~0 spots leftby Aug 2025

Stem Cell Transplant for Scleroderma

(SSc Trial)

Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)
+1 other location
PS
Overseen byPaul Szabolcs, MD
Age: < 65
Sex: Any
Travel: May Be Covered
Time Reimbursement: Varies
Trial Phase: Phase 2
Recruiting
Sponsor: Paul Szabolcs
Must be taking: DMARDS
Must not be taking: Steroids
Disqualifiers: Severe cardiac, pulmonary, renal, others
No Placebo Group
Prior Safety Data
Breakthrough Therapy

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

The purpose of this study is to determine whether a regimen of high-dose immunoablative therapy will demonstrate safety that is consistent or improved with other published regimens in SSc patients, while maintaining a treatment effect.

Do I need to stop my current medications for the trial?

The trial information does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications. However, it mentions that participants must have failed to respond to at least two disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDS) before joining, which might imply changes to your current treatment. Please consult with the trial coordinators for specific guidance.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment for Scleroderma?

The research does not directly address the effectiveness of the treatment for Scleroderma, but it does mention the use of high-dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation in other conditions like Ewing's sarcoma, where some patients achieved remission. This suggests potential benefits of similar approaches in other diseases, though further specific research for Scleroderma is needed.12345

Is stem cell transplant using thiotepa safe for humans?

Thiotepa, used in stem cell transplants, can cause myelosuppression (a decrease in bone marrow activity) and skin toxicity, but these side effects are generally manageable with preventive care. In studies, thiotepa did not increase transplant-related mortality and was used to reduce heart-related side effects from other drugs like cyclophosphamide.678910

How does the stem cell transplant treatment for scleroderma differ from other treatments?

This treatment is unique because it combines stem cell transplantation with a conditioning regimen that includes cyclophosphamide, thiotepa, and total body irradiation, which aims to reset the immune system and reduce disease progression. It offers an alternative to traditional immunosuppression and has shown significant benefits in stabilizing the disease compared to cyclophosphamide alone.611121314

Research Team

PS

Paul Szabolcs, MD

Principal Investigator

University of Pittsburgh

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for young individuals aged 8-24 with Systemic Sclerosis diagnosed before age 19, who haven't improved after trying at least two DMARDs. They should have skin thickening or worsening lung disease and be free from HIV, hepatitis B/C, and untreated renal crisis. Participants must not be pregnant, agree to birth control if applicable, and have clearance for stem cell transplantation.

Inclusion Criteria

I am between 8 and 24 years old.
I was diagnosed with Systemic Sclerosis before I turned 20.
My lung condition has worsened in the last 18 months.
See 12 more

Exclusion Criteria

My kidney function is reduced, with a filtration rate under 40 mL/min.
My lung function test shows less than 35% capacity.
Your liver enzyme levels are more than four times the normal limit.
See 9 more

Trial Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Stem Cell Mobilization

Participants undergo stem cell mobilization and conditioning before receiving CD34-selected autologous peripheral blood stem cell rescue

3-12 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive high-dose immunoablative therapy followed by transplantation of CD34+ positively selected peripheral blood stem cells

Up to 90 days

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety, treatment effect, and disease progression, including assessments of survival, secondary malignancies, and SSC activity

36 months

Treatment Details

Interventions

  • Alemtuzumab (Monoclonal Antibodies)
  • Anti Thymocyte Globulin (Immunotherapy)
  • Cyclophosphamide (Chemotherapy)
  • GM-CSF (Immunotherapy)
  • Intravenous immunoglobulin (Immunotherapy)
  • Mesna (Chemotherapy)
  • Rituximab (Monoclonal Antibodies)
  • Thiotepa (Chemotherapy)
  • Total Body Irradiation (Radiation)
Trial OverviewThe study tests a high-dose immunoablative therapy regimen using drugs like Thiotepa and Cyclophosphamide combined with treatments such as Total Body Irradiation in patients with Systemic Sclerosis. The goal is to assess safety compared to other regimens while looking for treatment effectiveness.
Participant Groups
1Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Group I: Autologous Stem Cell TransplantationExperimental Treatment9 Interventions
CD34-selected autologous stem cell being performed on CliniMACS depletion device. Conditioning regimen will not start sooner than 3 weeks, and ideally no more than 90 days, after cyclophosphamide dose in the mobilization regimen.

Cyclophosphamide is already approved in Canada, Japan for the following indications:

🇨🇦
Approved in Canada as Neosar for:
  • Breast cancer
  • Ovarian cancer
  • Multiple myeloma
  • Leukemia
  • Lymphoma
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
🇯🇵
Approved in Japan as Endoxan for:
  • Breast cancer
  • Ovarian cancer
  • Multiple myeloma
  • Leukemia
  • Lymphoma

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Paul Szabolcs

Lead Sponsor

Trials
8
Recruited
230+

Findings from Research

In a study of 32 patients with newly diagnosed metastatic Ewing's sarcoma, consolidation therapy using high-dose melphalan, etoposide, and total-body irradiation did not improve event-free survival rates, with only a 24% survival rate for those who received the therapy.
Three patients experienced severe toxicity during the high-dose phase, highlighting safety concerns, and the majority of patients ultimately relapsed and died from progressive disease.
High-dose melphalan, etoposide, total-body irradiation, and autologous stem-cell reconstitution as consolidation therapy for high-risk Ewing's sarcoma does not improve prognosis.Meyers, PA., Krailo, MD., Ladanyi, M., et al.[2020]
Stem cell apheresis (SCA) is feasible and effective in mobilizing stem cells from adult patients with Ewing sarcoma, with a median yield of 10.6 CD34+ cells/kg body weight in 89% of patients studied.
The study indicates that it is safe to delay stem cell collection until after later cycles of VIDE chemotherapy, suggesting flexibility in treatment protocols for Ewing sarcoma patients.
Analysis of stem cell collections in adult patients with Ewing sarcoma.Franke, GN., Pfannes, R., Heyn, S., et al.[2022]
In a study involving 10 patients with refractory bone and soft tissue sarcoma, high-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation showed limited complications, with only one case of hepatic veno-occlusive disease.
The treatment resulted in 5 patients being alive with no evidence of disease, suggesting that high-dose chemotherapy may be a viable alternative to radical surgery for certain sarcomas, although its efficacy was temporary for spindle cell sarcomas, indicating a need for further investigation.
[High-dose chemotherapy with autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) for refractory bone and soft tissue sarcomas].Yonemoto, T., Tatezaki, S., Ishii, T., et al.[2013]

References

High-dose melphalan, etoposide, total-body irradiation, and autologous stem-cell reconstitution as consolidation therapy for high-risk Ewing's sarcoma does not improve prognosis. [2020]
Analysis of stem cell collections in adult patients with Ewing sarcoma. [2022]
[High-dose chemotherapy with autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) for refractory bone and soft tissue sarcomas]. [2013]
Ewing's sarcoma: a trial of adjuvant chemotherapy and sequential half-body irradiation. [2019]
In vitro radiation studies on Ewing's sarcoma cell lines and human bone marrow: application to the clinical use of total body irradiation (TBI). [2019]
Successful autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation using thiotepa in a patient with systemic sclerosis and cardiac involvement. [2019]
Addition of Thiotepa to Total Body Irradiation and Cyclophosphamide Conditioning for Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. [2021]
Phase I/pharmacokinetic reevaluation of thioTEPA. [2013]
Two Different Transplant Preconditioning Regimens Combined with Irradiation and Chemotherapy in the Treatment of Childhood Leukemia: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. [2023]
Thiotepa-induced cutaneous toxicity in pediatric patients: Case report and implementation of preventive care guidelines. [2019]
11.United Statespubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Matching Protocol and Practice: The Challenge of Meeting Lung and Kidney Total Body Irradiation Constraints for Scleroderma. [2023]
12.United Statespubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Myeloablative Autologous Stem-Cell Transplantation for Severe Scleroderma. [2022]
Characterising the autoantibody repertoire in systemic sclerosis following myeloablative haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. [2023]
Autologous bone marrow transplantation in the treatment of refractory systemic sclerosis: early results from a French multicentre phase I-II study. [2019]