalation study.

Patients undergo LD-TLI daily for 1-2 days.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up on day 45, at 3 and 6 months, at 1 year, and then every 6 months thereafter.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients may have received a prior allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (alloHSCT) for any indication and from any donor
* Patients must have a diagnosis of cGvHD, in accordance with National Institutes of Health (NIH) guidelines; patients with "overlap syndrome" are also eligible; NOTE: Patients with recurrent, late onset and/or persistent acute GvHD (alone) are not eligible
* Patients with chronic GvHD who have been exposed to two or more lines of therapy, including at least one of which was composed of a glucocorticoid and a calcineurin inhibitor are eligible.
* Patients must have active, but not rapidly progressive, refractory cGvHD; any degree of severity (as per NIH criteria) and/or pattern of organ involvement may be considered; that said, patients with more severe and/or extensive chronic GvHD are expected to be the usual candidates for therapy
* As above, GvHD should be controlled to a degree that would potentially allow no additional requirement for systemic IST before and following TLI =\< -15 and \>= day (d) +45, respectively
* The ability to administer protocol doses of TLI (i.e., 100, 200 or 300 cGy) without exceeding cumulative doses of radiation must be established; for patients with prior radiotherapy exposure, this determination will be made by Dr. Greven (or her designee) using published guidelines for excessive organ exposure
* Karnofsky performance status (KPS) \>= 60%
* White blood cells \>= 3,000/mcL
* Absolute neutrophil count \>= 1,500/mcL
* Hemoglobin \>= 10.0 g/dL
* Platelets \>= 100,000/mcL
* NOTE: If such hematologic abnormalities are present and deemed due to the process of cGvHD, such requirements may be waived with the approval of the PI
* Patients must have non-hematologic organ function as defined below:

  * Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) \> 40%
  * Key pulmonary function tests (PFTs) \> 40%

    * No further criteria for non-hematologic organ function are specified; however, if moderate-to-severe (major) organ function is present, such should be discussed with the PI, as various degrees of non-hematologic organ dysfunction may compromise either (or both) outcomes and toxicity evaluation
    * If there is concern regarding potential reversibility of any specific organ dysfunction, this issue should be addressed by consultation with an appropriate sub-specialist
* Ability to understand and the willingness to sign an institutional review board (IRB)-approved informed consent document

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients with evidence of persistent or active malignancy or uncontrolled infection at the time of study entry
* Patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding