NHSBT funds and supports organisations driving trials to help stem cell transplant recipients

Stem cell transplantation is an increasingly important treatment for many patients with blood cancer. While they give a second chance of life to thousands of people a year in the UK, sadly fewer than half of patients will survive for 5 years.

The most common complication remains graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), where the new donor immune system recognises the patient's skin, gut or liver as 'foreign' and mounts a sometimes fatal inflammatory response. GVHD affects up to 30% of patients after a transplant and new and more effective ways of preventing it are urgently needed.

One of the largest clinical trials in the world aimed at reducing the risk of GVHD has now completed recruitment. More than 400 patients were recruited within the UK IMPACT trial network.

The Methods of T Cell Depletion Trial (MoTD), sponsored by the University of Birmingham and delivered by its Cancer Research UK Clinical Trials Unit, is the biggest stem cell transplant trial ever performed in the UK. In the trial, participants either received the current UK standard to prevent GVHD or 2 versions of a new treatment.

Professor Ronjon Chakraverty, MoTD Chief Investigator, says:

"Stem cell transplants are a crucial treatment option but they carry risks and it's really important to find new ways to reduce those risks. Our trial will help us to find out which treatment works best so more patients can benefit.

"This trial is vital for the world’s stem cell transplant community. It will help to shape how we can perform stem cell transplants more safely."

The IMPACT transplant trials network represents one of the 2 largest transplant/cell therapy trial initiatives in the world. It is jointly funded by a collaboration of organisations committed to improving the outcomes of stem cell transplant patients through clinical trials in the UK: NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), Anthony Nolan, Leukaemia UK and Cure Leukaemia

By funding research nurses in major transplant centres, IMPACT has created a network of specialist centres with the ability to speed up the recruitment, delivery and completion of transplant trials. Thanks to the effectiveness of the IMPACT partnership, more than 1,500 patients have now participated in practice-informing transplant trials since its inception.

Recognising the importance of a sustainable transplant trials infrastructure within the UK, the IMPACT network is now funded by Accelerating Clinical Trials Ltd which is the UK's first blood cancer specialist Clinical Trials Delivery Organisation, and has been established thanks to support from NHSBT, Anthony Nolan and Cure Leukaemia.

The MoTD trial, which is also part funded by the Jon Moulton Charity Trust, is expected to have results next year.