Sirolimus for Autoimmune Disease of Blood Cells
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00392951 |
Recruitment Status
:
Active, not recruiting
First Posted
: October 26, 2006
Results First Posted
: December 6, 2017
Last Update Posted
: December 6, 2017
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Autoimmune Pancytopenia Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome (ALPS) Evans Syndrome Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune Autoimmune Neutropenia Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic Inflammatory Bowel Disease Rheumatoid Arthritis | Drug: sirolimus | Phase 1 Phase 2 |
Patients with autoimmune destruction of hematopoietic cells frequently have severe and debilitating disease requiring aggressive and frequent medical management. These patients are often treated with non-specific immunosuppressive medications with limited efficacy and untoward side-effect profiles. We have been investigating the use of an immunosuppressive and anti-cancer agent, sirolimus in patients with an autoimmune cytopenias syndrome: Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome (ALPS). ALPS is a primary immune deficiency caused by mutations in the Fas apoptotic pathway, leading to abnormal lymphocyte survival. Clinical manifestations in patients with ALPS typically include autoimmune cytopenias, lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, and a propensity to develop secondary malignancies. Thus, far we have found excellent results albeit the total number of patients treated is small.
Sirolimus is a signal transduction inhibitor with a tolerable side effect profile. Sirolimus has two properties making it an attractive agent to treat patients with autoimmune cytopenias syndromes, including ALPS. First, sirolimus induces apoptosis in normal and abnormal white blood cells, the cell type dysregulated in patients with autoimmune disease. In addition, sirolimus increases a T cell subset called Regulatory T cells (Tregs). Tregs are a cell population designed to suppress the immune system and control autoimmunity. These combined properties make sirolimus unique as compared with other immunosuppressive agents. Ample preclinical and clinical data exists demonstrating sirolimus in effective in patients with autoimmunity. Accordingly, we hypothesize sirolimus is a safe and efficacious medication for patients with autoimmune destruction of blood cells..
We plan to confirm our hypotheses by performing a pilot series in children with autoimmune cytopenias who are either refractory to standard therapy or have significant toxicity from standard treatments. Our primary aim is to define the toxicities of administration of oral sirolimus in children with autoimmune cytopenias. Our secondary aims are to evaluate the efficacy of sirolimus in children with autoimmune cytopenias, to determine the trough levels of sirolimus when used in these patients, and to evaluate the effects of sirolimus on intracellular targets of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). We intend to enroll 50 children with autoimmune cytopenias and treat for a 6 month period, however, if we find sirolimus is effective, we anticipate these children will continue to take sirolimus for a longer period of time. We anticipate the results of this work will establish sirolimus is an effective and well tolerated medication and will lead directly to a larger national phase II clinical trial.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 30 participants |
Intervention Model: | Single Group Assignment |
Masking: | None (Open Label) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | Sirolimus for Patients With Chronic and/or Refractory Autoimmune Cytopenias: A Pilot Series |
Study Start Date : | December 2006 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | February 2016 |
Estimated Study Completion Date : | February 2020 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
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Experimental: Sirolimus treatment
Sirolimus treatment
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Drug: sirolimus
Tablet or liquid; taken once or twice daily; dosage is based on establishing a serum trough of 5-15 ng/ml by high-performance liquid chromatography (initial loading dose of 3 mg/m2 then 2.5 mg/m2 with adjustment based on serum trough)
Other Names:
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- Number of Participants With Grade 3 and 4 Toxicities of Administration of Oral Sirolimus [ Time Frame: 6 months ]
Grade 3 toxicities are those that are considered severe or medically equivalent requiring hospitalization or prolonged hospitalization (according to CTCAE criteria 3.0).
Grade 4 toxicities are those that are life-threatening (urgent intervention indicated) (according to CTCAE criteria 3.0).
- Number of Participants With Autoimmune Disease Response to Oral Sirolimus [ Time Frame: 6 months ]Complete response (CR) is complete resolution in all autoimmune cytopenias (neutropenia, anemia thrombocytopenia) maintained for more than two months, combined with an ability to wean off corticosteroids and/or other immunosuppressive medication. Partial response (PR) is improvement in any cytopenias by at least one grade, lasting more than two months, without worsening any other cytopenias or stable disease with the ability to wean corticosteroids and/or immunosuppressive medications by at least 50%. No response (NR) is no change in cytopenias with treatment, and the inability to wean corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive medications. Progressive disease (PD) refers to obtaining a CR or PR by the 3 month observation and relapsing or progressing by the 6 month observation, leading to cessation of study drug.
- Trough Levels Produced by Administration of Oral Sirolimus [ Time Frame: Within first 5 days of starting sirolimus ]Pharmacokinetic levels produced by administration of oral sirolimus
- Effect of Sirolimus on Intracellular Targets [ Time Frame: 6 months ]Needs more specific information
- Number of Participants With Lymphoproliferation Response to Oral Sirolimus [ Time Frame: 6 months ]Complete response (CR) is complete resolution of any lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly for at least two months. Partial response (PR) is a reduction in size of at least 50% of lymphadenopathy or splenomegaly for at least two months. No response (NR) is no change or < 50% reduction in lymphadenopathy or splenomegaly. Progressive Disease (PD) is obtaining a CR or PR by the 3 month observation and relapsing or progressing by the 6 month observation, leading to cessation of study drug. Not Applicable (N/A) is there is no evidence of disease (No pathologic lymphadenopathy or splenomegaly at time of enrollment).

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 1 Year to 30 Years (Child, Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Age > 12 months and < 30 years at the time of study entry
- Diagnosis of autoimmune cytopenias requiring treatment with medications
- At least one of the following: Autoimmune Neutropenia, Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia, and/or Autoimmune Thrombocytopenia
- Must be proven autoimmune by either a documented autoantibody (positive direct anti globulin test, positive anti-neutrophil, and/or anti-platelet antibody) and/or a documented clinical response to immunosuppression
- Autoimmune Cytopenias can be idiopathic (Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA), Autoimmune Neutropenia (AIN), or Evans syndrome) or secondary to one of following conditions: Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), ALPS (Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome), or Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
- Patients must have chronic disease diagnosed by either a documented cytopenia syndrome (Lupus, ALPS, RA, or IBD), or by having Evans syndrome defined as idiopathic destruction of multiple blood cell types, and/or by having disease >6 months
- Patients must be refractory to or unable to tolerate standard front-line therapies for autoimmune cytopenias (corticosteroids and/or IVIG)
- Patients may be taking second-line agents for autoimmune cytopenias (mycophenolate mofetil, cyclosporine, tacrolimus, mercaptopurine, and/or methotrexate) at time of study entry; however, attempts should be made to wean these agents. Patients may not stay on a combination of sirolimus and a calcineurin inhibitor for greater than 4 weeks
- Informed consent/assent must be obtained prior to initiating treatment
- Patient must be able to consume oral medication in the form of tablets or solution
Exclusion Criteria:
- Pregnancy or breast feeding
- Uncontrolled infection
- Known allergy to Sirolimus or its components
- Patients with a documented malignancy on therapy or not in remission
- Patients who do not meet organ function requirements listed in protocol
- Patients with a documented history of severe combined immunodeficiency or human immunodeficiency virus infection (HIV)

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT00392951
United States, Pennsylvania | |
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia | |
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19104 |
Principal Investigator: | David T. Teachey, MD | Children's Hospital of Philadelphia |
Publications of Results:
Other Publications:
Responsible Party: | Children's Hospital of Philadelphia |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT00392951 History of Changes |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
2006-7-4873 |
First Posted: | October 26, 2006 Key Record Dates |
Results First Posted: | December 6, 2017 |
Last Update Posted: | December 6, 2017 |
Last Verified: | November 2017 |
Keywords provided by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia:
ALPS Autoimmune Cytopenias Treatment Sirolimus Rapamycin Lymph Nodes |
Spleen Hemolytic Anemia Immune Thrombocytopenia Neutropenia ITP Lupus |
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome Syndrome Arthritis, Rheumatoid Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Neutropenia Purpura Purpura, Thrombocytopenic Hemolysis Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic Pancytopenia Anemia, Hemolytic Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune Disease Pathologic Processes |
Arthritis Joint Diseases Musculoskeletal Diseases Rheumatic Diseases Connective Tissue Diseases Autoimmune Diseases Immune System Diseases Gastroenteritis Gastrointestinal Diseases Digestive System Diseases Intestinal Diseases Agranulocytosis Leukopenia Leukocyte Disorders Hematologic Diseases |