ISRCTN ISRCTN63305738
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN63305738
Secondary identifying numbers v3 020911 revised 120412
Submission date
10/06/2012
Registration date
25/06/2012
Last edited
06/12/2016
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Injury, Occupational Diseases, Poisoning
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data
Record updated in last year

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and Study Aims
We are recruiting up to 10 patients with severe burns to compare two different cell based approaches to help heal their wounds in an initial study. Our aim is to compare a treatment using donor skin cells with a treatment using the patient’s own cells. We want to compare the rates of wound closure using these two approaches, and to demonstrate that both approaches are safe. The study findings will inform future approaches to burn wound care, and may be applicable to chronic wounds also.

Who can participate
Man and women over the age of 18 who have been injured by chemical or thermal burns may participate in the study. These patients will usually require a skin graft to help heal the burnt areas.

What does the study involve
Over a period of up to two years, patients with severe burns who require a skin graft as part of their treatment will be eligible for a cell based intervention. Patients will donate a 2x2cm skin biopsy of thickness of about 0.6mm for preparation into a treatment called ReCell. This is a cell suspension derived from the patient’s own skin cells. These will be sprayed onto a selected area of the burn wound. In addition, a cell suspension manufactured from an accredited donor skin cell bank (Cryospray) will be applied to a separate area of the same burn wound. These two active treatment areas will be compared with a control area which receives standard care (inert dressings). One application of cells, both autologous (patient’s own) and allogeneic (donor) will be applied to the burn wound, and the areas will be observed at days 2, 5-7, 10 and 16. Small punch biopsies of selected treatment areas will be taken at day 0, 2 and 5-7 to identify cells responsible for healing.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
There is a possible direct benefit of taking part which is that burn areas treated with cells will show accelerated healing compared to those treated with standard care. Faster wound closure can be associated with reduction in pain, reduced risk of infection and improved aesthetic and functional outcome. There should be benefits to treating future burns patients, who have relatively few effective therapies available to them. Furthermore the findings could help treatment approaches for patients with chronic skin wounds such as diabetic ulcers or venous ulcers, which affect many thousands of people in the UK and worldwide. There is a small risk of scarring from taking a skin biopsy for the ReCell treatment, but the biopsy is not full thickness, and the wound site will be expected to heal naturally in about 12 days. Participants will provide small biopsies of healed areas – these will be taken from sites selected to provide minimum discomfort and aesthetic impact, although both considerations are minor compared to the trauma associated with the initial burn injury.

Where is the study run from?
The study is set up by Queen Mary University, London, and will take place at the St Andrew’s Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery, Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford.

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
Recruitment is expected to start in July 21012. Participants will be treated for up to 17 days but will be enrolled for a period of 24 weeks to allow long term follow up of wound closure. The study will run for up to two years.

Who is funding the study?
Funding is provided by Queen Mary University, London as part of a Technology Strategy Board (TSB) regenerative medicine award. The TSB is a UK government body tasked with fostering UK innovation in priority growth areas.

Who is the main contact?
Mr Simon Myers
S.myers@qmul.ac.uk

Contact information

Mr Simon Myers
Scientific

Queen Mary University London
Blizzard Institute
Mile End Road
London
E1 4NS
United Kingdom

Study information

Study designNon-randomised interventional study
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designNon randomised 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 titleCultured keratinocytes in burn wound care: a non-randomised study
Study objectivesCultured allogeneic keratinocytes are capapble of accelerating wound closure at least as well as autologous keratinocyte suspensions
Ethics approval(s)Not provided at time of registration
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedSevere burns - acute
InterventionThis is an intra-patient study (each patient will act as their own control) and each patient will receive all the treatment regimes under investigation i.e. Cryopsray, ReCell and standard care.

Standard care - grafting and inert bandages.

Active group 1 - cultured allogeneic keratinocytes (Cryospray) + standard care

Active group 2 - autologous keratinocyte suspension (ReCell) + standard care
Intervention typeOther
Primary outcome measureObjective measures of wound healing via punch biopsy analysis (time course of cytokine and growth factor expression)
Secondary outcome measures1. Time to complete wound closure (100% re-epithelialisation)
2. Aesthetic outcome of burn site via Derriford Appearance Scale and Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) at week 4, 8, 12 and 24
Overall study start date01/07/2012
Completion date30/06/2014

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit18 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participantsUp to 10
Key inclusion criteria1. Patients who are 18 years old at least
2. Patient is in good general health
3. Patient is willing and able to co-operate with the protocol for the duration of the study
4. Patients with a donor graft site due to requiring a split skin graft to treat a large burn
5. Patients able to give written consent
Key exclusion criteria1. Patients unable to give written consent
2. Terminally ill patients
3. Pregnant women
4. Patients with skin disorders that may affect the growth of cells or subsequent wound healing e.g. patients on high concentrations of steroids, patients with psoriasis or eczema
6. Patient has a history of hypersensitivity to any components of either Cryoskin Spray (e.g. DMSO) or ReCell (trypsin)
7. Patients with eczema; genetic skin conditions; hypertrophic or keloid scars
Date of first enrolment01/07/2012
Date of final enrolment30/06/2014

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • England
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centre

Queen Mary University London
London
E1 4NS
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

Queen Mary University London (UK)
University/education

c/o Mr. Simon Myers
Centre for Cutaneous Research
Blizard Institute
4 Newark Street
London
E1 2AT
England
United Kingdom

ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/026zzn846

Funders

Funder type

Government

Technology Strategy Board Grant (UK) Project Number 130412

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryNot provided at time of registration
Publication and dissemination planNot provided at time of registration
IPD sharing plan

Editorial Notes

06/12/2016: No publications found in PubMed, verifying study status with principal investigator.