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Mesenchymal Stromal Cells as Treatment for Digital Ulcers in Systemic Sclerosis

Phase 1
Recruiting
Conditions
Systemic Sclerosis
Digital Ulcer
Interventions
Registration Number
NCT03211793
Lead Sponsor
UMC Utrecht
Brief Summary

The MANUS Trial aims to examine the safety, feasibility and potential efficacy of intramuscularly injected allogeneic mesenchymal stromal cells as treatment for digital ulcers of systemic sclerosis.

Detailed Description

The MANUS Trial is a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and digital ischemia with intractable ischemic digital ulcers refractory to conventional treatments are eligible to participate.

20 participants will be randomised (1:1) to undergo intramuscular injection (8 sites) of allogeneic bone marrow derived mesenchymal stromal cells (BM-MSC) (45-50\*10\^6) or placebo in the most affected limb.

Main study parameters/endpoints: The primary outcome is the toxicity of the treatment at 12 weeks after MSC administration, defined as

1. Local toxicity, including signs of local inflammation (swelling, warmth, impairment of function), worsening of ulcers or new ulcers or hematomas after MSC administration

2. Other adverse events, graded according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.0, expressed as maximum grade toxicity per organ system.

Secondary outcome measures are: number of serious adverse events, pain and disability parameters; healing, time to healing and reduction of new ischemic digital ulcers; modified Rodnan skin score; Scleroderma Health Assessment Questionnaire (S-HAQ) including visual analogue scales (VAS) for scleroderma-specific symptoms; Quality-of-life (SF-36, EuroQol (EQ-5D); Cochin hand function score. We will also evaluate changes in capillary morphology and architecture using capillaroscopy; biochemical parameters; markers for endothelial activation and injury, inflammation, oxidative stress, circulating cells including endothelial cells, hematopoietic and endothelial progenitor cells, cytokines and growth factors, immunological responses. Follow-up visits will be scheduled at 48 hours and 2, 4, 8, 12, 24 and 52 weeks post-treatment.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
20
Inclusion Criteria
  • Established diagnosis of SSc according to the 2013 ACR/EULAR criteria

  • At least one active digital ulcer (painful area, >2 mm in diameter with visible depth and loss of dermis) refractory to intravenous prostacyclins

    • 'Refractory to prostacyclins' is defined as
    • Worsening of ulcer(s) within 1 month after prostacyclins iv
    • No improvement of ulcer(s) after 2 months after prostacyclins iv, as judged by the referring physician
    • Recurrence of exactly the same ulcer(s) (same location) within 3 months after prostacyclins iv
  • Written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria
  • Ulcer with underlying calcinosis (ruled out by X-ray prior to screening/inclusion)
  • History of neoplasm or malignancy in the past 10 years
  • Pregnancy or unwillingness to use adequate contraception during study
  • Serious known concomitant disease with life expectancy <1 year
  • Uncontrolled hypertension
  • Uncontrolled acute or chronic infection with systemic symptoms (e.g. fever)
  • Follow-up impossible

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Placebo injectionsPlaceboIntramuscular injection of placebo (NaCl 0.9% + 10% human serum albumin)
MSC injectionsMesenchymal stromal cellsIntramuscular injection of mesenchymal stromal cells (50 million allogeneic MSCs in 0.9% NaCl and 10% human serum albumin).
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Toxicity of the treatment12 weeks after MSC administration

Toxicity of the treatment is defined as 1. Local toxicity, including signs of local inflammation (swelling, warmth, impairment of function), worsening of ulcers or new ulcers or hematomas after MSC administration 2. Other adverse events, graded according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.0, expressed as maximum grade toxicity per organ system.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Serious adverse events48 hours, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24 weeks and 52 weeks after MSC administration

Any treatment-related serious adverse events (SAE) defined as events leading to hospitalization, death, or persistent or significant disability. To establish the presence or absence of a causal relationship, the World Health Organisation guidelines for pharmacovigilance will be followed.

Change in perceived pain based on the Numerical Rating Scale48 hours, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24 weeks and 52 weeks after MSC administration

Change in pain as assessed using the Numerical Rating Scale,

Quality of life - SF-3612, 24 and 52 weeks after MSC administration

SF-36 questionnaire.

Quality of life - Euroqol12, 24 and 52 weeks after MSC administration

EuroQol questionnaire

Disability12, 24 and 52 weeks after MSC administration

Assessed with the HAQ-DI questionnaire.

Hand function12, 24 and 52 weeks after MSC administration

Cochin Hand Function Score

Number (and change in number) of digital ulcers48 hours, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24 weeks and 52 weeks after MSC administration
Healing of digital ulcers48 hours, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24 weeks and 52 weeks after MSC administration

Healing of ulcers is defined as complete epithelialization, regardless of residual pain. This will be established using sequential pictures in addition to the clinical examination.

Change in perceived pain based on the digital ulcer visual analogue scale (part of the S-HAQ)48 hours, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24 weeks and 52 weeks after MSC administration

Change in pain as assessed using the digital ulcer visual analogue scale (part of the S-HAQ).

Change in perceived pain based on the pain VAS ( part of the S-HAQ)48 hours, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24 weeks and 52 weeks after MSC administration

Change in pain as assessed using the pain VAS (S-HAQ), use of analgesics.

Change in perceived pain based on the use of analgesics.48 hours, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24 weeks and 52 weeks after MSC administration

Change in pain as assessed by analyzing the use of analgesics.

Ulcer size48 hours, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24 weeks and 52 weeks after MSC administration

Using sequential pictures, ulcer area and circumference will be measured.

Time to healing of digital ulcers48 hours, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24 weeks and 52 weeks after MSC administration
Severity of Raynaud's symptoms12 , 24 and 52 weeks after MSC administration

Raynaud Condition Score

Need to alter medication regime48 hours, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24 weeks and 52 weeks after MSC administration

The need to alter the medication regime as determined by the patient's attending rheumatologist.

Modified Rodnan Skin Score12, 24 and 52 weeks after MSC administration
Changes in capillary morphology and architecture2, 12, 24 weeks and 52 weeks after MSC administration

as visualized with video-assisted nailfold capillaroscopy by a trained investigator. The images will be scored by a certified rheumatologist and a trained investigator.

Changes in laboratory parameters48 hours, 2, 4, 8, 12 weeks after MSC administration

A range of haematological and chemical parameters will be measured for safety assessment. Additionally, serum, plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells will be collected and stored for analysis at a later time point. Samples will be analysed and used to assess markers for endothelial activation and injury, proangiogenic factors, inflammation and oxidative stress. The presence of HLA-antibodies will be determined as well.

Changes in circulating cell populations48 hours, 2, 4, 8, 12 weeks after MSC administration

Circulating cell populations will be studied by immunofluorescence labelling and analysis using fluorescence assisted cell sorting (FACS Canto machine).

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Universitair Medisch Centrum Utrecht

🇳🇱

Utrecht, Netherlands

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