Phase II Trial of Parathyroid Hormone following Double Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation

Transplantation of one or two umbilical cord blood products is a useful alternative stem cell source. However, the limited number of stem cells in the infusion results in slow engraftment. In mouse models, administration of parathyroid hormone is an effective way to enhance the ability of limited numbers of hematopoietic stem cells to support hematopoiesis. In this study, patients received either a myeloablative or a reduced intensity double umbilical cord blood transplantation followed by parathyroid hormone at 100 μg daily for 28 days. Thirteen patients (median age 42 years) were enrolled. All patients engrafted; the median time to neutrophil and platelet engraftment >20x10 9 cells/L were 30 and 61 days respectively. The incidence of Grades II–IV acute GVHD was 38.5% at day 100. There were four deaths prior to Day 100, prompting early study closure. No patients receiving a myeloablative regimen relapsed. Overall survival at 6 months after transplantation was 62% and disease-free survival at 2 years was 39%. At the dose and schedule studied, there was no evidence that PTH influenced blood count recovery.