Stem cell transplant with chemotherapy for hard-to-treat T-cell lymphomas

Plain-English translation of NCT02859402 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated August 2022 · Translation generated June 2026 · How we translate trials

Phase 2 — Testing in a bigger group (up to a few hundred people) to see if the treatment actually works and is still safe.

What is this trial?

This trial is testing a stem cell transplant combined with two chemotherapy medications— and —for patients whose T-cell or NK-cell lymphomas have returned or stopped responding to earlier treatments. The study aims to see whether this combination can help control the cancer long-term while keeping side effects manageable. The medication doses are carefully designed to be gentler than traditional approaches.

T-cell and NK-cell lymphomas are rare and aggressive cancers that often come back or resist standard chemotherapy. Researchers believe that a stem cell transplant combined with this particular chemotherapy regimen may offer better outcomes for patients in this difficult situation, with fewer serious side effects than older treatment approaches.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you are between 19 and 65 years old
you have been diagnosed with T-cell or NK-cell lymphoma that has come back or stopped responding to at least one previous treatment
your cancer has responded well (partially or completely) to recent salvage chemotherapy
you have a matched or closely matched sibling or unrelated bone marrow, blood, or cord blood donor available
your heart, kidney, and liver function are adequate as measured by standard tests
your overall health and fitness level allows you to handle the treatment (ECOG score of 2 or better)

You likely don't qualify if…

you have had a previous stem cell transplant
you have cancer that has spread to your central nervous system (brain or spinal cord)
you are pregnant, nursing, or not using effective birth control
you have a serious heart condition, including a heart attack in the past 3 months
you have active or uncontrolled HIV, hepatitis B or C, or other serious infections
you have had another type of cancer in the past 5 years (except non-melanoma skin cancer or cervical cancer treated early)

What participation looks like

You would receive chemotherapy as an inpatient, starting with given intravenously once daily for 6 days, followed by given intravenously once daily for 3 days. After completing this conditioning regimen, you would receive a stem cell transplant from your donor. You would then be monitored closely as an inpatient for engraftment and recovery, with ongoing follow-up visits to track your response, complications, and long-term survival for at least 2 years after the transplant.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 12, 2026 · Not medical advice

Trial locations(2 sites)

South Korea

Dong-A University, Busan

Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center, Daegu