Testing an improved cord blood stem cell transplant method for blood cancers

Plain-English translation of NCT05884333 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated September 2025 · 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 studying cord blood transplants — a procedure where stem cells from donated umbilical cord blood are used to replace a patient's bone marrow after intensive chemotherapy and radiation. Memorial Sloan Kettering has developed what they call an 'optimized' approach to this treatment, meaning they've carefully standardized how patients are prepared, how the transplant is performed, and how patients are monitored afterward. The trial is collecting information about how well this optimized method works and what side effects or complications patients experience.

Cord blood transplants are already an established treatment for blood cancers, but this trial exists to document how well Memorial Sloan Kettering's refined, standardized approach works in practice. By carefully tracking patient outcomes, researchers hope to understand which patients benefit most and how to improve results for people with high-risk blood cancers.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you have been diagnosed with certain high-risk blood cancers, including acute myelogenous leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, myeloproliferative disorders, or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
your cancer meets specific high-risk criteria (such as certain genetic changes, failure to respond well to initial treatment, or certain types that are more aggressive)
you are in remission (your cancer is under control) or in early stages of disease before it has progressed
your cancer has not responded well to standard chemotherapy, or you cannot tolerate standard chemotherapy
a suitable double-unit cord blood graft has been identified and is available for your transplant
you meet organ function requirements and are healthy enough to tolerate the intense conditioning treatment (chemotherapy and full-body radiation)

You likely don't qualify if…

you have active, uncontrolled infection or serious organ damage
you are pregnant or breastfeeding
you have severe mental illness or other conditions that would prevent you from safely undergoing transplant and follow-up care
you have received a previous stem cell transplant that has failed
you have certain types of myelofibrosis or other specific disease subtypes excluded from this trial

What participation looks like

If you enroll, you will first undergo tests and evaluations to confirm you are eligible and to plan your treatment. You will then receive intensive conditioning — chemotherapy and whole-body radiation — to prepare your body for the transplant. On day zero, you will receive an infusion of cord blood stem cells. After the transplant, you will need close monitoring in the hospital and through follow-up visits to watch for side effects like graft-versus-host disease (a reaction where the new cells attack your body), to make sure the new cells engraft (take hold), and to track whether your cancer stays in remission. The research team will collect detailed information about your recovery, side effects, immune system function, and long-term outcomes.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 15, 2026 · Not medical advice

Trial locations(1 site)

United States

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York