Fucosylated T Cells for Graft Versus Host Disease (GVHD) Prevention

Any time the words "you," "your," "I," or "me" appear, it is meant to apply to the potential participant. T-cells are white blood cells that are important to the immune system. The T cells for this study (called regulatory T-cells, or Tregs) will be from a donor who is not related to you. Before the Tregs are given to you, they may be changed in the laboratory to make use of sugar that is found in small amounts in blood cells through a process called fucosylation. They are then called fucosylated Tregs. Adding more sugars to the Tregs in the laboratory is designed to help the Tregs find their way faster to the bone marrow, which may help low blood counts to recover faster. The goal of this clinical research study is to learn if it is safe and practical to give fucosylated Tregs to patients who will receive a matched related donor (MRD), a matched unrelated donor (MUD), or cord blood transplant. Researchers also want to learn if these Tregs may prevent or reduce the effects of graft-versus host disease (GVHD). GVHD can result from a reaction of the transplanted cord blood cells against certain tissues in the body. This is an investigational study. Fucosylation of Tregs is not an FDA-approved process. It is currently being used for research purposes only. Fludarabine, melphalan, cyclophosphamide and rituximab are FDA approved and commercially available to be given to patients with leukemia or lymphoma having a cord blood transplant. Total body irradiation is delivered using FDA-approved and commercially available methods. Up to 47 patients will take part in this study. All will be enrolled at MD Anderson.