Study to evaluate the use of allogeneic mesenchymal stromal cells for the treatment of skin disease in children with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa

ISRCTN ISRCTN46615946
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN46615946
EudraCT/CTIS number 2012-001394-87
Secondary identifying numbers 19312-1
Submission date
11/06/2012
Registration date
08/08/2012
Last edited
01/03/2019
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English Summary

Background and study aims:
Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa (RDEB) is a severe inherited skin disease caused by lack of collagen VII - the protein that 'sticks' the top and bottom layer of the skin together. It is a severe condition leading to skin fragility, blisters and wounds which are slow to heal or leave non-healing open wounds. There is desperate need to develop new treatments for RDEB and attempts are being made to develop studies using different types of treatment. The aim of this study is to find out if using a particular type of cell is safe to use and can improve the skin disease in this genetic disease.

Who can participate?
Children with a diagnosis of RDEB, aged 1 to 17

What does the study involve?
The study consists of a total of 7 visits. The first visit consists of a screening consultation with a study doctor where the study is thoroughly explained and questions answered. If the parent and child decide to participate, an informed consent form is signed. Six further visits are scheduled after this, during which different procedures are carried out: cell infusions, blood tests and skin biopsies. Also, various assessments of the wounds, pain and quality of life are done using different scoring systems.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
If the treatment works, the skin disease may become milder with fewer blisters and wounds that hopefully heal faster. However, it is not known how long the effects will last. The child is followed up for 6 months and information is collected about the skin disease during the routine clinical appointments for up to 1 year. If the cell treatment proves safe and study participants benefit from it, there is the possibility to administer further cell treatments. It is also hoped that the information gathered will contribute to future studies for therapies of individuals with RDEB. Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) have been used for other medical conditions with no severe side effects recorded and recent studies using MSCs for children with RDEB in other countries have reported no serious adverse reactions. Although not expected, the infusion of any blood product carries a small risk of complications such as allergic reaction, infection or other unpredicted reactions that could potentially require medical care and hospitalisation. Blood taking and skin biopsies could result in pain, bruising and/or infection at the injection site. Infection can be treated with a short course of oral antibiotics.

Where is the study run from?
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children (UK)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to last for?
June 2013 to December 2014

Who is funding the study?
Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa Research Association (DebRA) (UK)

Who is the main contact?
Prof. John McGrath
john.mcgrath@kcl.ac.uk

Contact information

Prof John Alexander McGrath
Scientific

King's College London
St John's Institute of Dermatology
9th Floor, Tower Wing
Guy's Hospital
Great Maze Pond
London
SE1 9RT
United Kingdom

Phone +44 (0)20 7188 6353
Email john.mcgrath@kcl.ac.uk

Study information

Study designPhase I/II non-randomised open-label single-centre proof of concept
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designNon randomised study
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details to request a patient information sheet
Scientific titleA prospective phase I/II study to evaluate the use of allogeneic mesenchymal stromal cells for the treatment of skin disease in children with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa
Study acronymEBSTEM
Study hypothesisMesenchymal stromal cells (also known as mesenchymal stem cells, MSC) have been identified as bone marrow derived multipotent stem cells of non-haematopoetic lineage that are present in tiny quantities in the circulation (1 in 104 nucleated cells). MSCs can be isolated from bone marrow but also from subcutaneous fat, umbilical cord blood, placenta and definitive teeth. MSCs have been shown to differentiate into a number of different cell types of stromal lineage including osteoblasts, adipocytes and chondrocytes. There is an intense amount of research interest in the clinical application of MSCs in the treatment of degenerative or inflammatory diseases. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) have been shown to home to wounded tissue and mediate wound healing. It is, therefore, anticipated that bone marrow derived tissue cultured MSCs, if injected systemically, will lead to increased amounts of type VII collagen production as well as the production of a variety of growth factors and cytokines both to stimulate wound healing as well as inducing type VII collagen synthesis in the patient's own keratinocytes and fibroblasts. Recent studies in animal models and humans have demonstrated that MSCs have the potential to improve skin function. This project aims to translate those initial findings into a clinical trial of MSCs given intravenously into children with RDEB. The goal is to see whether this is safe, feasible and of potential value to those living with this condition.
Ethics approval(s)NRES Committee London-Bloomsbury, 23/11/2012, ref: 12/LO/1258
ConditionRecessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa
InterventionChildren with RDEB from Great Ormond Street NHS Trust will be invited to take part in the study. Each subject will undergo an initial screening including physical examination, vital signs and disease severity assessment. This will also include a skin biopsy and blood test investigations. All study participants will receive three intravenous MSC infusions at baseline Day 0, Day 7 and Day 28. The patients will then be additionally reviewed at Day 60, Day 100 and Day 180 after the first infusion (total 7 visits, including screening visit). During the study visits, the participant will be reviewed by a doctor who will assess the disease severity, blister counts, pain and quality of life issues. Blood tests will be performed on six occasions. A skin biopsy will be repeated at screening and Day 60. At Day 0 and Day 100 the time taken to form a small suction blister will be assessed. The parents of each child will be invited to have their skin fragility tested as well, by measuring the time to forming a suction blister and this will be correlated with their child's time. Suction blisters times provide a functional measurement of skin integrity and resistance to blistering. Photographs of body areas will be taken by the participants' parents/guardians at different timepoints during dressing changes. Investigators will also take clinical photographs during the study visits to assess the appearance of affected body areas. After the first 6 months the children will be followed up clinically every 3 to 6 months by the GOSH clinical team and no scheduled interventions are planned unless they are clinically indicated
Intervention typeBiological/Vaccine
Pharmaceutical study type(s)
PhasePhase I/II
Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s)
Primary outcome measureCurrent primary outcome measures as of 15/01/2015:
The safety of allogeneic intravenously administered MSCs in children with RDEB over a 12-month period

Previous primary outcome measures:
The safety of allogeneic intravenously administered MSCs in children with RDEB over a 24-month period
Secondary outcome measures1. Increase in collagen VII deposition at the DEJ post treatment
2. Quantitative analysis of the donor cells dermal chimerism
3. Improvement of haematological and serological markers of generalised inflammation
4. General clinical appearance of the skin based on medical photographs, generalised severity score and BEBSS score
5. Improved quality of life
6. Pain scoring
7. Reduction in blister numbers
8. Increase in skin strength measured by increased time to blister formation after skin suction at screening and D120
Overall study start date14/06/2013
Overall study end date11/12/2014

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupChild
Lower age limit12 Months
Upper age limit17 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participants6 to 10 participants
Participant inclusion criteria1. Subjects who have a diagnosis of recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) characterised by partial or complete collagen VII deficiency
2. Subjects who are ≥ 12 months and ≤ 17 years of age at the time of enrolment
3. Subjects whose responsible relative/guardian has voluntary signed and dated an Informed Consent Form (ICF) prior to the first study intervention. Whenever the minor child is able to give consent, the minor's assent will be obtained in addition to the signed consent of the minor's legal guardian
Participant exclusion criteriaCurrent exclusion criteria as of 10/09/2013:
1. Subjects who have had other investigational medicinal products within 90 days prior to screening or during the treatment phase
2. Subjects who have received immunotherapy including oral corticosteroids for more than 1 week (intranasal and topical preparations are permitted) or chemotherapy within 60 days of enrolment into this study
3. Subjects with a known allergy to any of the constituents of the investigational product
4. Subjects with signs of active infection
5. Subjects with a medical history or evidence of malignancy, including cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma
6. Subjects with both positive C7 ELISA and a positive indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) with binding to the base of salt split skin
7. Subjects who are pregnant or of child-bearing potential who are not abstinent or practicing an acceptable means of contraception, as determined by the Investigator, for the duration of the treatment phase

Previous exclusion criteria:
1. Subjects who have had other investigational medicinal products within 90 days prior to screening or during the treatment phase
2. Subjects who have received immunotherapy including oral corticosteroids for more than 1 week (intranasal and topical preparations are permitted) or chemotherapy within 60 days of enrolment into this study
3. Subjects with a known allergy to any of the constituents of the investigational product
4. Subjects with signs of active infection
5. Subjects with a medical history or evidence of malignancy, including cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma
6. Subjects with positive serum antibodies to C7 confirmed by ELISA
7. Subjects who are pregnant or of child-bearing potential who are not abstinent or practicing an acceptable means of contraception, as determined by the Investigator, for the duration of the treatment phase
Recruitment start date14/06/2013
Recruitment end date03/10/2013

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • England
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centre

Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust
Great Ormond Street
London
WC1N 3JH
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

King's College London (UK)
University/education

Great Maze Pond
London
SE1 9RT
England
United Kingdom

Phone +44 (0)20 7188 6409
Email john.mcgrath@kcl.ac.uk
Website http://www.kcl.ac.uk/medicine/research/divisions/gmm/sections/dermatology/index.aspx
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/0220mzb33

Funders

Funder type

Charity

Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa Research Association
Government organisation / Associations and societies (private and public)
Alternative name(s)
Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa Research Association UK, DEBRA, DEBRA UK
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 planIt is intended that the results of the study will be reported and disseminated through posters and oral presentations at international conferences, scientific meetings and in high-impact peer-reviewed journals. Publicity will be performed through press releases at the local, national and international level. Press releases will be co-ordinated through King’s College London and Great Ormond Street Hospital. DebRA, the patient advocacy group, will also inform patients and potential participants through their website and newsletters.
IPD sharing planThe datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are/will be available upon request from Prof. John McGrath (john.mcgrath@kcl.ac.uk).

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Results article results 01/09/2015 Yes No
HRA research summary 28/06/2023 No No

Editorial Notes

01/03/2019: Internal review.
09/06/2017: IPD sharing statement added.
06/06/2017: Publication reference added.
20/01/2015: The following changes were made to the trial record:
1. The overall trial start date was changed from 01/10/2012 to 14/06/2013.
2. The overall trial end date was changed from 01/10/2014 to 11/12/2014.