Study of Allogeneic Umbilical Cord Blood Infusion for Adults With Ischemic Stroke

Phase 2

Completed

Conditions: Stroke
Brain Injury, Acute
Stroke, Acute

Interventions: Other: Placebo
Biological: Umbilical Cord Blood

Registration Number: NCT03004976

Lead Sponsor: Joanne Kurtzberg, MD

Brief Summary: The primary objective of this study is to determine the efficacy of a single intravenous infusion of unrelated donor umbilical cord blood (UCB) for improving functional outcomes in patients with ischemic stroke. Eligible subjects will receive an intravenous infusion of UCB or placebo 3-10 days following stroke. Subjects will not receive immunosuppressive or myeloablative medications prior to the infusion. Subjects will be followed for one year post infusion for safety and efficacy. Assessments will examine safety and tolerability of the infusion, change in neurological symptoms, change in quality of life, and emotional and cognitive status. Assessments will occur at 24 hours post infusion, and at 30, 90, 180 and 365 days post infusion.

Detailed Description: This is a multicenter, placebo controlled, randomized, double blinded Phase 2 study in 100 subjects 18-90 years of age who have sustained a recent ischemic stroke. Potential subjects can be screened and consented the day of their stroke (Day 1). Treatment with umbilical cord blood (UCB) cells or placebo will be administered intravenously as a single infusion as early as 3 days but no later than 10 days after the patient's stroke. UCB units will be selected from an accredited U.S. public cord bank based on blood type, race and a targeted cell dose ranging between 0.5 to 5 x 10\^7 total nucleated cell count (TNCC)/kg. Study subjects will not receive immunosuppressive or myeloablative medications prior to infusion of the cord blood or placebo.

All subjects, families and medical staff will be blinded to treatment arm. When a subject is randomized to study drug at a clinical site without a cord blood bank, the selected cord blood units (CBU) will be shipped frozen overnight to the site. Once selected and available on site, each CBU will be thawed, washed, tested, released and infused intravenously using common standard operating procedures (SOPs) at all sites. For subjects randomized to placebo, a diluent with the same appearance and odor as a CBU will be prepared.

Patients will have baseline magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and will be assessed at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months for functional outcomes. All patients will receive standard of care therapy while enrolled in this study and all subjects will be strongly encouraged to participate in rehabilitative therapy.

The primary objective of the study is to determine, in a randomized, placebo controlled trial, the efficacy of a single intravenous (IV) infusion of unrelated donor UCB for improving functional outcomes in patients with ischemic stroke. The secondary objectives are as follows:

1. To describe the safety and tolerability of a single IV infusion of unrelated donor UCB in patients with ischemic stroke

2. To evaluate the efficacy of a single IV infusion of unrelated donor UCB for improvement of neurological symptoms following ischemic stroke

3. To evaluate the efficacy of a single IV infusion of unrelated donor UCB for improvement in quality of life and emotional and cognitive status in patients with ischemic stroke

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: COMPLETED

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 79

Inclusion Criteria

18-90 years old
Recent, acute, cortical, hemispheric, ischemic stroke in the MCA (middle cerebral artery) distribution without a clinically significant midline shift as detected by MRI as a DWI (diffusion-weighted imaging) abnormality. If unable to obtain a MRI scan, patients may be included if there is clear evidence of ischemic cortical involvement in the MCA distribution demonstrated by computed tomography and a clinical exam consistent with cortical involvement.
NIHSS 6-15 (R) and 6-20 (L) at the time of informed consent. Subjects with a >4-point increase of NIHSS from time of consent (worsening of score) will not be eligible for infusion.
Subjects must have a platelet count >100,000/uL, hemoglobin >8gm/dL, absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) ≥ 1200 for African American patients and ≥1500 for all other racial-ethnic groups, and WBC (white blood cell) count >2,500/uL OR Historical pre-stroke value of ALC ≥ 1200 for African American and ≥1500 for all other racial-ethnic groups within 6 months of stroke

-And- a post stroke ALC value of ≥ 1000, platelet count >100,000/uL, hemoglobin >8gm/dL and WBC >2,500/uL.
Subjects who received tPA (Tissue plasminogen Activator) or underwent endovascular reperfusion may be included in the study
Able to provide consent to study or consent is obtained from the patient's legal representative
Subjects of childbearing potential must practice effective contraception during the study, and be willing to continue contraception for at least 6 months after intervention so that, in the opinion of the Investigator, they will not become pregnant during the course of the study
Is a good candidate for the trial, in the opinion of the Investigator
Agrees to participate in follow-up visits
ABO/Rh and race matched CBU(s) with a minimum of 0.5 x 10^7 TNCC/kg based on the pre-cryopreservation TNCC is available for infusion
Has not had a disease or therapy that would compromise current immune function.
Has a serum creatinine ≤2 mg/dL OR Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) ≥30mL/min

Exclusion Criteria

An individual is ineligible to participate if any of the following apply:

Exclusionary Medical Conditions:

Medical history of neurological or orthopedic pathology with a deficit as a consequence that results in a modified Rankin Scale >1 before stroke or has a pre existing cognitive deficit
Clinically significant and/or symptomatic hemorrhage associated with stroke
Evidence of significant midline shift as assessed by CT or MRI who are felt to be at high risk for neurological decompensation or need for decompressive hemicraniectomy due to hemispheric edema
New intracranial hemorrhage, edema, or mass effect that may place patient at increased risk for secondary deterioration when assessed prior to infusion
Hypotension as defined as the need for IV pressor support of SBP (systolic blood pressure) <90
Isolated brain stem stroke
Pure lacunar stroke
At time of consent, patients who are mechanically ventilated or, at the investigator's discretion are felt to be likely to need mechanical ventilation are excluded.
Requires a craniotomy
Serious psychiatric or neurological disease which could alter evaluation on functional or cognitive scales
Active systemic infection that is felt, at the discretion of the Investigator, to place the patient at increased risk for participation in this study
Documentation of human immunodeficiency virus positive (HIV+) status in the medical record
Active malignancy within 3 years prior to the start of screening excluding skin cancers other than melanoma
Known hypercoagulable state or coagulopathy deficiencies such as Factor V Leiden, Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APC), Protein C, Protein S, anticardiolipin antibody, phospholipid syndrome or Sickle Cell Disease
History of or currently active autoimmune disease, or current immunomodulatory therapy or a recipient of immunomodulatory therapy in the past year.
Concurrent illness or condition that in the opinion of the Investigator might interfere with treatment or evaluation of safety
Current or recent history of alcohol or drug abuse, or stroke associated with drug abuse that Investigator feels may impair therapy or assessments
Pregnant as documented by blood test

Prohibited Concomitant or Prior Therapies

Patients currently receiving immunosuppressant drugs, not including glucocorticoid taper, topical/inhaled glucocorticoids
History of prior transfusion reaction
Currently on dialysis
Recipient of bone marrow or organ transplant
Hepatic insufficiency (bilirubin >2.5mg/dL or transaminases >5x the ULN) Patients with Gilberts syndrome are eligible for study enrollment if other liver function tests are normal, regardless of bilirubin level
Previous or current treatment with angiogenic growth factors, cytokines, gene or stem cell therapy
Participating in another interventional clinical trial of an investigational therapy within 30 days of consent.

Other Exclusion Criteria

Pregnant or lactating women
Unable or unwilling to be evaluated for follow-up visits

Study & Design

Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL

Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Placebo	Placebo	A single intravenous infusion of diluent with the same appearance and odor as a cord blood unit within 3-10 days following stroke.
Umbilical Cord Blood	Umbilical Cord Blood	A single intravenous infusion of umbilical cord blood within 3-10 days following stroke.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Shift in Modified Rankin Scale (mRS)	baseline to 3 months post infusion	The Modified Rankin Score (mRS) is a disability scale with possible scores ranging from 0 to 6, where 6 = death. Since a shift downward in the mRS scale is considered a clinical improvement, shift scores are calculated from baseline to ensure that, for hypothesis testing purposes, larger shift values represent more clinically desirable outcomes.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Mortality	up to 1 year post infusion
Number of Alloimmunization Events	up to 1 year post infusion
Number of Graft vs. Host Disease Events	up to 1 year post infusion
Number of Study Related and Unexpected Adverse Events (AEs)	up to 1 year post infusion
Shift in Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) From Baseline to 30 Days Post Infusion	baseline to 30 days post infusion	The Modified Rankin Score (mRS) is a disability scale with possible scores ranging from 0 to 6, where 6 = death. Since a shift downward in the mRS scale is considered a clinical improvement, shift scores are calculated from baseline to ensure that, for hypothesis testing purposes, larger shift values represent more clinically desirable outcomes.
Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS) Total Score at 30 Days Post Infusion	30 days post infusion	The TICS has a range of 0 to 41 with a higher score indicating better cognitive status.
Number of Infusion Reactions	up to 1 year post infusion
Number of Product-related Infections	up to 1 year post infusion
Number of Participants With Functional Independence	90 days post infusion	Functional independence at 90 days defined as a 90-day mRS (modified Rankin Scale) score of 0, 1, or 2. The mRS has a range of 0 to 5, where lower scores indicate a better outcome.
Barthel Index (BI) Score at 90 Days	90 days post infusion	The Barthel Index assesses functional independence, generally in stroke patients. The BI has a range of 0 to 100 with 0 indicating total dependency and 100 indicating complete independence.
Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised (HVLT-R) Score at 90 Days Post Infusion	90 days post infusion	The HVLT-R is a sum of three trials involving word recall. It has a total range of 0 to 36 with higher scores indicating better recall and greater cognition.
Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT) Score at 90 Days Post Infusion	90 days post infusion	The COWAT is a verbal fluency test in which participants are asked to say as many words as possible from a given category and in a specified timeframe (typically 60 seconds). Reported as the total number of words produced for F, A, and S. More words indicates better cognition.
Oral Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) Score at 90 Days Post Infusion	90 days post infusion	The SDMT is a measure of processing speed wherein the participant is given 120 seconds to orally match symbols with digits as quickly as possible. Reported as the number of correct associations where a larger number indicates better cognition.
Shift in Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) From Baseline to 180 Days Post Infusion	baseline to 180 days post infusion	The Modified Rankin Score (mRS) is a disability scale with possible scores ranging from 0 to 6, where 6 = death. Since a shift downward in the mRS scale is considered a clinical improvement, shift scores are calculated from baseline to ensure that, for hypothesis testing purposes, larger shift values represent more clinically desirable outcomes.
Stroke Impact Scale-16 (SIS-16) Score at 90 Days	90 days post infusion	The SIS-16 has a range of 0 to 100 with higher scores indicating a higher quality of life.
Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS) Total Score at 1 Year Post Infusion	1 year post infusion	The TICS has a range of 0 to 41 with a higher score indicating better cognitive status.
Trail Making Test Score at 90 Days Post Infusion (Trail A)	90 days post infusion	Both parts of the Trail Making Test consist of 25 circles distributed over a sheet of paper. In Part A, the circles are numbered 1 - 25, and the patient should draw lines to connect the numbers in ascending order. Reported in seconds needed to complete Trail A.
Trail Making Test Score at 90 Days Post Infusion (Trail B)	90 days post infusion	Both parts of the Trail Making Test consist of 25 circles distributed over a sheet of paper. In Part B, the circles include both numbers (1 - 13) and letters (A - L); as in Part A, the patient draws lines to connect the circles in an ascending pattern, but with the added task of alternating between the numbers and letters. Reported in seconds needed to complete Trail B.
The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) Score at 90 Days	90 days post infusion	The NIHSS has a range of 0 to 42, where higher scores indicate greater impairment.
The European Quality of Life (EQ-5D-3L) Visual Analogue Score (VAS) at 90 Days	90 days post infusion	The EQ-5D-3L VAS ranges from 0 to 100 with 0 being the worst possible health status and 100 being the best possible health status.
Patient Health Questionnaire Scale (PHQ 8) Score at 90 Days	90 days post infusion	The PHQ 8 has a range of 0 to 24 with 0 indicating no depression and 24 indicating severe depression.
Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) Score at 90 Days Post Infusion	90 days post infusion	The MoCA has a range of 0 to 30 with lower scores indicating more severe cognitive impairment.
Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) Scores at 90 Days Post Infusion	90 days post infusion	For all sub-components (Physical Functioning, Role Limitations Due to Physical Health, Role Limitations Due to Emotional Problems, Energy/Fatigue, Emotional Well-being, Social Functioning, Pain, and General Health), a higher score indicates better health. Scales are standardized to obtain a score ranging from 0 to 100 and a mean score of 50 has been articulated as a normative value for all scales.

Trial Locations

Locations (6): University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
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Aurora, Colorado, United States
University of Florida Health Shands Hospital
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Gainesville, Florida, United States
Emory University School of Medicine
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Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Duke University Medical Center
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Durham, North Carolina, United States
Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center
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Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States
Houston Methodist
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Houston, Texas, United States