Human stem cell therapy for acute respiratory distress syndrome

ISRCTN ISRCTN47911040
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN47911040
Secondary identifying numbers 2021/03/08 ver1.5, Grant No.: NMRPG8L6151, NMRPG8L6152, NMRPG8L6153
Submission date
17/09/2021
Registration date
26/10/2021
Last edited
08/01/2025
Recruitment status
Recruiting
Overall study status
Ongoing
Condition category
Respiratory
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data
Record updated in last year

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening lung injury that allows fluid to leak into the lungs. Breathing becomes difficult and oxygen cannot get into the body. Most people who get ARDS are already at the hospital for trauma or illness.
ARDS, frequently complicated with multiple-organ failure, undoubtedly causes an unacceptably high in-hospital death rate. Although the causes and underlying mechanisms of ARDS have been extensively studied, effective treatment is still limited. Therefore, it is urgent and important to develop a safe and effective treatment for ARDS. Many studies have shown that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) effectively improve inflammatory reactions and reduce immune responses. A recent trial showed that human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (HUCDMSCs) are safe with a better clinical outcome in moderate to severe ARDS patients. The aim of this study is to measure the effectiveness of injection of HUCDMSCs in moderate to severe ARDS patients.

Who can participate?
Adult patients aged 20-80 years with moderate to severe ARDS whose symptoms don’t improve 5 days after traditional or standard therapy

What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly allocated into a high-dose treatment group, a low-dose treatment group and a control group. In the low-dose treatment group, participants will be given a high dose of HUCDMSCs two times 72 hours apart. In the high-dose treatment group, participants will be given a low dose of HUCDMSCs two times 72 hours apart. The control group receive only the HUCDMSCs transfer medium two times 72 hours apart.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
The possible benefits include a decrease in death rate, no safety issues, and tolerance of stem cell treatment. The risks include thromboembolic events (blood clots in the veins) during cell delivery, arrhythmia (heart rhythm problems), or any one of exacerbated following complications resulted from pre-existing ARDS, e.g., anemia, hemorrhage, kidney function deterioration, or electrolyte imbalance.

Where is the study run from?
Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (Taiwan)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
March 2020 to December 2027

Who is funding the study?
Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung Medical Foundation (Taiwan)

Who is the main contact?
Hon-Kan Yip, MD
han.gung@msa.hinet.net

Contact information

Dr Hon-Kan Yip
Public

No. 123, Dapi Rd.
Niaosong Dist.
Kaohsiung
83301
Taiwan

ORCiD logoORCID ID 0000-0002-6305-5717
Phone +886 (0)7 7317123 ext. 8300
Email han.gung@msa.hinet.net

Study information

Study designProspective single-center interventional randomized controlled trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet No participant information sheet available
Scientific titleApplication of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells for moderate to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome: a randomized phase II clinical trial
Study objectivesHuman umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (HUCDMSCs) may be a therapeutic option for patients with moderate to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
Ethics approval(s)Approved 14/04/2021, Chang Gung Medical Foundation Institutional Review Board (199, Tunghua North. Road., Songshan Dist., Taiperi, 15057, Taiwan; +886 (0)3 3196200#3708; troublefup6@cgmh.org.tw), ref: 202000098A0
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedModerate to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome
InterventionRandomization process
The study sequence will be generated by a computerized random number generator and preserved in a sealed envelope. The envelopes will be opened in consecutive order for enrollment prior to stem cell infusion therapy by research nurses who are blinded to case randomization.

This clinical trial will enroll 60 patients within 3 years and the patients will be categorized into a high-dose treatment group (n=20), a low-dose treatment group (n=20) and a control group (n=20) by a randomized double-blinded, placebo-controlled method. In the low-dose treatment group, patients will be administered the HUCDMSCs twice (6.5 x 10^5/kg/each time, time interval 72h). In the high-dose treatment group, patients will be administered HUCDMSCs twice (6.5 x 10^6/kg/each time, time interval 72 h). The control group will receive only transfer medium twice (1.625 ml/kg/each time, time interval 72 h). The cells or transfer medium will be administered by intravenous injection.

Total duration of treatment: 4 days
Follow-up for all study arms: 1 year
Intervention typeBiological/Vaccine
Pharmaceutical study type(s)Not Applicable
PhasePhase II
Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s)Human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (HUCDMSCs)
Primary outcome measureThe in-hospital mortality and 30-day mortality recorded according to medical charts
Secondary outcome measures1. Severity of ARDS measured using APCHE II (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation) score during hospitalization
2. Organ function assessed using Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) with parameters of GCS level, PaO₂/FiO₂, vital signs, level of serum creatinine, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total bilirubin, prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), platelet count, C-reactive protein (CRP), and lactate at baseline (pre-infusion), day 1, 3, 7 post-infusion, and 1-month post-infusion
3. Adverse events of stem cell transplantation including immune response, hyperreactivity, anaphylactic shock, incidental malignancy recorded using pulmonary X-ray or other imaging systems at 12 months post-infusion
Overall study start date14/03/2020
Completion date31/12/2027

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit20 Years
Upper age limit80 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participants60
Key inclusion criteria1. Adult subjects aged 20-80 years with moderate to severe ARDS, defined as:
1.1. Acute onset
1.2. Bilateral infiltration on chest X-ray
1.3. Pulmonary wedge pressure ≤18 mmHg
1.4. PaO₂/FiO₂ ≤200 mmHg
1.5. PEEP ≥10 cm H₂O
2. Symptoms don’t improve 5 days after traditional or standard therapy
Key exclusion criteria1. Age <20 or >80 years
2. Pregnancy, breastfeeding
3. Malignancy
4. Autoimmune disease
5. Subjects not suitable for enrollment due to any reason evaluated by the investigator, or patients who have joined other studies
Date of first enrolment16/04/2020
Date of final enrolment31/12/2026

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Taiwan

Study participating centre

Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital
No. 123, Dapi Rd
Niaosong Dist.
Kaohsiung
83301
Taiwan

Sponsor information

Chang Gung Memorial Hospital
Hospital/treatment centre

Chang Gung Medical Foundation
No. 5, Fuxing St.
Guishan Dist.
Taoyuan
33305
Taiwan

Phone +886 (0)3 3184301
Email isc@cgmh.org.tw
Website https://www.cgmh.org.tw
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/02verss31

Funders

Funder type

Hospital/treatment centre

Chiayi Chang Gung Memorial Hospital
Private sector organisation / Other non-profit organizations
Alternative name(s)
Chia-Yi Chang-Gong Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chia-Yi
Location
Taiwan

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date31/12/2029
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryData sharing statement to be made available at a later date
Publication and dissemination planPlanned publication in a high-impact peer-reviewed journal.
IPD sharing planThe data-sharing plans for the current study are unknown and will be made available at a later date.

Editorial Notes

08/01/2025: The following changes were made:
1. The overall study end date was changed from 31/12/2025 to 31/12/2027.
2. Phase II added.
3. Biological name added.
4. The recruitment end date was changed from 31/12/2024 to 31/12/2026.
27/09/2021: Trial's existence confirmed by the Chang Gung Medical Foundation Institutional Review Board.