Active clinical trials for "Fanconi Syndrome"

OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the safety of transferring the Fanconi anemia complementation group C (FACC) gene to hematopoietic progenitors by retroviral mediated gene transfer in patients with Fanconi's anemia, complementation group C. II. Determine the extent of engraftment following this treatment regimen without prior ablation of recipient marrow in these patients. III. Determine the ability of this treatment regimen to correct the cell phenotype and improve hematopoietic function in these patients.

RATIONALE: Umbilical cord blood transplantation may be able to replace immune cells that were destroyed by chemotherapy or radiation therapy. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well umbilical cord blood works as a source of stem cells in treating patients with types of cancer as well as other diseases.

RATIONALE: Studying samples of bone marrow from patients with Fanconi anemia and from healthy participants in the laboratory may help doctors learn more about changes that occur in DNA and identify biomarkers related to Fanconi anemia. PURPOSE: This laboratory study is evaluating gene function in bone marrow cells from patients with Fanconi anemia and from healthy participants.

OBJECTIVES: I. Evaluate the toxicity of amifostine in patients with bone marrow failure related to Fanconi's anemia. II. Determine the efficacy of this treatment regimen in this patient population. III. Evaluate the effect of this treatment regimen on bone marrow progenitor cell proliferation and peripheral blood mononuclear cell apoptosis in these patients.

The objective of this study is to assess the therapeutic safety and preliminary efficacy of a hematopoietic cell-based gene therapy consisting of autologous CD34+ enriched cells transduced with a lentiviral vector carrying the FANCA gene in subjects with Fanconi anemia subtype A (FA-A).

The purpose of this research study is to determine whether an experimental drug called AMD3100 used in combination with another medication called G-CSF is safe and can help to increase the amount of blood stem cells (called CD34+ stem cells) found in the peripheral blood of patients with Fanconi anemia. While AMD3100 has been used successfully in adult volunteers and cancer patients, it has not been used in children or patients with Fanconi anemia and in only a few children with cancer. Fanconi anemia is a rare genetic disease. Most Fanconi anemia patients eventually develop bone marrow failure, a condition in which the bone marrow no longer produces red blood cells (to carry oxygen), white blood cells (to fight infection), and platelets (to help blood clot). The only successful treatment for patients with Fanconi anemia with bone marrow failure is bone marrow transplantation. However, this treatment has many risks and is not available to all patients with Fanconi anemia. CD34+ cells include stem cells found in the bone marrow or peripheral blood which are capable of making the red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. CD34+ stem cells can be collected from bone marrow or peripheral blood and purified using an experimental device called the CliniMACS. However, most Fanconi anemia patients do not have enough CD34+ stem cells in their bone marrow or peripheral blood to be collected using standard methods that work well in children and adults who don't have Fanconi anemia.

This study will examine whether the tendency to have thrombosis, or the formation of blood clots inside blood vessels, has a role in the development of pseudotumor cerebri (PTC). PTC causes symptoms and signs of isolated elevated blood pressure in the cranium, or covering of the brain. The disorder can lead to significant, negative effects on the visual system. Increased pressure of the cerebrospinal fluid, that is, fluid around the brain, is a factor, but the cause of the disorder is not clear. There has been documentation of clustering of PTC within families. It suggests that potential genetic polymorphisms-abilities to take on different forms-may become evident after exposure to conditions known to trigger PTC. Thrombosis comes about by interactions between genetic and environmental or acquired factors, or both, resulting in a blood clot at a specific time and location. Because the disease occurs in episodes, the interaction of the genetic and nongenetic risk factors is important. Cystinosis is a recessive disorder caused by deposits of cystine within the lysosomes of cells-that is, sac-like cell parts that contain various enzymes. Involvement of the kidneys remains the primary characteristic, eventually leading to renal failure. Of all of the risk factors that make it easier for blood clotting, a high level of a substance called homocysteine is of particular interest. Too much homocysteine in blood plasma is a common finding in patients with kidney failure, and it has been recently identified as an independent risk factor for diseases of the blood vessels. Participants of all ages who meet the Dandy criteria for PTC may be eligible for this study. Pregnant women will be excluded. There will also be a control group of nephropathic cystinosis patients who do not have PTC. Participants will be asked to undergo the following tests and procedures: Medical history. Physical examination, to evaluate the eye and nervous systems. Collection of blood for DNA and other tests. Collection of cerebrospinal fluid, through a procedure called lumbar puncture or spinal tap. The evaluation of patients will generally last 3 to 4 days. For the collection of cerebrospinal fluid, the patient's skin on the back will be numbed with a local anesthetic. A special needle will be inserted into the back, and a small amount of the fluid will be drawn through the needle. There will be pain for a minute, although there can be a headache lasting 24 hours. Also, there may be bruising, local pain, bleeding, or infection where the needle enters. Patients may also have a magnetic resonance imaging scan of their head. During the MRI scan, patients will lie still on a table that slides in and out of a metal cylinder surrounded by a strong magnetic field. Patients will be able to communicate with the MRI staff at all times and may ask to be moved out of the machine at any time.

RATIONALE: Studying biopsy, bone marrow, and blood samples from patients with cytopenia that did not respond to treatment may help doctors learn more about the disease and plan the best treatment. PURPOSE: This laboratory study is assessing immune function in young patients with cytopenia that did not respond to treatment.

RATIONALE: Analyzing tissue and blood samples from healthy volunteers or patients with Fanconi anemia, myelodysplasia, myeloproliferative disorders, or myeloma in the laboratory may help doctors learn more about the causes of blood cancers. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to analyze in the laboratory blood and bone marrow cells from healthy volunteers or patients with Fanconi anemia, myeloproliferative disorders, or myeloma.

RATIONALE: Collecting and storing samples of tumor tissue from patients with Fanconi anemia to test in the laboratory may help the study of cancer in the future. PURPOSE: This laboratory study is collecting and storing tumor tissue samples from patients with Fanconi anemia.