Modification of Extracorporeal Photopheresis in Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma or Chronic Graft-versus-host Disease
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03109353 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : April 12, 2017
Last Update Posted : January 13, 2023
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Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP), is commonly used for the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) and chronic graft-versus-host disease. ECP (cGVHD) is an immune modulating treatment. White blood cells from the patient are standardized activated by a photosensitizer psoralen (8-MOP) and irradiated with visible ultraviolet light (UV-A). The purpose is to induce programmed cell death (apoptosis). Disadvantage of current treatment is that 8-MOP targets both diseased and normal cells with no selectivity.
The purpose of this study is to improve the current ECP technology using aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and UV light. ECP will be carried out in conventional manner except that 8-MOP will be replaced with ALA. Systemic ALA / UV light is already approved and used in the detection and treatment of disease in humans. The primary objective is to assess its safety and tolerability after single and multiple treatment in patients with CTCL or cGvHD.
Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma, Unspecified Chronic Graft Versus Host Disease in Skin | Drug: ECP with 5-aminolevulinic acid | Phase 1 Phase 2 |
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 7 participants |
Allocation: | N/A |
Intervention Model: | Single Group Assignment |
Masking: | None (Open Label) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | Modification of Extracorporeal Photopheresis Technology With 5-aminolevulinic Acid in Patients With Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma or Chronic Graft-versus-host Disease - A Proof-of-concept Study |
Actual Study Start Date : | September 20, 2017 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | December 31, 2022 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | December 31, 2022 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
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Experimental: ALA-ECP
Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) with 5-aminolevulinic acid replacing psoralen
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Drug: ECP with 5-aminolevulinic acid
extracorporeal photopheresis (ALA-ECP) using 5-aminolevulinic acid instead of psoralen (8-MOP) in a maximum of 10 treatment cycles
Other Name: 5-ALA |
- Treatment safety: Monitored through recordings of ECG, vital signs and safety laboratory measurements including haematology, clinical chemistry and urinalysis. [ Time Frame: up to 1 year ]Monitored through recordings of ECG, vital signs and safety laboratory measurements including haematology, clinical chemistry and urinalysis.
- Main efficacy for CTCL [ Time Frame: up to 1 year ]Response of skin disease and reduction in immunosuppression. Response will be evaluated with study baseline as reference as: complete response, partial response, minimal response, stable disease, progressive disease or maximal response based on set definitions.
- Main efficacy for cGvHD [ Time Frame: up to 1 year ]Response of skin disease and reduction in immunosuppression. Response will be evaluated with study baseline as reference as: complete response, partial response, minimal response, stable disease, progressive disease or maximal response based on set definitions.

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Informed consent
- cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) (Mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome)
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considered to respond inadequately to 8-MOP-ECP therapy. Inadequate response is defined as:
- progressive disease: disease progression from baseline in skin score, blood or lymph nodes after 3-6 months or
- stable disease: No- response after 3-6 months or
- minimal response < 50% (from baseline) reduction of skin scores and/or CD4/CD8 ratio or a loss of peripheral blood clone after 3-6 months.
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(or) chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGvHD) and considered to respond inadequately to 8-MOP-ECP therapy. Chronic GvHD is defined as
- presence of at least 1 clinical sign of cGvHD or
- at least one distinct manifestation confirmed by pertinent biopsy or other relevant tests.
- steroid dependence, intolerance or steroid refractoriness considered to respond inadequately to 8-MOP-ECP therapy with at least monthly intervals.
Inadequate response is defined as:
- progression of cutaneous cGvHD defined as >25% worsening from baseline as measured by the percent change in the total skin score or
- after 3 months had an inadequate response of cutaneous cGvHD as defined by <15% improvement in the total skin score compared with baseline, or a ≤25% reduction in corticosteroid dose.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Photosensitive comorbidities, porphyria or known hypersensitivity to 5-aminolevulinic acid or porphyrins
- Aphakia
- Pregnancy or breast feeding. (A negative urine pregnancy test must be demonstrated in female patients of child-bearing potential at the Screening Visit)
- Ongoing cardiac and pulmonary diseases or ASAT, ALAT, Bilirubin or INR value ≥ 3x upper limit of normal or clinically significant ECG findings
- Polyneuropathy
- Uncontrolled infection or fever
- History of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, absolute neutrophil count <1x10-9 L-, platelet count <20x10-9 L-1
- Body weight below 40 kg
- Investigator considers subject unlikely to comply with study procedures, restrictions and requirements.
- History of any clinically significant disease or disorder which in the opinion of the investigator, may either put the patient at risk because of participation in the study, or influence the result or the patient's ability to participate in the study.

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): NCT03109353
Norway | |
St Olavs Hospital | |
Trondheim, Norway |
Study Director: | Vigleik Jessen, md | St Olavs Hospital, Trondheim Unversity Hospital | |
Study Director: | Torstein Baade Rø, md phd | Norwegian University of Science and Technology |
Responsible Party: | St. Olavs Hospital |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT03109353 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
2016-000872-78 2016-000872-78 ( EudraCT Number ) |
First Posted: | April 12, 2017 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | January 13, 2023 |
Last Verified: | January 2023 |
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement: | |
Plan to Share IPD: | Undecided |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: | No |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: | No |
Photopheresis 5-aminolevulinic acid Extracorporeal Circulation |
Lymphoma Lymphoma, T-Cell Lymphoma, T-Cell, Peripheral Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome Graft vs Host Disease Neoplasms by Histologic Type Neoplasms Lymphoproliferative Disorders Lymphatic Diseases Immunoproliferative Disorders Immune System Diseases |
Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin Organizing Pneumonia Bronchiolitis Obliterans Bronchiolitis Bronchitis Bronchial Diseases Respiratory Tract Diseases Lung Diseases, Obstructive Lung Diseases Aminolevulinic Acid Photosensitizing Agents Dermatologic Agents |