Eliminating the Need for Pancreas Biopsy Using Peripheral Blood Cell-free DNA (PancDX)
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04166149 |
Recruitment Status :
Recruiting
First Posted : November 18, 2019
Last Update Posted : February 24, 2022
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment |
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Transplant;Failure,Kidney Transplant; Failure, Pancreas Rejection Acute Renal Rejection Acute Pancreas | Diagnostic Test: dd-cfDNA Blood Test |
+Objective The objective of this prospective observational study is to correlate circulating dd-cfDNA to clinical and sub-clinical acute rejection in pancreas transplant alone (PTA), pancreas after kidney (PAK), and simultaneous pancreas kidney (SPK) allograft recipients. The secondary objective study is to correlate circulating dd-cfDNA to pancreas and kidney function, using Hgb1c, C-peptide and insulin requirement to assess pancreas function, and using serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) to assess kidney function.
The clinical data and specimen collection will also enable future biomarker research.
+Study endpoints Serial dd-cfDNA in individuals over time will be correlated with clinical status and outcomes, such as events of allograft dysfunction or biopsy proven rejection.
The primary endpoints of the study are:
- Clinical T cell as well as antibody mediated acute rejection
- Sub-clinical T cell as well as antibody mediated acute rejection
- Composite of clinical and sub-clinical T cell as well as antibody mediated acute rejection.
The secondary endpoints for the study are:
- eGFR (estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate [mL/min]): will be derived from serum creatinine level, corrected for variables, using the CKD-RPI (Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration) equation.
- Renal allograft injury from BKV (Polyomaviridae polyomavirus) nephritis, CNI (calcineurin inhibitor) toxicity, acute pyelonephritis and recurrent disease confirmed by renal histology.
- Pancreas allograft function derived from hemoglobin A1c, insulin requirement, and serum c-peptide per SOC
- Pancreas allograft injury from pancreatitis (all causes, including gastrointestinal dysmotility or viral).
- Correlate cfDNA levels with presence or absence of delayed graft function (DGF) and subsequent outcomes in a subset of enrolled patients.
Study Type : | Observational |
Estimated Enrollment : | 400 participants |
Observational Model: | Cohort |
Time Perspective: | Prospective |
Official Title: | Non-invasive Blood Test to Diagnose Acute Rejection After Pancreas and Kidney Transplantation: Pancreas and Renal Rejection Diagnosis Using Circulating Donor-derived Cell-free DNA in Peripheral Blood |
Actual Study Start Date : | September 1, 2019 |
Estimated Primary Completion Date : | July 31, 2022 |
Estimated Study Completion Date : | July 31, 2022 |
Group/Cohort | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
University of Maryland
Pancreas and pancreas kidney patients enrolled at University of Maryland. Determine if dd-cfDNA exists in PTA, SPK, and PAK transplant recipient's blood by taking blood specimens at months 1-4, 6, 9, and 12 in the first year post transplant, and quarterly (month 15, 18, 21, 24) in the second year post transplant.
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Diagnostic Test: dd-cfDNA Blood Test
The cfDNA measurement isolated from the peripheral blood contains small amounts from the graft. The blood sample is collected in Cell-Free DNA BCT (blood collection) tubes. These are measured by their difference in SNP (single nucleotide polymorphisms) genotype to determine the ratio of donor to recipient through shotgun sequencing. Higher levels of dd-cfDNA in a patient experiencing rejection is measured as a higher percentage of the total cf-DNA. |
University of Wisconsin
Pancreas and pancreas kidney patients enrolled at University of Wisconsin. Determine if dd-cfDNA exists in PTA, SPK, and PAK transplant recipient's blood by taking blood specimens at months 1-4, 6, 9, and 12 in the first year post transplant, and quarterly (month 15, 18, 21, 24) in the second year post transplant.
|
Diagnostic Test: dd-cfDNA Blood Test
The cfDNA measurement isolated from the peripheral blood contains small amounts from the graft. The blood sample is collected in Cell-Free DNA BCT (blood collection) tubes. These are measured by their difference in SNP (single nucleotide polymorphisms) genotype to determine the ratio of donor to recipient through shotgun sequencing. Higher levels of dd-cfDNA in a patient experiencing rejection is measured as a higher percentage of the total cf-DNA. |
Georgetown University
Pancreas and pancreas kidney patients enrolled at Georgetown University. Determine if dd-cfDNA exists in PTA, SPK, and PAK transplant recipient's blood by taking blood specimens at months 1-4, 6, 9, and 12 in the first year post transplant, and quarterly (month 15, 18, 21, 24) in the second year post transplant.
|
Diagnostic Test: dd-cfDNA Blood Test
The cfDNA measurement isolated from the peripheral blood contains small amounts from the graft. The blood sample is collected in Cell-Free DNA BCT (blood collection) tubes. These are measured by their difference in SNP (single nucleotide polymorphisms) genotype to determine the ratio of donor to recipient through shotgun sequencing. Higher levels of dd-cfDNA in a patient experiencing rejection is measured as a higher percentage of the total cf-DNA. |
- dd-cfDNA correlation to acute rejection [ Time Frame: August 1, 2019 to July 31, 2022 ]
To correlate circulating dd-cfDNA to clinical and sub-clinical acute rejection in PTA, PAK, and SPK allograft recipients.
- Clinical T cell as well as antibody mediated acute rejection.
- Sub-clinical T cell as well as antibody mediated acute rejection.
- Composite of clinical and sub-clinical T cell as well as antibody mediated acute rejection.
- dd-cfDNA correlation to pancreas and kidney function [ Time Frame: August 1, 2019 to July 31, 2022 ]
To correlate circulating dd-cfDNA to pancreas and kidney function, using Hgb1c, C-peptide and insulin requirement to assess pancreas function, and using serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] to assess kidney function.
- eGFR (estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate [mL/min]): will be derived from serum creatinine level, corrected for variables, using the CKD-RPI (Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration) equation.
- Renal allograft injury from BKV (Polyomaviridae polyomavirus) nephritis, CNI (calcineurin inhibitor) toxicity, acute pyelonephritis and recurrent disease confirmed by renal histology.
- Pancreas allograft function derived from hemoglobin A1c, insulin requirement, and serum C-peptide per SOC 4. Pancreas allograft injury from pancreatitis (all causes, including gastrointestinal dysmotility or viral).
Biospecimen Retention: Samples With DNA

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Sampling Method: | Non-Probability Sample |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Adult recipients (Age > 18 years )
- All genders and all racial and ethnic groups
- Pancreas transplant alone (PTA)
- Simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplantation (SPK)
- Pancreas-after-kidney (PAK) 6. Simultaneous pancreas and living donor kidney (SPLK)
7. Primary or re-transplants 8. Ability to come for follow-up and undergo biopsy (Performed in accordance to SOC) 9. Provided consent
Exclusion Criteria:
- Pediatric recipients (Age < 18 years)
- Pregnant women
- Patients undergoing multi-organ transplants not otherwise specified (e.g., pancreas-liver, multi-visceral, or pancreas-heart)
- Patients receiving donor kidney from an identical twin, as part of an SPLK (see above)
- Did not provide consent

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): NCT04166149
Contact: Jonathan S Bromberg, MD | 4103280008 | Jbromberg@som.umaryland.edu | |
Contact: Amanda Bartosic, MBA | 4107061376 | ABartosic@som.umaryland.edu |
United States, District of Columbia | |
Georgetown University | Recruiting |
Washington, District of Columbia, United States, 20007 | |
Contact: Naomi Kalume naomi.kalume@medstar.net | |
Principal Investigator: Matthew Cooper, MD | |
United States, Maryland | |
University of Maryland | Recruiting |
Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21201 | |
Contact: Mariela Pinedo 410-706-1375 mpinedo@som.umaryland.edu | |
United States, Wisconsin | |
UW Health University Hospital | Recruiting |
Madison, Wisconsin, United States, 53792 | |
Contact: Kaelin Grant 608-576-0788 SurgeryResearch@surgery.wisc.edu | |
Principal Investigator: John Odorico |
Responsible Party: | Jonathan Bromberg, Principal Investigator, University of Maryland, Baltimore |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT04166149 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
Panc-DX |
First Posted: | November 18, 2019 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | February 24, 2022 |
Last Verified: | February 2022 |
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement: | |
Plan to Share IPD: | Yes |
Plan Description: | As described in complete protocol. |
Supporting Materials: |
Clinical Study Report (CSR) |
Time Frame: | 2-3 years from study start. |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: | No |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: | Yes |
Product Manufactured in and Exported from the U.S.: | No |
Renal Insufficiency Kidney Diseases Urologic Diseases |