Trial Information

Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation for Myelofibrosis Using Reduced Intensity Busulfan and Fludarabine Conditioning

Busulfan is a chemotherapy drug that kills cancer cells by binding to DNA, and is commonly
used in stem cell transplants. Fludarabine is a drug that has anti-leukemia and
immunosuppressive effects. ATG helps to reduce the risk of transplant rejection and to
prevent graft versus host disease.

You will receive fludarabine by vein over 1 hour on Days -5 to -2. You will receive busulfan
by vein over 3 hours on Day -5 to -2 immediately after completing fludarabine. If you have
an unrelated or a mismatched donor, you will receive ATG by vein over 6 hours on Days -3 to
-1 to prevent graft versus host disease and to help engraftment.

You will first receive a low-level "test" dose of busulfan, and blood samples (about 1
teaspoon each time) will be drawn for pharmacokinetic (PK) tests. This may be done as an
outpatient prior to inpatient admission. PK tests measure the level of the study drug in
the blood over different time points. This information will be used to decide the next dose
needed to reach the target blood level that matches your body size.

About 11 total samples of blood will be drawn for PK testing after the test dose and before
the first high-dose busulfan treatment. A heparin lock will be placed in your vein to lower
the number of needle sticks needed for these draws. If it is not possible for these blood
level tests to be performed for technical or scheduling reasons or for any other reason, you
will receive the standard fixed busulfan dose without the "test dose."

You will receive the donor bone marrow or blood stem cells by vein over about 1 hour on Day
0.

Two (2) days before the stem cell infusion on Day -2, tacrolimus will be started as a
non-stop infusion by vein and will be changed to oral tablets before you leave the hospital.
You will continue to take tacrolimus by mouth, for at least 4 months.

Four (4) doses of Methotrexate will be give as a short infusion Day 1, Day 3, Day 6 and Day
11 after stem cell infusion. Both these are given to decrease the risk of getting
graft-vs-host disease (GvHD). Further immunosuppressive therapy with methylprednisolone (a
steroid) or other drugs may also be used to treat GvHD if it occurs.

You will have 3 teaspoonfuls of blood drawn for routine tests every day while you are in the
hospital and at least 2 times a week for the first 100 days after transplant.

You may need frequent blood transfusions and may have to be admitted to the hospital to
receive antibiotics if you get a fever. Three (3) teaspoonful of blood and a bone marrow
aspirate and biopsy will be taken 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, and 24
months after the transplant to check the response to the treatment. After the first 2 years,
your disease status will be followed by a yearly phone call or letter from you or your
regular doctor to the study doctor.

Tests and/or procedures may be performed before the scheduled time, if your doctor thinks it
is needed.

You will be taken off the study if your disease gets worse or if further treatment is not in
your best interest.

This is an investigational study. All the drugs to be used in this study are FDA approved
and commercially available. About 110 patients will take part in this study. All will be
enrolled at MD Anderson.