Current Research

UPMC Cancer Centers works in tandem with the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI), which comprises the academic and research activities for cancer at the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC, to offer patients the latest advances in cancer prevention, detection, diagnosis and treatment.

A variety of clinical and laboratory investigations are underway at the Stem Cell Transplantation Program at UPCI. A number of ongoing clinical trials in stem cell transplantation are underway to test promising new therapies.

Clinical research

The Stem Cell Transplantation Program is actively involved in clinical research to improve stem cell transplantation. These include:

• Exploring alternative allogeneic stem cell transplants
  Lack of HLA-matched donors is a major problem that limits the use of allogeneic stem cell transplantation. UPCI scientists and clinicians are looking at transplantation of purified stem cells from partially matched relatives or from unrelated placental/umbilical cord blood cells for treatment of high-risk leukemia, lymphoma or other cancers of the blood-forming system. In addition, they are studying how specific HLA markers on the surfaces of donor and recipient cells influence graft-versus-host disease, graft rejection and other post-transplant complications.
• Reducing transplant-related problems
  A potentially serious and life-threatening complication of allogeneic stem cells transplantation, graft-versus-host disease, or GVHD, occurs when immune cells derived from the donor stem cells injure the recipient's organs and tissues. UPCI investigators are evaluating new immunosuppressive agents to prevent and treat GVHD. In addition, UPCI scientists are studying how to decrease the toxicity of allogeneic stem cell transplants by giving patients lower-than-usual doses of chemotherapy in the pre-transplant period. These "mini-transplants" extend allogeneic stem cell therapy to patients who are otherwise at an unacceptably high risk of severe complications after conventional intensive pre-transplant therapies.
• Boosting the immune system's attack on cancer
  In several new studies, UPCI's clinical investigators are vaccinating patients prior to autologous stem cell transplantation to teach their immune cells to recognize and destroy cancer cells. Stem cell from vaccinated patients are then collected and then returned to patients after they undergo high-dose chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. The researchers hope that this transplant contains immune cells that are primed to select and destroy any cancer cells remaining in the body after therapy.
• Improving supportive care
  After stem cell transplantation, a patient's immune system is profoundly weakened and must gradually restore itself. During this time, a patient is susceptible to different kinds of infections. Clinical studies are underway at UPCI to boost the recovery of a patient's immune system and decrease the risk of these severe infections.
• Treating autoimmune disease
  In an exciting collaboration with rheumatologists at the UPMC Arthritis Program, the Stem Cell Transplantation Program is evaluating autologous stem cell transplantation in patients with scleroderma. Other conditions such as systemic lupus erythematosus, severe rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis may be amenable to high-dose immunosuppressive therapy with stem cell transplantation.
• Performing research studies on outcomes and cost-effectiveness
  Key to advancing transplantation is knowing whether new therapies actually improve patient outcome and reduce costs and suffering compared with existing therapies. UPCI's Stem Cell Transplantation Program is investigating these issues as part of several large-scale clinical trials.

Laboratory research

Through the Stem Cell Transplantation Program, Program scientists are conducting studies on the basic biology of stem cells and the immune system to enhance transplant success and to expand the application of transplants to different diseases.

Patients seen at the Prostate and Urologic Cancer Program have access to many innovative clinical trials, including National Cancer Institute cooperative group studies, industry-sponsored trials and unique, early phase protocols based on research conducted at UPCI.

For more detailed information on the Program's research activities, including current research, accomplishments and future directions, visit the Stem Cell Transplantation Program at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute.

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