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Not yet recruitingNCT07636486Updated Jun 9, 2026

Luspatercept vs Epoetin in Treating Poor Erythroid Engraftment for Hematological Malignancies

A Phase 2/3 interventional study of Luspatercept and Epoetin in Luspatercept, Epoetin and Poor Erythroid Engraftment, sponsored by Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in China. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 65 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-06-09.

Sponsored by Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University · Phase 2/3, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Phase 2/3
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
90
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 65 Years
Sex
All
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Study summary

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is an effective therapy for hematological malignancies. Nonetheless, poor graft function remains a life-threatening complication after allo-HSCT. Poor erythroid engraftment is associated with increased bleeding events and shorter survival. Current treatment methods such as epoetin or repeated red-cell transfusions are not effective for poor erythroid engraftment, with limited and transient responses. Retrospective studies suggested that luspatercept showed efficacy in patients with anemia post-transplantation or poor erythroid engraftment. However, there are no studies comparing luspatercept versus epoetin for the treatment of poor erythroid engraftment. Therefore, we conducted a randomized controlled study to compared the effect of luspatercept versus epoetin in treating poor erythroid engraftment for hematological malignancies.

Read the detailed description

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is an effective therapy for hematological malignancies. Nonetheless, poor graft function remains a life-threatening complication after allo-HSCT, characterized by persistent cytopenias despite evidence of complete donor chimerism. Poor erythroid engraftment refers to hemoglobin \<70g/L and inability to detach from red blood cell transfusion after 28 days of transplantation, which is associated with increased bleeding events and shorter survival. Current treatment methods such as epoetin or repeated red-cell transfusions are not effective for poor erythroid engraftment, with limited and transient responses. New treatment strategies are needed to enhance the response rate in patients with poor erythroid engraftment.

Luspatercept is a specific activin receptor fusion protein that reduces SMAD2 and SMAD3 signaling by binding specific transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) superfamily ligands, thereby allowing erythrocyte maturation through late-stage erythroblast differentiation. Retrospective studies suggested that luspatercept showed efficacy in patients with anemia post-transplantation or poor erythroid engraftment. To date, there have been no studies comparing luspatercept versus epoetin for the treatment of poor erythroid engraftment. Therefore, we conducted a randomized controlled study to compared the effect of luspatercept versus epoetin in treating poor erythroid engraftment for hematological malignancies.

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Conditions studied

  • Luspatercept
  • Epoetin
  • Poor Erythroid Engraftment
  • Hematological Malignancies
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In context

Hematologic Neoplasms

1,464 studies on the registry are indexed under Hematologic Neoplasms; 433 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 90 is above the median of 45 across 1,068 interventional studies indexed under Hematologic Neoplasms.

Browse Hematologic Neoplasms studies →

Lead sponsor

Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University is the lead sponsor of 480 studies on the registry; 212 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

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Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 65 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • 18-65 years
  • Hematologic malignancies
  • Poor erythroid engraftment after the first allo-HSCT
  • Complete remission post-transplantation
  • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0-2
  • Epoetin-naive
  • Endogenous serum erythropoietin concentration \<500 U/L

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Life expectancy shorter than 30 days post-transplantation
  • Any abnormality in a vital sign (e.g., heart rate, respiratory rate, or blood pressure)
  • Patients with any conditions not suitable for the trial (investigators' decision)
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Study design

Phase
Phase 2 / Phase 3
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
90 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Luspatercept group

    Luspatercept

    Drug: Luspatercept

  • Active comparator
    Epoetin group

    Epoetin

    Drug: Epoetin

Interventions

  • DrugLuspatercept

    Luspatercept is administered 1.0mg/kg subcutaneously every 3 weeks; If the hemoglobin level does not increase after two consecutive administrations, the dose will be adjusted to 1.3mg/kg. If the hemoglobin level returns to the normal range, Luspatercept will be given once before discontinuing the medication.

  • DrugEpoetin

    Epoetin is administered 15000 IU subcutaneously every 3 weeks for 24 weeks

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What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Erythroid response

    Erythroid response is defined as a reduction in transfusion of ≥ 4 red blood cell units/8 weeks or a mean hemoglobin increase of ≥ 1.5 g/dL/8 weeks in the absence of transfusion

    Time frame: 24 weeks

Secondary outcomes

  1. Overall survival

    Will calculate time from random assignment until death from any cause.

    Time frame: 1 year

  2. Disease-free survival

    Will calculate time from random assignment until relapse or death from any cause

    Time frame: 1 year

  3. Relapse

    Will calculate time from random assignment until relapse

    Time frame: 1 year

  4. Non-relapse mortality

    Defined as death from any cause not subsequent to relapse

    Time frame: 1 year

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Department of Hematology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University
    Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Della Porta MG, Garcia-Manero G, Santini V, Zeidan AM, Komrokji RS, Shortt J, Valcarcel D, Jonasova A, Dimicoli-Salazar S, Tiong IS, Lin CC, Li J, Zhang J, Pilot R, Kreitz S, Pozharskaya V, Keeperman KL, Rose S, Prebet T, Lai Y, Degulys A, Paolini S, Cluzeau T, Fenaux P, Platzbecker U. Luspatercept versus epoetin alfa in erythropoiesis-stimulating agent-naive, transfusion-dependent, lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (COMMANDS): primary analysis of a phase 3, open-label, randomised, controlled trial. Lancet Haematol. 2024 Sep;11(9):e646-e658. doi: 10.1016/S2352-3026(24)00203-5. Epub 2024 Jul 19. PubMed 39038479 ↗
  • Tang C, Chen F, Kong D, Ma Q, Dai H, Yin J, Li Z, Chen J, Zhu X, Mao X, Wu D, Tang X. Successful treatment of secondary poor graft function post allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation with eltrombopag. J Hematol Oncol. 2018 Aug 16;11(1):103. doi: 10.1186/s13045-018-0649-6. PubMed 30115080 ↗
  • Markham A. Luspatercept: First Approval. Drugs. 2020 Jan;80(1):85-90. doi: 10.1007/s40265-019-01251-5. PubMed 31939073 ↗
  • Zhu L, Liu J, Liu H, et al. Clinical Study on the Treatment of Poor Erythroid Engraftment after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation with Luspatercept. Blood 2024; 144: 2159.
  • Xin X, Zhang W, Li Z, Gui R, Wang J, Ji L, Zhang Y, Fang B, Song Y, Zu Y, Zhou J. Luspatercept for the treatment of anemia in allo-HSCT for patients with hematological diseases. Blood Cancer J. 2025 Feb 5;15(1):12. doi: 10.1038/s41408-025-01218-8. No abstract available. PubMed 39910033 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Jun 9, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07636486
Lead sponsor
Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Jun 9, 2026
Start date
Jun 15, 2026 (estimated)
Primary completion
Jun 30, 2028 (estimated)
Completion
Dec 31, 2030 (estimated)
Last update
Jun 9, 2026

Study contacts

Li Xuan
Contact
356135708@qq.com
+86-020-61641613
Qifa Liu
Contact
liuqifa628@163.com
+86-020-62787883
Qifa Liu
principal investigator · Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Jun 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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