A study protocol for a double-blinded, randomised, placebo-controlled trial on the use of encapsulated FMT for reducing the side effects of HSCT: the HSCT-BIOME study

Abstract Background The composition of the gut microbiota both prior to and after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is increasingly implicated in the outcomes of HSCT, including infections, poor immune reconstitution and disease relapse. Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) offers a...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Anna Li, Sam P. Costello, Robert V. Bryant, Sarah Haylock-Jacobs, Craig Haifer, Cindy Lee, David Yeung, Pratyush Giri, Danielle Blunt, Joanne B. Bowen, Feargal J. Ryan, Angelina Yong, Hannah R. Wardill
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-04-01
Series:BMC Cancer
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-025-14057-4
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849737745169121280
author Anna Li
Sam P. Costello
Robert V. Bryant
Sarah Haylock-Jacobs
Craig Haifer
Cindy Lee
David Yeung
Pratyush Giri
Danielle Blunt
Joanne B. Bowen
Feargal J. Ryan
Angelina Yong
Hannah R. Wardill
author_facet Anna Li
Sam P. Costello
Robert V. Bryant
Sarah Haylock-Jacobs
Craig Haifer
Cindy Lee
David Yeung
Pratyush Giri
Danielle Blunt
Joanne B. Bowen
Feargal J. Ryan
Angelina Yong
Hannah R. Wardill
author_sort Anna Li
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The composition of the gut microbiota both prior to and after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is increasingly implicated in the outcomes of HSCT, including infections, poor immune reconstitution and disease relapse. Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) offers a potential strategy of supporting the gut microbiota and improve HSCT outcomes. Although FMT has been investigated in HSCT recipients, it has largely been evaluated therapeutically for indications such as infection, or once immunocompetency is regained. Methods Peri-HSCT FMT (i.e. before and after HSCT) will be administered to eligible participants (adults undergoing autologous HSCT for a haematological malignancy) over two courses, with the first delivered immediately prior to conditioning and the second starting when ANC > 0.8. Following an open-label, safety run in (N = 5), peri-HSCT FMT will be evaluated for its efficacy in 51 participants, randomised 2:1 to FMT or placebo. The primary outcome is the proportion of participants who develop severe gastrointestinal toxicity defined by 3 consecutive days of severe diarrhoea (Bristol Stool Chart 6+), at a frequency of 4 + bowel movements/day within 3 weeks of HSCT. Safety is defined as the incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events (TE-AEs). Tolerability is defined as the incidence of TE-AEs and adherence to FMT. Discussion The HSCT-BIOME study is a multi-centre, double-blind, randomised placebo-controlled trial designed to determine the tolerability, safety and efficacy of orally-administered encapsulated FMT to promote the stability of the gastrointestinal microenvironment for HSCT recipients. Peri-HSCT delivered FMT is hypothesised to promote microbial composition both before and following HSCT. Thus, the study will determine if administration of FMT post-HSCT during the neutropenic phase will enhance efficacy. Trial registration ACTRN12624001104549. Date of registration: September 19, 2024 (prospectively registered).
format Article
id doaj-art-2af1c6d00a714184a53d27d685cf4ded
institution DOAJ
issn 1471-2407
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series BMC Cancer
spelling doaj-art-2af1c6d00a714184a53d27d685cf4ded2025-08-20T03:06:50ZengBMCBMC Cancer1471-24072025-04-012511810.1186/s12885-025-14057-4A study protocol for a double-blinded, randomised, placebo-controlled trial on the use of encapsulated FMT for reducing the side effects of HSCT: the HSCT-BIOME studyAnna Li0Sam P. CostelloRobert V. BryantSarah Haylock-JacobsCraig Haifer1Cindy Lee2David Yeung3Pratyush Giri4Danielle Blunt5Joanne B. Bowen6Feargal J. Ryan7Angelina Yong8Hannah R. Wardill9School of Biomedicine, The University of AdelaideDepartment of Gastroenterology, St Vincent’s Hospital SydneyDepartment of Haematology, The Royal Adelaide Hospital, SA HealthDepartment of Haematology, The Royal Adelaide Hospital, SA HealthDepartment of Haematology, The Royal Adelaide Hospital, SA HealthDepartment of Haematology, The Royal Adelaide Hospital, SA HealthSchool of Biomedicine, The University of AdelaideCollege of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders UniversityDepartment of Haematology, The Royal Adelaide Hospital, SA HealthSchool of Biomedicine, The University of AdelaideAbstract Background The composition of the gut microbiota both prior to and after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is increasingly implicated in the outcomes of HSCT, including infections, poor immune reconstitution and disease relapse. Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) offers a potential strategy of supporting the gut microbiota and improve HSCT outcomes. Although FMT has been investigated in HSCT recipients, it has largely been evaluated therapeutically for indications such as infection, or once immunocompetency is regained. Methods Peri-HSCT FMT (i.e. before and after HSCT) will be administered to eligible participants (adults undergoing autologous HSCT for a haematological malignancy) over two courses, with the first delivered immediately prior to conditioning and the second starting when ANC > 0.8. Following an open-label, safety run in (N = 5), peri-HSCT FMT will be evaluated for its efficacy in 51 participants, randomised 2:1 to FMT or placebo. The primary outcome is the proportion of participants who develop severe gastrointestinal toxicity defined by 3 consecutive days of severe diarrhoea (Bristol Stool Chart 6+), at a frequency of 4 + bowel movements/day within 3 weeks of HSCT. Safety is defined as the incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events (TE-AEs). Tolerability is defined as the incidence of TE-AEs and adherence to FMT. Discussion The HSCT-BIOME study is a multi-centre, double-blind, randomised placebo-controlled trial designed to determine the tolerability, safety and efficacy of orally-administered encapsulated FMT to promote the stability of the gastrointestinal microenvironment for HSCT recipients. Peri-HSCT delivered FMT is hypothesised to promote microbial composition both before and following HSCT. Thus, the study will determine if administration of FMT post-HSCT during the neutropenic phase will enhance efficacy. Trial registration ACTRN12624001104549. Date of registration: September 19, 2024 (prospectively registered).https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-025-14057-4Autologous haematopoeitic stem cell transplantationCapsule fecal microbiota transplantationPeri-HSCT fecal microbiota transplantation
spellingShingle Anna Li
Sam P. Costello
Robert V. Bryant
Sarah Haylock-Jacobs
Craig Haifer
Cindy Lee
David Yeung
Pratyush Giri
Danielle Blunt
Joanne B. Bowen
Feargal J. Ryan
Angelina Yong
Hannah R. Wardill
A study protocol for a double-blinded, randomised, placebo-controlled trial on the use of encapsulated FMT for reducing the side effects of HSCT: the HSCT-BIOME study
BMC Cancer
Autologous haematopoeitic stem cell transplantation
Capsule fecal microbiota transplantation
Peri-HSCT fecal microbiota transplantation
title A study protocol for a double-blinded, randomised, placebo-controlled trial on the use of encapsulated FMT for reducing the side effects of HSCT: the HSCT-BIOME study
title_full A study protocol for a double-blinded, randomised, placebo-controlled trial on the use of encapsulated FMT for reducing the side effects of HSCT: the HSCT-BIOME study
title_fullStr A study protocol for a double-blinded, randomised, placebo-controlled trial on the use of encapsulated FMT for reducing the side effects of HSCT: the HSCT-BIOME study
title_full_unstemmed A study protocol for a double-blinded, randomised, placebo-controlled trial on the use of encapsulated FMT for reducing the side effects of HSCT: the HSCT-BIOME study
title_short A study protocol for a double-blinded, randomised, placebo-controlled trial on the use of encapsulated FMT for reducing the side effects of HSCT: the HSCT-BIOME study
title_sort study protocol for a double blinded randomised placebo controlled trial on the use of encapsulated fmt for reducing the side effects of hsct the hsct biome study
topic Autologous haematopoeitic stem cell transplantation
Capsule fecal microbiota transplantation
Peri-HSCT fecal microbiota transplantation
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-025-14057-4
work_keys_str_mv AT annali astudyprotocolforadoubleblindedrandomisedplacebocontrolledtrialontheuseofencapsulatedfmtforreducingthesideeffectsofhsctthehsctbiomestudy
AT sampcostello astudyprotocolforadoubleblindedrandomisedplacebocontrolledtrialontheuseofencapsulatedfmtforreducingthesideeffectsofhsctthehsctbiomestudy
AT robertvbryant astudyprotocolforadoubleblindedrandomisedplacebocontrolledtrialontheuseofencapsulatedfmtforreducingthesideeffectsofhsctthehsctbiomestudy
AT sarahhaylockjacobs astudyprotocolforadoubleblindedrandomisedplacebocontrolledtrialontheuseofencapsulatedfmtforreducingthesideeffectsofhsctthehsctbiomestudy
AT craighaifer astudyprotocolforadoubleblindedrandomisedplacebocontrolledtrialontheuseofencapsulatedfmtforreducingthesideeffectsofhsctthehsctbiomestudy
AT cindylee astudyprotocolforadoubleblindedrandomisedplacebocontrolledtrialontheuseofencapsulatedfmtforreducingthesideeffectsofhsctthehsctbiomestudy
AT davidyeung astudyprotocolforadoubleblindedrandomisedplacebocontrolledtrialontheuseofencapsulatedfmtforreducingthesideeffectsofhsctthehsctbiomestudy
AT pratyushgiri astudyprotocolforadoubleblindedrandomisedplacebocontrolledtrialontheuseofencapsulatedfmtforreducingthesideeffectsofhsctthehsctbiomestudy
AT danielleblunt astudyprotocolforadoubleblindedrandomisedplacebocontrolledtrialontheuseofencapsulatedfmtforreducingthesideeffectsofhsctthehsctbiomestudy
AT joannebbowen astudyprotocolforadoubleblindedrandomisedplacebocontrolledtrialontheuseofencapsulatedfmtforreducingthesideeffectsofhsctthehsctbiomestudy
AT feargaljryan astudyprotocolforadoubleblindedrandomisedplacebocontrolledtrialontheuseofencapsulatedfmtforreducingthesideeffectsofhsctthehsctbiomestudy
AT angelinayong astudyprotocolforadoubleblindedrandomisedplacebocontrolledtrialontheuseofencapsulatedfmtforreducingthesideeffectsofhsctthehsctbiomestudy
AT hannahrwardill astudyprotocolforadoubleblindedrandomisedplacebocontrolledtrialontheuseofencapsulatedfmtforreducingthesideeffectsofhsctthehsctbiomestudy
AT annali studyprotocolforadoubleblindedrandomisedplacebocontrolledtrialontheuseofencapsulatedfmtforreducingthesideeffectsofhsctthehsctbiomestudy
AT sampcostello studyprotocolforadoubleblindedrandomisedplacebocontrolledtrialontheuseofencapsulatedfmtforreducingthesideeffectsofhsctthehsctbiomestudy
AT robertvbryant studyprotocolforadoubleblindedrandomisedplacebocontrolledtrialontheuseofencapsulatedfmtforreducingthesideeffectsofhsctthehsctbiomestudy
AT sarahhaylockjacobs studyprotocolforadoubleblindedrandomisedplacebocontrolledtrialontheuseofencapsulatedfmtforreducingthesideeffectsofhsctthehsctbiomestudy
AT craighaifer studyprotocolforadoubleblindedrandomisedplacebocontrolledtrialontheuseofencapsulatedfmtforreducingthesideeffectsofhsctthehsctbiomestudy
AT cindylee studyprotocolforadoubleblindedrandomisedplacebocontrolledtrialontheuseofencapsulatedfmtforreducingthesideeffectsofhsctthehsctbiomestudy
AT davidyeung studyprotocolforadoubleblindedrandomisedplacebocontrolledtrialontheuseofencapsulatedfmtforreducingthesideeffectsofhsctthehsctbiomestudy
AT pratyushgiri studyprotocolforadoubleblindedrandomisedplacebocontrolledtrialontheuseofencapsulatedfmtforreducingthesideeffectsofhsctthehsctbiomestudy
AT danielleblunt studyprotocolforadoubleblindedrandomisedplacebocontrolledtrialontheuseofencapsulatedfmtforreducingthesideeffectsofhsctthehsctbiomestudy
AT joannebbowen studyprotocolforadoubleblindedrandomisedplacebocontrolledtrialontheuseofencapsulatedfmtforreducingthesideeffectsofhsctthehsctbiomestudy
AT feargaljryan studyprotocolforadoubleblindedrandomisedplacebocontrolledtrialontheuseofencapsulatedfmtforreducingthesideeffectsofhsctthehsctbiomestudy
AT angelinayong studyprotocolforadoubleblindedrandomisedplacebocontrolledtrialontheuseofencapsulatedfmtforreducingthesideeffectsofhsctthehsctbiomestudy
AT hannahrwardill studyprotocolforadoubleblindedrandomisedplacebocontrolledtrialontheuseofencapsulatedfmtforreducingthesideeffectsofhsctthehsctbiomestudy