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GlomerulonephritisPhase 1NCT00001676

Cyclophosphamide and Fludarabine to Treat Lupus Nephritis

A Phase 1 study testing SQ Fludarabine in people with Glomerulonephritis and Lupus Nephritis, run by National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) at 1 site in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

This study will test the safety and effectiveness of combination therapy with cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) and fludarabine in treating lupus nephritis (kidney inflammation). This condition, common in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, is caused by abnormal action of immune cells called lymphocytes against the… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Any age
What is being tested?
SQ Fludarabine
How many people
15 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
Jan 1998to Nov 2002
Phase
Phase 1
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages Any age
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Child, Adult, Older adult

Patients must be 18 years of age or older and able to provide informed consent.

Patients must have at least 4 criteria for SLE as defined by the American Rheumatism Association (ARA).

Active glomerulonephritis with:

Renal biopsy within 1 year with class III or class IV active lupus nephritis, AND;

Abnormal urine analysis:

Greater than 10 RBC/hpf and cellular (RBC, WBC or mixed) casts, OR;

Greater than 10 RBC/hpf and proteinuria greater than 2 g/day, OR;

Proteinuria greater than 3.5 g/day.

No patients with severe proliferative lupus nephritis: a. very active renal histology with crescents or necrosis in more than 25% of glomeruli; or b. rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (doubling of serum creatinine in less than or equal to 3 months); or c. severe impairment of renal function Cr greater than 2.5 mg/dL or GFR less than 50 mL/min measured by inulin clearance.

Patient has not had previous immunosuppressive therapy:

Patients must not be receiving azathioprine, cyclosporine, methotrexate. Patients receiving these drugs will be eligible only if these drugs are discontinued and after a waiting period of greater than or equal to 4 weeks;

Patients must not be receiving cyclophosphamide:

Greater than 3 pulses (maximum 1 g/m(2)/pulse) within the last 12 months or since last renal biopsy showing active disease; OR

greater than 6 pulses ever.

Patients must not have had pulse therapy with glucocorticoids or any experimental therapy during the 4 weeks before study entry.

Patients who need at study entry oral corticosteroids in dosages greater than 0.5 mg/kg/day of predisone to control extrarenal disease are not eligible.

Patients with active or chronic infection are not eligible.

Patients who are pregnant, breast-feeding or using inadequate birth control are not eligible.

Patients who have poorly controlled diabetes mellitus or with evidence of end-organ damage are not eligible.

No history of cerebrovascular accident, seizures within the last 5 years or chronic neurologic disease.

No history of malignancy other than squamous cell and/or basal carcinoma of the skin.

No confounding medical illness that in the judgment of investigators would pose added risk for study participants such as:

Unstable coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy or dysrhythmia requiring therapy;

Pulmonary disease (PFTs less 70% of predicted value or DLCO less than 60%), or;

Hematologic disease (Hb less than 8 mg/dL, platelets less than 100,000 micro liters or WBC less than 2,500/micro liters.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)

    Bethesda, Maryland, 20892

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Combination of Cyclophosphamide and Fludarabine for Lupus Nephritis: Tolerance, Toxicity, Efficacy and Effects on B and T Lymphocyte Regeneration

This study will test the safety and effectiveness of combination therapy with cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) and fludarabine in treating lupus nephritis (kidney inflammation). This condition, common in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, is caused by abnormal action of immune cells called lymphocytes against the kidneys. Left untreated, severe cases can result in loss of kidney function. The current treatment of choice-intermittent high doses (pulses) of cyclophosphamide-does not work in all patients and causes infertility in many women. The rate of infertility in men is not known. This study will examine whether fludarabine can safely be given with significantly lower doses of cyclophosphamide, and if this combination controls kidney inflammation.

Patients 18 years of age and older with severe lupus nephritis (called proliferative lupus nephritis) may be eligible for this study. Candidates will have a history and physical examination; blood and urine tests; chest X-ray; electrocardiogram; cancer screening that may include a Pap smear, mammogram, rectal examination, PSA testing, and sigmoidoscopy.

Read more

Participants will be divided into one of the following treatment groups:

Group 1-Patients undergo three treatment cycles of cyclophosphamide, taken by mouth, and fludarabine, injected subcutaneously (under the skin). Patients receive both drugs on day 1 of the cycle, and fludarabine alone on days 2 and 3. This regimen is repeated once every 5 weeks for three cycles.

Group 2-Same as for Group 1, except fludarabine injections are given intravenously (through a vein) for the second treatment cycle. Patients in this group have frequent blood sampling during the first and second treatment cycles to monitor blood levels of the drug. Samples are collected before the first injection is given and at 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 4, 8, 24 and 48 hours after the third injection. A total 12 tablespoons of blood is drawn over a 2-month period.

All patients will have blood drawn once or twice a week during the first two cycles and then less frequently to monitor blood counts. Some patients will have the following additional procedures to test the effects of treatment on lymphocytes:

  1. Blood sample collection
  2. Bone marrow aspiration-The skin over the hip bone is cleaned and a local anesthetic is injected into the outer covering of the bone. Bone marrow is suctioned through the needle into an attached syringe. The procedure is done before treatment begins, at the end of treatment, and 6 months after treatment.
  3. Tonsillar biopsy-The tonsils are numbed with a local anesthetic and 1 to 4 pieces of tissue are removed using special forceps. The procedure is done before treatment begins, at the end of treatment, and 6 months after treatment.
  4. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the abdomen-The patients lies on a table in a narrow cylinder (the MRI scanner) containing a strong magnetic field, which is used to create images of parts of the body in small section views.

Patients will be followed for at least 24 months to monitor late side effects and the response to treatment.

Read the detailed description

Studies at the NIH Clinical Center have shown that intermittent pulse cyclophosphamide therapy is effective for treating patients with severe lupus nephritis, but may result in substantial rates of sustained amenorrhea. Initial studies in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases have also suggested a beneficial effect from the lymphocyte-specific nucleoside analogs chlorodeoxyadenosine and fludarabine. Cyclophosphamide induces DNA cross-links whereas, nucleoside analogs inhibits DNA repair indicating complementary and partially synergistic modes of action. Whether combination of lower doses of cyclophosphamide with nucleoside analogs will increase efficacy while at the same time minimize toxicity from higher-cumulative doses of cyclophosphamide has not been determined. In this phase I/II study, 15 patients with proliferative lupus nephritis will be treated as outpatients with a combination of oral cyclophosphamide (500 mg/m(2)) on day 1 followed by fludarabine (30 mg/m(2)) subcutaneously on days 1, 2 and 3 every month for 3 cycles. The cumulative dose of cyclophosphamide in this regimen is approximately 2.5g as compared to greater than or equal to 30g in the standard NIH cyclophosphamide regimen. In this study the tolerance and toxicity of this combination will be studied. Regeneration of T and B cells following depletion including analysis of antigen-repertoire and function will also be examined. Preliminary efficacy information, including rates and time to renal remission and rates of preservation of renal function, will be analyzed to be used for future controlled studies. Pharmacokinetic analysis will be performed on a subset of patients to determine the bioavailability and pharmacokinetic parameters of subcutaneous fludarabine.

Being tested
SQ Fludarabine
Keywords
Remission, Renal Function, Infection, Germinal Center, Immunoglobulin, Glomerulonephritis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Lupus Nephritis
Medical subject headings
Glomerulonephritis, Lupus Nephritis, Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic, Infections

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • SQ FludarabineDrug

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted4 Nov 1999 (estimated)
  2. Study startJan 1998
  3. Study completionNov 2002

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 1
Primary purpose
Treatment
Enrolment
15 participants
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT00001676
Sponsor's protocol ID
980055
Other IDs
98-AR-0055
Status last verified
Nov 2002
First submitted
3 Nov 1999
Last updated
4 Mar 2008
Results posted
No

Publications

  • Gourley MF, Austin HA 3rd, Scott D, Yarboro CH, Vaughan EM, Muir J, Boumpas DT, Klippel JH, Balow JE, Steinberg AD. Methylprednisolone and cyclophosphamide, alone or in combination, in patients with lupus nephritis. A randomized, controlled trial. Ann Intern Med. 1996 Oct 1;125(7):549-57. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-125-7-199610010-00003.

    PubMed 8815753
  • Boumpas DT, Austin HA 3rd, Vaughan EM, Yarboro CH, Klippel JH, Balow JE. Risk for sustained amenorrhea in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus receiving intermittent pulse cyclophosphamide therapy. Ann Intern Med. 1993 Sep 1;119(5):366-9. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-119-5-199309010-00003.

    PubMed 8338289
  • Boumpas DT, Austin HA 3rd, Vaughn EM, Klippel JH, Steinberg AD, Yarboro CH, Balow JE. Controlled trial of pulse methylprednisolone versus two regimens of pulse cyclophosphamide in severe lupus nephritis. Lancet. 1992 Sep 26;340(8822):741-5. doi: 10.1016/0140-6736(92)92292-n.

    PubMed 1356175

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 1 study testing SQ Fludarabine in people with Glomerulonephritis and Lupus Nephritis, run by National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 4 Mar 2008. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 1 studies test a treatment in a small group of people for the first time or in a new way, mainly to check safety and find the right dose.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT00001676, which also lists 3 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 4 Mar 2008.

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