VDJ-recombination of the B-cell Receptor Following Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Starting soon

Conditions studied: Stem Cell Transplantation, Hematopoietic, V(D)J Recombination, Receptors, Antigen, B-Cel

In brief

When a person undergoes a stem cell transplant-an important procedure used to treat serious blood diseases such as leukaemia, lymphoma, or myeloma-the entire immune system is affected. The transplant essentially "resets" the immune system, meaning that the patient loses much of the protection against infections that has been built up over a lifetime. After the transplant, the patient therefore needs to be revaccinated against several diseases, such as tetanus, diphtheria, polio, COVID-19, and pneumococcal disease. In this study, we aim to investigate how B cells-the immune cells that produce antibodies-reconstitute after a stem cell transplant. We are particularly interested in a genetic process called VDJ recombination, through which each B cell develops a unique receptor that enables it to recognize and fight a specific virus or bacterium. This process is what makes our immune system so effective. But what happens to this diversity after the entire immune system has been restarted with new stem cells? Does the body regain the same ability to recognize pathogens? Are there differences between patients who receive their own stem cells (autologous transplantation) and those who receive stem cells from another person (allogeneic transplantation)? To answer these questions, we will follow patients undergoing stem cell transplantation at Umeå University Hospital. We will collect blood samples before and after the transplantation and will assess whether-and how well-patients generate antibodies in response to the vaccines given after transplantation. Using flow cytometry and genetic analyses, we will examine both which B-cell populations are generated and what their genetic architecture looks like. The goal is to understand how the new immune system is rebuilt after transplantation and, ultimately, to help improve vaccination strategies and infection prevention for this vulnerable patient group

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07346820

Run by

Umeå University

People needed

65

Starts

2026-02-01

Expected to finish

2036-12-31

Last updated by the study team

2026-01-16

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Age > 18 years.
• Willing and able to participate in all parts of the study.
• Signed written consent.
• Patients with a plasma cell disease of lymphoma that qualify for autologous hematological stem cell transplantation determined by the attending physician OR Patients with a condition for which allogenic stem cell transplantation could be needed and qualify for haematological stem cell transplantation according to the attending physician OR Stem cell donor, donating to a study participant.

You may not qualify if…

• Unable to give informed consent.
• Not suitable for participation in the study according to the view of the attending physician.
• Previous participation in this trial.

Where it is running

• Umeå university hospital — Umeå, Sweden

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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