Nonmyeloablative Allo Stem Cell Transplant for Severe Autoimmune Diseases

Our targeted illnesses are:

- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE): SLE can involve virtually any organ system, but
most commonly involves various combinations of arthritis, dermatitis,
glomerulonephritis, central nervous system manifestations and hematologic
complications. Although the overall five and ten-year survival rates in SLE are 86% and
80%, respectively, these rates are reduced to 60% and 50%, respectively, in patients
with poor prognosis SLE (proliferative glomerulonephritis with chronic changes,
elevated serum creatinine, nephrotic syndrome, anemia, low serum C3, inadequate
response to treatment).

- Systemic sclerosis (SSc): SSc is a condition divided into two forms (diffuse and
limited) characterized by excessive and often relentless fibrosis in skin and internal
organs. Visceral involvement can manifest as esophageal hypomotility, interstitial lung
disease, pulmonary hypertension and renal failure. There is no satisfactory treatment
for systemic sclerosis (SSc), which in its diffuse form has a 5-year mortality of 40%,
similar to many malignancies. In clinical trials, alpha-interferon did not demonstrate
a clinically significant effect and low dose methotrexate showed conflicting results.

Patient Inclusion Criteria:

- Performance status must be CALGB PS 0, 1, or 2 (or Karnofsky 40-100%)

- Patients must have a 6/6 HLA-matched related donor who is evaluated and deemed able
to provide PBSCs and/or marrow by the transplant team.

- Patients must meet the following laboratory parameters (unless due to disease status
as determined by the treating physician):

- Hepatitis A, B and C status will be tested prior to therapy, but results will
not exclude patients from participation (if positive, patients will be told they
are at higher risk of adverse effects from allogeneic transplantation).

- Bilirubin less than 6 times the upper limit of normal

- Liver transaminases (AST, ALT) and alkaline phosphatase less than 10 times the
upper limit of normal (unless due to active myositis)

- Patients with a creatinine greater than 2.5 times the upper limit of normal are
eligible, but will be told that they are at greater risk for kidney damage that
could possibly result in temporary or even permanent dialysis.

- Patients of childbearing potential must agree to use some form of adequate birth
control during the periods they receive chemotherapy and any post-chemotherapy
medications related to the transplant. Females of child bearing potential must have a
negative serum B-HCG within 1 week of starting therapy.

- Patients between the ages of 18 and 69, inclusive are eligible for this trial.

- Patients must also have a resting MUGA (preferred) or ECHO and PFTs with DLCO
performed before transplant and found to be acceptable according to the treating
institution's guidelines. Recommended minimum standards include an EF greater than
35% and corrected DLCO greater than 35% for this less toxic regimen. If lower than
this, single patient exemption may be sought.

- Patients must have both a disease-specialist (rheumatologist/immunologist, or
neurologist) physician and a bone marrow transplant physician evaluation at the
treating center before a patient is considered eligible. Both specialists must agree
that the patient is a candidate for transplantation and patients with SLE must have
failed standard therapies.

Exclusion Criteria:

- Pregnant or lactating women

- Active uncontrolled infection

- Patients who are serologically true-positive for HIV

- Patients with other major medical or psychiatric illnesses, which the treating
physician feels, could seriously compromise tolerance to this protocol

- Uncontrolled hypertension (BP > 100 diastolic despite treatment with maximum doses of
at least 3 simultaneous or concurrent antihypertensives over a 2-month period)

- Uncontrolled malignant arrythmias or clinical evidence of congestive heart failure
(New York Class IV)

6/6 HLA-Matched Related PBSC Donor Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria:

- Adult donors must be capable of providing informed consent; Potential donors under
the age of 18 must have a 'single patient exemption' approved by the IRB and the
donor and a guardian must provide assent.

- Donor must be 6/6 HLA matched, and related to the patient.

- Donor must not have any medical condition which would make apheresis and G-CSF
administration more than a minimal risk, and should have the following:

1. Adequate cardiac function by history and physical examination. Those with a
history of cardiac problems should undergo a stress evaluation or be evaluated
by a cardiologist and deemed eligible to donate.

2. bilirubin and hepatic transaminases < or equal to 2.5 x ULN,

3. adequate hematologic parameters including a hematocrit > 35% for males and 33%
for females, white blood cell count of > or equal to 3,000, and platelets > or
equal to 80,000.

4. Donors with a known allergy to E. coli-derived products are ineligible for
mobilization with G-CSF.

- Females of childbearing potential should have a negative serum beta-HCG test within 1
week of beginning G-CSF.