A randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled study of RAD001 (Everolimus) in the treatment of neurocognitive problems in tuberous sclerosis

ISRCTN ISRCTN09739757
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN09739757
EudraCT/CTIS number 2011-004854-25
ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT01954693
Secondary identifying numbers SPON803-10
Submission date
07/11/2011
Registration date
28/12/2011
Last edited
28/03/2023
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Nervous System Diseases
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
Tuberous sclerosis (TSC) is a genetic disorder affecting approximately 1 in 10,000 people. It is characterised by the development of tumours in many organs and can lead to seizures, neuro-cognitive difficulties and behavioural and developmental disorders. These brain-related problems occur in the majority of those with TSC and were rated as being the most significant part of the disease by patients and families because of their everyday impact on education, employment, family and social life. The potential benefits of better treatment therefore include both a reduction in health care demands and wider benefits for patients and their carers. In the past it was thought that many of the problems caused by TSC might be entirely due to tumours in the brains of sufferers. However, recent research suggests that not only might gene mutation also play a major role but it is also possibly reversible. Studies have shown that certain drugs can be used to reduce the size of tumours. The main aim of this study is to see how the use of a drug named Everolimus affects recall memory and executive function of those with TSC over a period of 6 months.

Who can participate?
Participants need to be aged 16 to 60 years and have an IQ of more than 60. Both males and females can take part in the study. Only people with TSC will be able to take part.

What does the study involve?
Before starting, you will be asked to have some tests that help the doctor to decide if you can take part in the research. If the doctor thinks you can take part you will also be asked to come back to the hospital about every 2 weeks to begin with and then with longer gaps between visits as time goes on, for 9 months. The tests you may have as part of this research include:
1. The doctor will talk to you about how you feel.
2. The doctor will examine you.
3. You will have a test to find out how well your lungs work.
4. You will have a test to measure your heartbeat (Electrocardiogram (ECG)).
5. The doctor or nurse will take a blood sample from you.
6. You will be asked to provide a urine sample.
7. The research psychologist will do some memory and thinking tests with you.
In this research some people taking part will receive the medicine we are testing and other people will receive a 'dummy medicine' that looks exactly the same but does not contain any active ingredients. Neither you nor the research doctor can choose whether you will get the study medicine or the dummy medicine and you will not know which one you are taking throughout the study.
You will be asked to take tablets (2 for most people, but this may vary) once a day by mouth at about the same time of day.
You may either take the tablets with a glass of water or apple juice or after a light meal. If you find this difficult you may instead dissolve the tablets in a glass of water and drink the mixture. If you have problems taking the medicine please tell the research doctor and the person who comes with you to the research clinic.
Whilst taking part in the research you will be asked to avoid grapefruit, Seville oranges (including marmalade), and star fruit and the juices of these fruits as they can cause problems with the medicine.
A drug called Everolimus will be compared against a placebo. One third of the participants will receive the placebo while two-thirds will receive the drug Everolimus but this is decided at random.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
The potential benefits of taking part include both a reduction in health care demands and a reduction is the amount of neuro-cognitive difficulties experienced. Possible side effects of the medicine include mouth ulcers, feeling tired, weak and sick, being sick, skin rash, problems going to the toilet, not feeling very hungry, swelling in your legs, feeling hot, having an odd taste in your mouth, nose bleeds, pain in your arms and/or legs, shortness of breath, dry skin and headache. However, there will be a doctor will be able to help decide how best to deal with any side effect.

Where is the study run from?
The study is open to people from all over the UK but it will take place at University Hospital Wales, Cardiff.

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
The study is due to start recruiting participants at the end of December 2011. The trial will be recruiting participants for 12 months.

Who is funding the study?
The study is being run by Cardiff University but funded by pharmaceutical company Novartis.

Who is the main contact?
Dr Cheney Drew (public contact), drewc5@cardiff.ac.uk (added 24/04/2019)
Professor Julian Sampson (scientific contact), sampson@cardiff.ac.uk

Contact information

Prof Julian Sampson
Scientific

Institute of Medical Genetics
School of Medicine
Cardiff University
Cardiff
CF14 4XN
United Kingdom

Phone +44 (0)2920 746 412
Email sampson@cardiff.ac.uk
Dr Cheney Drew
Public

South East Wales Trials Unit
Centre For Trials Research
College of Biomedical and Life Sciences
Cardiff University
4th Floor, Neuadd Meirionnydd
Heath Park
Cardiff
CF14 4YS
United Kingdom

Phone +44(0)29 20687243
Email DrewC5@cardiff.ac.uk

Study information

Study designSingle-centre two-arm individually randomised phase II double-blind placebo-controlled trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Scientific titleA randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled study of RAD001 (Everolimus) in the TReatment Of Neurocognitive problems in tuberous sclerosis (TRON)
Study acronymTRON
Study objectivesAre the recall memory and executive function in people with tuberous sclerosis (TSC) improved after treatment with RAD001 (Everolimus) or placebo for 6 months?
Ethics approval(s)Approved 09/11/2011, Wales REC 3 (Health and Care Research Support Centre, Castlebridge 4, 15-19 Cowbridge Road East, Cardiff, CF11 9AB, UK; +44 (0)29 20785741; Wales.REC3@wales.nhs.uk), ref: 11/WA/0308
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedTuberous sclerosis
InterventionRAD001 (Everolimus) versus placebo in the treatment of neurocognitive problems in patients with tuberous sclerosis (TSC)
Intervention typeDrug
Pharmaceutical study type(s)
PhasePhase II
Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s)Everolimus
Primary outcome measure1. List Learning test (from the BIRT Memory and Information Processing Battery)
2. Complex Figure test (from the BIRT Memory and Information Processing Battery)
3. CANTAB - Stockings of Cambridge (SOC)
4. CANTAB - Spatial Working Memory (SWM)
5. Telephone search dual task (from the Test of Everyday Attention
Secondary outcome measures1. CANTAB - Rapid Visual Information Processing Battery (RVIP)
2. CANTAB - Spatial Span (SSP)
3. CANTAB - Attentional Set-shifting (IDED)
4. Verbal Fluency /Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT)
5. Cancellation task
6. Symptom Checklist 90R (SCL-90R)
7. Quality of Life in Epilepsy (QOLIE)
8. Liverpool Seizure Severity Scale (LSSS)
9. Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales-II (VABS-II) (survey form)
10. Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS)
11. Social communication questionnaire (SCQ)
Overall study start date01/12/2011
Completion date06/08/2018

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
SexBoth
Target number of participants48
Total final enrolment38
Key inclusion criteria1. Definite TSC by current clinical criteria
2. Male or female aged 16 to 60 years
3. IQ over 60 by Wechsler Abbreviated Scales of Intelligence (WASI) and able to participate in direct neuropsychological tests
4. A score falling on, or below, the 5th percentile (approximately equivalent to -1.5 SD) in one or more of the primary outcome measures (updated 24/04/2019. Previously: Deficit of - 2 S.D. or more below normal population mean on a primary outcome measure)
5. Calculated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) > 60ml/min/1.73m2
6. International Normalized Ratio (INR) 1.5 or less (anticoagulation permitted if target INR on stable dose of warfarin or Low molecular weight (LMW) heparin for > 2 weeks at time of randomisation)
7. Adequate liver function as shown by: serum bilirubin less than or equal to 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN), alanine aminotranferease (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) less than or equal to 2.5 x ULN
8. If sexually active - negative pregnancy test in females at the time of informed consent, contraception for males and pre-menopausal females on study
9. Seizure free or stable seizures as defined by no change in type of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in 6 months prior to recruitment. Doses of drugs may have been changed in the 6 months prior to recruitment
10. Negative Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA , polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing at screening for patients with a positive history of risk factors and/or confirmation of prior HBV/HCV infection
11. All patients must be able to communicate well with the investigator, to understand and comply with the requirements of the study, understand and sign the written informed consent
12. Female patients of childbearing potential must be prepared to use two acceptable methods of contraception, (e.g. intra-uterine device plus condom, spermicidal gel plus condom, diaphragm plus condom, etc.), from the time of screening
Key exclusion criteria1. Prior treatment with an mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) inhibitor
2. Investigational agent <30 days prior to randomisation
3. Surgery in last 2 months
4. Previous brain neurosurgery with the exception of SEGA (sub-ependymal giant cell astrocytoma) removal surgery or radiosurgery 5 or more years ago (updated on 24/04/2019. Previously: Previous brain neurosurgery)
5. Significant haematological abnormality i.e. haemoglobin < 8g/dL, platelets <80,000/mm3, absolute neutrophil count < 1000/mm3)
6. Urine protein/creatinine >0.02g/mmol
7. Serum creatinine > 1.5 x ULN
8. Uncontrolled hyperlipidaemia (fasting cholesterol > 300mg/dL or >7.75 mmol/L and fasting triglycerides >2.5 x ULN, or diabetes with fasting serum glucose > 1.5 x ULN
9. History of myocardial infarction, angina or stroke related to atherosclerosis, or any other significant cardiac disease, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seropositivity, organ transplant, malignancy other than squamous or basal cell skin cancer
10. Lymphangioleiomyomatosis with forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) <70% of predicted, or any other restrictive pulmonary disease
11. Bleeding diathesis or on oral anti-vitamin K medication other than low dose warfarin
12. Pregnancy/lactation
13. Live vaccine required during trial
14. Use of strong inhibitor or inducer of CYP3AE except for anti epileptic drugs
15. Intercurrent infection at time of randomisation
16. Inability to complete study materials (outcome measures) in English
17. History of significant trauma-related cognitive deficit
18. Impairment of gastrointestinal function or gastrointestinal disease that may significantly alter the absorption of Everolimus (e.g. pancreatic insufficiency)
19. Known sensitivity to Everolimus or other Rapamycin analogues or to its excipients
20. Inability to attend scheduled visits
Date of first enrolment31/12/2011
Date of final enrolment27/10/2017

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • United Kingdom
  • Wales

Study participating centre

Cardiff University
Cardiff
CF14 4XN
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

Cardiff University (UK)
University/education

c/o Ms Kathy Pittard Davies
Research and Commercial Division
7th Floor
30 - 36 Newport Road
Cardiff
CF24 0DE
Wales
United Kingdom

Email davieskp2@cardiff.ac.uk
Website http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/03kk7td41

Funders

Funder type

Industry

Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Limited
Private sector organisation / For-profit companies (industry)
Alternative name(s)
Novartis UK, NOVARTIS UK LIMITED
Location
United Kingdom

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareYes
IPD sharing plan summaryAvailable on request
Publication and dissemination planNot provided at time of registration
IPD sharing planThe datasets generated during the current study are available on request from ctrdatasamplerequests@cardiff.ac.uk

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Protocol article protocol 11/08/2016 Yes No
Thesis results 19/07/2021 14/04/2022 No No
Statistical Analysis Plan version 1.0 05/07/2018 27/03/2023 No No
Basic results 10/11/2021 28/03/2023 No No
HRA research summary 28/06/2023 No No

Additional files

ISRCTN09739757_SAP_v1.0_05Jul18.pdf

Editorial Notes

28/03/2023: EudraCT number and basic results link added.
27/03/2023: Statistical analysis plan uploaded. IPD sharing statement, ethics approval and total final enrolment added.
14/04/2022: Thesis added.
24/07/2019: The clinicaltrials.gov number has been added.
24/04/2019: The following changes were made to the trial record:
1. The recruitment end date was changed from 31/12/2012 to 27/10/2017.
2. The overall end date was changed from 31/12/2013 to 06/08/2018.
3. The inclusion criteria were changed.
4. The exclusion criteria were changed.
5. A public contact was added: Dr Cheney Drew <DrewC5@cardiff.ac.uk>
6. The plain English summary was updated
23/08/2016: Publication reference added.