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Evaluating the Effects of Hemoglobin Threshold-specific Packed Red Blood Cell Transfusions on Quality of Life and Functional Outcomes in Patients With High-grade Myeloid Neoplasms, Acute Myeloid Leukemia, or B Acute Lymphoblastic Lymphoma/Leukemia

Red Blood Cell Transfusion Threshold-Specific Bleeding, Quality of Life and Functional Outcomes in Acute Leukemia Patients With Thrombocytopenia: a Randomized Feasibility Study

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06710418
Enrollment
50
Registered
2024-11-29
Start date
2025-10-15
Completion date
2027-12-31
Last updated
2026-08-19

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Acute Myeloid Leukemia, B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, B Lymphoblastic Lymphoma, Myeloid Neoplasm

Brief summary

This clinical trial evaluates the effects of hemoglobin threshold-specific packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusions on quality of life and functional outcomes in patients who have undergone chemotherapy or an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant for a high-grade myeloid neoplasm, acute myeloid leukemia, or B acute lymphoblastic lymphoma/leukemia. Some types of chemotherapy and stem cell transplants can induce low platelet counts and/or anemia that requires PRBC transfusions. Given critical shortages in blood supply, and risks associated with transfusion of PRBC, there has been much investigation into the "minimum" hemoglobin level that effectively balances safety and toxicity in patients. This clinical trial evaluates the effects of giving PRBC transfusions based on a more restrictive hemoglobin threshold (\> 7 gm/dL) compared to a more liberal hemoglobin threshold (\> 9 gm/dL) on quality of life and functional outcomes. A more restrictive threshold may be just as effective at maintaining patient quality of life and function while decreasing side effects from blood transfusions and helping to conserve blood supply resources.

Detailed description

OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 arms. ARM I: Patients undergo PRBC transfusion if at any point their hemoglobin level is 7 gm/dL or less, starting the day after standard of care (SOC) chemotherapy/stem cell infusion is complete and continuing for up to 42 days. Patients also undergo collection of blood samples on study. ARM II: Patients undergo PRBC transfusion if at any point their hemoglobin level is 9 gm/dL or less, starting the day after SOC chemotherapy/stem cell infusion is complete and continuing for up to 42 days. Patients also undergo collection of blood samples on study. After completion of study intervention, patients are followed up for 7 days and then periodically for up to 5 years.

Interventions

Ancillary studies

PROCEDUREBiospecimen Collection

Undergo blood sample collection

PROCEDURECognitive Assessment

Ancillary studies

OTHERElectronic Health Record Review

Ancillary studies

Undergo PRBC transfusion

OTHERQuality-of-Life Assessment

Ancillary studies

Sponsors

University of Washington
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Age ≥ 18 years * Diagnosis of "high-grade" myeloid neoplasm (≥ 10% blasts in blood or bone marrow) or acute myeloid leukemia (AML) (other than acute promyelocytic leukemia \[APL\]) or B-cell acute lymphoblastic lymphoma/leukemia (ALL) according to the 2022 WHO classification. Outside diagnostic material is acceptable to establish diagnosis * Plan to undergo intensive chemotherapy induction or post-remission therapy for their diagnosis (defined as "7+3," hyper-cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, and dexamethasone \[CVAD\], or regimen with cytarabine backbone ≥ 1,000mg/m\^2), or allogeneic HSCT, expected to induce anemia requiring PRBC transfusion AND platelet counts of ≤ 30,000/uL for ≥ 5 days following the therapy (as determined by principal investigator) * Plan to get all post-chemotherapy/post-HSCT care at the University of Washington (UW)/Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center (FHCC) * Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document

Exclusion criteria

* Patients requiring a prophylactic platelet transfusion at thresholds \> 10,000/uL * Patients requiring systemic anticoagulation, anti-platelet agent, or antifibrinolytic therapy that will not be held once platelets reach a level of \< 50,000/uL * Patients with grade ≥ 2 bleeding (as determined by the WHO Bleeding Criteria) at the time of randomization * Arterial or venous thrombotic event, including myocardial infarction within 6 months prior to initiation of the chemotherapy/HSCT * Patients requiring renal replacement therapy at the time of randomization * Patients who decline transfusion for personal or religious beliefs * Pregnancy or lactation

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Percentage of eligible patients that consent (feasibility)Up to 30 monthsRandomizing patients to two different transfusion thresholds will be considered feasible if greater than 50% of eligible patients consent.
Percentage of patients randomized to the restrictive 7 gm/dL threshold that tolerate this transfusion trigger (feasibility)Up to 7 days after completion of study interventionRandomizing patients to two different transfusion thresholds will be considered feasible if greater than 75% of the patients randomized to the restrictive 7 gm/dL threshold tolerate this transfusion trigger. A patient will be defined as tolerant if the patient receives transfusions at a hemoglobin threshold higher than \> 7gm/dL less than 3 times due to signs/symptoms of acute anemia.
Indication for early termination based on interim analyses of safety (feasibility)Up to 30 monthsRandomizing patients to two different transfusion thresholds will be considered feasible if there is no indication for early termination based on the interim safety analyses.

Countries

United States

Contacts

CONTACTAnna Halpern, MD
halpern2@uw.edu206-606-1978
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORAnna Halpern, MD

Fred Hutch/University of Washington Cancer Consortium

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Aug 20, 2026