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Anemia, AplasticPhase 2NCT00229619

Rituximab to Treat Moderate Aplastic Anemia, Pure Red Cell Aplasia, or Diamond Blackfan Anemia

A Phase 2 study testing Rituximab in people with Anemia, Aplastic and Red-Cell Aplasia, Pure, run by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) 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 whether the immune-suppressing drug rituximab can increase blood counts and reduce the need for transfusions in patients with moderate aplastic anemia, pure red cell aplasia, or Diamond Blackfan anemia. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 2 years and older
What is being tested?
Rituximab
Type of treatment
Injection or infusion
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
11 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
Sep 2005to Jun 2010
Phase
Phase 2
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

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 2 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Child, Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Diagnosis of acquired moderate aplastic anemia defined as aplastic anemia (hypocellular bone marrow) and no evidence for an underlying disease process and depression of at least two out of three blood counts below these values:
  • Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) equal to or less than l200/mm(3)
  • platelet count equal to or less than 70,000/mm(3)
  • anemia with hemoglobin equal to or less than 8.5 g/dl or absolute reticulocyte count equal to or less than 60,000/mm(3) in transfusion-dependent patients but not fulfilling the criteria for severe disease defined by bone marrow cellularity less than 30% (excluding lymphocytes) and depression of at least two of the three peripheral counts:
  • ANC equal to or less than 500/ul
  • platelet count equal to or less than 20,000/ul
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  • reticulocyte count less than 60,000/ul
  • Or
  • Diagnosis of pure red cell aplasia or Diamond Blackfan anemia requiring red blood cell (RBC) transfusions
  • Pure red cell aplasia is defined by
  • anemia,
  • reticulocytopenia (reticulocyte count equal to or less than 50,000/ mm(3))
  • and absent or decreased marrow erythroid precursors
  • Diamond Blackfan anemia is defined by
  • anemia,
  • reticulocytopenia (reticulocyte count equal to or less than 50,000/ mm(3))
  • and absent or decreased marrow erythroid precursors diagnosed at an early age
  • Because this population is prone to dry bone marrow aspirates, subjects from whom sufficient bone marrow cannot be collected for the evaluation of cellularity will not be excluded provided they meet all other inclusion criteria based on peripheral blood counts.
  • Pure Red cell Aplasia and Diamond Blackfan patients must be age greater than or equal to 2 years old and weight greater than 12 kg; Moderate Aplastic anemia patients must be age greater than or equal to 18.
  • Refractory to at least 1 course of immunosuppressive therapy or relapsed disease after prior immunosuppressive therapy (PRCA/DBA patients only).
  • Patients or their parent(s)/responsible guardian(s) must be able to comprehend and be willing to sign an informed consent.

Who cannot join

  • Current diagnosis of Fanconi's anemia or other congenital bone marrow failure syndromes except for DBA
  • History of a cytogenetic abnormality indicating myelodysplasia (MDS)
  • Active infection not adequately responding to appropriate therapy
  • HIV positivity
  • Positive anti- hepatitis B core antibody (antiHBc) or HBsAG
  • History of clinically significant arrhythmia
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  • Known anaphylaxis or immunoglobulin E (IgE) mediated hypersensitivity to murine proteins or to any component of this product.
  • Moribund status or concurrent hepatic, renal, cardiac, neurologic, pulmonary, infectious, or metabolic disease of such severity that it would preclude the patient's ability to tolerate protocol therapy, or that death within the next month is likely
  • Potential subjects with cancer who are on active chemotherapeutic treatment or who take drugs with hematological effects will not be eligible.
  • History of recent or ongoing B19 parvovirus infection
  • Psychiatric, affective, or other disorder that may compromise the ability to give informed consent or to cooperate in a research study.
  • Pregnancy or lactation or unwillingness to take contraceptives
  • Participation in any other investigational drug trial or exposure to other investigational agents (other than hematopoietic growth factors) within 30 days of study entry. Use of low dose immunosuppressive agents may continue at the PIs discretion provided that the patient has been taking this drug for at least 3 months.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, 9000 Rockville Pike

    Bethesda, Maryland, 20892

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: A Pilot Study of Recombinant Humanized Anti- Cluster of Differentiation Antigen 20 (Anti-CD20) Antibody (Rituximab) in Patients With Moderate Aplastic Anemia, Pure Red Cell Aplasia, or Diamond Blackfan Anemia

This study will test whether the immune-suppressing drug rituximab can increase blood counts and reduce the need for transfusions in patients with moderate aplastic anemia, pure red cell aplasia, or Diamond Blackfan anemia. These are rare and serious blood disorders in which the immune system turns against bone marrow cells, causing the bone marrow to stop producing red blood cells in patients with pure red cell aplasia and Diamond Blackfan anemia, and red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets in patients with aplastic anemia. Rituximab is a laboratory-made monoclonal antibody that recognizes and destroys white blood cells called lymphocytes that are responsible for destroying bone marrow cells in these diseases. The drug is currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treating patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a disease of white blood cells.

Read the detailed description

This study will test whether the immune-suppressing drug rituximab can increase blood counts and reduce the need for transfusions in patients with moderate aplastic anemia, pure red cell aplasia, or Diamond Blackfan anemia. These are rare and serious blood disorders in which the immune system turns against bone marrow cells, causing the bone marrow to stop producing red blood cells in patients with pure red cell aplasia and Diamond Blackfan anemia, and red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets in patients with aplastic anemia. Rituximab is a laboratory-made monoclonal antibody that recognizes and destroys white blood cells called lymphocytes that are responsible for destroying bone marrow cells in these diseases. The drug is currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treating patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a disease of white blood cells.

Participants receive four doses of rituximab, once a week for 4 weeks through a needle in an arm vein. The infusion rate depends on how well the patient tolerates the drug. The first infusion usually takes 4 to 6 hours and the rest take 3 to 4 hours. The first and fourth infusions are given at NIH; the second and third may be given at NIH or by a patient's referring doctor. Patients who respond to rituximab but then relapse may receive one additional course of four doses. Patients may continue with transfusions and their current medications, including growth factors (e.g., Epogen and Neupogen) while on study, but may have to stop taking immunosuppressive drugs, such as prednisone or cyclosporine. Patients who must start another immunosuppressive medication are taken off rituximab and followed for safety with clinic visits one week and then once a month for 6 months after the first dose of rituximab.

Patients have a blood test once a week while receiving rituximab to evaluate blood counts. After treatment is completed, patients are evaluated once a month until 6 months, then once a year until 3 years to monitor the response to treatment and any drug side effects. Patients are evaluated at NIH for the 3- and 6-month visits and the annual visits. They may be seen at NIH or by their referring doctors for the 1-, 2-, 4- and 5-month visits. A blood test is done at every visit, and a bone marrow aspiration and biopsy are done at the 3-month visit (and when clinically needed to evaluate the effect of rituximab on bone marrow cells).

Being tested
Rituximab
Keywords
rituxan, Immunosuppression, Bone Marrow Failure, Monoclonal Antibody Therapy, Diamond Blackfan Anemia (DBA), T -Cells, B-Cells, Hematopoiesis, Moderate Aplastic Anemia (MAA), Diamond-Blackfan Anemia, DBA, Pure Red Cell Aplasia, PRCA
Medical subject headings
Anemia, Aplastic, Red-Cell Aplasia, Pure, Anemia, Diamond-Blackfan, Bone Marrow Failure Disorders

What participants receive

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

  • RituximabDrug

    Also called Rituxan

    Rituximab (Rituxan) 375mg/m2 intravenous infusion. The infusion will be once every week for a total of 4 doses.

Study groups in NCT00229619
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Rituximab (Rituxan)ExperimentalThis is a non-randomized, off label, pilot study of humanized anti CD20 rituximab (Rituxan®) in patients with moderate aplastic anemia, pure red cell aplasia or Diamond-Blackfan anemia who have either failed to respond to at least one prior course of immunosuppressive therapy (PRCA/DBA patients only)or who have relapsed disease after prior immunosuppressive therapy (PRCA/DBA patients only).
Receives: Drug: Rituximab

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Response to Rituximab

    Rituximab will be given to moderate aplastic anemia (MAA), pure red cell aplasia or Diamond Blackfan anemia subjects. Rituxmiab will be given to evaluate if these bone marrow failure syndrome subjects will have an immune response to the intervention. The subjects will receive 375 mg/ meters squared of rituximab which will be infused intravenously once evey week for a total of 4 doses.

    Primary endpoint will determine immune response by evaluating changes in peripheral blood counts (platelets, absolute neutrophil count, reticulocyte count, hemoglobin) and transfusion requirements at 6 months. The response wil be will be categorized as complete, partial or no response. Subjects will be categorized as complete responders if their blood counts return to normal. Subjects will categorized as partial responders if there is an improvement in 2 or 3 of the depressed baseline blood counts.

    Measured: 6 months

Secondary outcomes (2)
  1. Response Assessment at 3 Months

    Measured: 3 months

  2. Response Rates at 12 Months (After the First Dose of Study Med)

    Measured: 12 months

Timeline

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

  1. First posted29 Sep 2005 (estimated)
  2. Study startSep 2005
  3. Primary completionJun 2010
  4. Study completionJun 2010

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 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
11 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT00229619
Sponsor's protocol ID
050244
Other IDs
05-H-0244
Status last verified
Aug 2018
First submitted
29 Sep 2005
Last updated
18 Sep 2018
Data monitoring committee
Yes

Publications

  • Wang J, Wiley JM, Luddy R, Greenberg J, Feuerstein MA, Bussel JB. Chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura in children: assessment of rituximab treatment. J Pediatr. 2005 Feb;146(2):217-21. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2004.09.004.

    PubMed 15689912
  • Gottenberg JE, Guillevin L, Lambotte O, Combe B, Allanore Y, Cantagrel A, Larroche C, Soubrier M, Bouillet L, Dougados M, Fain O, Farge D, Kyndt X, Lortholary O, Masson C, Moura B, Remy P, Thomas T, Wendling D, Anaya JM, Sibilia J, Mariette X; Club Rheumatismes et Inflammation (CRI). Tolerance and short term efficacy of rituximab in 43 patients with systemic autoimmune diseases. Ann Rheum Dis. 2005 Jun;64(6):913-20. doi: 10.1136/ard.2004.029694. Epub 2004 Nov 18.

    PubMed 15550531
  • Edwards JC, Szczepanski L, Szechinski J, Filipowicz-Sosnowska A, Emery P, Close DR, Stevens RM, Shaw T. Efficacy of B-cell-targeted therapy with rituximab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. N Engl J Med. 2004 Jun 17;350(25):2572-81. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa032534.

    PubMed 15201414

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 2 study testing Rituximab in people with Anemia, Aplastic and Red-Cell Aplasia, Pure, run by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) at 1 site in United States.

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

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 21 inclusion and 13 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 18 Sep 2018. 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 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.

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

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 28 Jul 2014). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

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.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Response to Rituximab (time frame: 6 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT00229619, 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 18 Sep 2018.

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