Biochemical and Physiologic Factors That Affect Patient Fitness and Body Composition During Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Hematologic Malignancies

This proposal aims to characterize biochemical and physiologic factors that contribute to changes in patient fitness and body composition during hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) for hematologic malignancies. The investigators hypothesize that: 1) HCT for hematologic malignancies is associated with a change in biochemical and physiologic factors that reflect patient fitness and 2) Baseline (pre-HCT) and post-HCT changes of biochemical and physiologic factors that reflect patient fitness are associated with HCT-related clinical outcomes.This is a pilot study involving patients enrolled in the Seattle VA Bone Marrow Transplant Unit (BMTU) for treatment of their hematologic malignancy. No vulnerable population will be included. The study group will consist of 60 patients with hematologic malignancies treated with HCT.

Measurements of patient fitness, body composition, and inflammatory milieu will be performed at visits before HCT, and 30 days (+/- 10 days) after HCT. For patients that continue to receive care at the Seattle VA, additional visits (not exceeding 6 total) may be requested periodically for up to 2 years after HCT. Data collection may include:

1. Blood tests other than those performed as clinical standard of care may include: anabolic and catabolic factors such as IGF-1, GH, IGFBP-3, free and weakly bound testosterone, IL-6, CRP, TNF-alpha, and pre-albumin.
2. Measurements of fitness other than those obtained as clinical standard of care may include: resting energy expenditure (REE) assessed by indirect calorimetry; body composition measured by bio-impedance (BIA) and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan; handgrip strength; stair climbing power; 6-minute walk test; muscle strength; maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max); and previously validated questionnaires to assess patient quality of life (QOL) and functional status.
3. Additional data that may be collected for this protocol will include clinical and laboratory data acquired per standard of clinical care as pertains to subjects' co-morbidities, hematologic disease and treatment history, and clinical course including nutritional status, use of nutrition support, and estimated nutritional requirements per routine dietitian assessments. A Food Frequency Questionnaire will be administered by a dietitian in addition to the routine clinical assessments.

The primary endpoint of this study is the change over time of patient fitness as assessed by the 6 minute walk test through HCT. Secondary endpoints will include other markers of anabolism and catabolism, and data collected as mentioned above.