Glutamine in Treating Side Effects in Children Who Are Undergoing Stem Cell Transplantation

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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RATIONALE: Glutamine may be able to decrease inflammation of the mouth and digestive system in children who are undergoing stem cell transplantation. PURPOSE: Randomized double-blinded phase II trial to study the effectiveness of glutamine in reducing inflammation of the mouth and digestive system in children who are undergoing peripheral stem cell transplantation.

Detailed Description
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OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the efficacy of supplemental oral glutamine in reducing the severity and duration of mucositis in children undergoing stem cell transplantation. II. Determine the safety of this regimen in these patients. III. Determine serum glutamine levels achieved during this regimen in these patients. OUTLINE: This is a randomized, double blind, multicenter study. Patients are stratified according to inclusion of total body irradiation in the conditioning regimen (yes vs no). Patients receive either oral glutamine or oral placebo (glycine) twice a day beginning on the day of admission for the stem cell transplant and continuing for 28 days or until hospital discharge, whichever is first. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 120 patients (60 per arm) will be accrued for this study within 2 years.

Official Title
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The Use of Supplemental Oral Glutamine (GLN) to Decrease Morbidity in Patients Undergoing Stem Cell Transplantation: A Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Consortium Study

Conditions
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Oral Complications, Unspecified Childhood Solid Tumor, Protocol Specific

Intervention / Treatment
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* Dietary Supplement: glutamine


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Undergoing allogeneic or autologous stem cell transplant (including bone marrow, cord blood, or peripheral blood stem cells) Conditioning regimen must have at least 50% risk of grade III or IV mucositis No grade III or IV hepatic toxicity PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 1 to 21 Performance status: Not specified Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Not specified Hepatic: See Disease Characteristics Renal: Not specified Other: No grade III or IV toxicity at admission for stem cell transplant No altered mental status PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: No concurrent vancomycin paste or nonabsorbable antibiotics

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 1 Year
Maximum Age: 21 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Intervention/Treatment |
| --- |
|Dietary Supplement: glutamine|Oral|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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unspecified childhood solid tumor, protocol specific, oral complications