Pralatrexate With Bendamustine and Total-Body Irradiation Followed by Donor Stem Cell Transplant for the Treatment of Relapsed or Refractory T-Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

This phase I/II trial studies the side effects and best dose of pralatrexate in combination with bendamustine and total-body irradiation (TBI) followed by a donor stem cell transplant in treating patients with T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma that has come back after a period of improvement (relapsed) or that has not responded to previous treatment (refractory). Pralatrexate may block the growth of cancer cells and cause them to die. It is a type of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) inhibitor. Bendamustine may damage the DNA in cancer cells and cause them to die. It is a type of alkylating agent and a type of antimetabolite. Radiation therapy uses high energy x-rays, particles, or radioactive seeds to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. TBI is a type of radiation therapy that is given to the entire body. Giving pralatrexate with bendamustine and TBI before a donor stem cell transplant may help kill cancer cells in the body and help make room in the patient's bone marrow for new blood-forming cells (stem cells) to grow.

OUTLINE: This is a phase I dose-escalation study of pralatrexate in combination with bendamustine and TBI followed by a phase II expansion study. Patients receive pralatrexate intravenously (IV) over 3-5 minutes on day -6, bendamustine IV over 60 minutes on days -5, -4, and -3, and TBI on day -1 or 0. Patients then undergo peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) HCT on day 0. Patients also undergo echocardiography (ECHO) or multi-gated acquisition scan (MUGA) and lumbar puncture during screening, positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), bone marrow biopsy/aspiration, and blood sample collection throughout the study. In addition, patients may undergo chest X-rays as clinically indicated. After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up at 6 months, at 1 year, and at 2 years.