Cerebral PalsyPhase 2NCT01147653
A Randomized Study of Autologous Umbilical Cord Blood Reinfusion in Children With Cerebral Palsy
A Phase 2 study testing Autologous UCB Reinfusion in people with Cerebral Palsy and CP, run by Joanne Kurtzberg, MD at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy of a single intravenous infusion of autologous umbilical cord blood (UCB) for the treatment of pediatric patients with spastic cerebral palsy. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 12 months to 6 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Cerebral Palsy, CP, Spastic Cerebral Palsy
- What is being tested?
- Autologous UCB Reinfusion
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 63 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- Jun 2010to Mar 2016
- 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 12 months to 6 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child
Who may be able to join
- Age ≥ 12 months and ≤ 6 years
- Diagnosis: Spastic cerebral palsy with diplegia, hemiplegia, or quadraplegia.
- Performance status:
- Gross Motor Function (GMF) Classification Score levels II - IV or GMF Score leve I, age >/= 2 years Spastic hemiplegia: GMF Score II-IV or minimal functional capabilities in the affected upper extremity. A subject classified as GMFCS level I with significant upper extremity impairment will be eligible if the affected upper extremity is used as an assist only. An eligibility committee will meet to review the child's records and determine eligibility.
- Bilateral hypotonic CP (diplegia or quadriplegia): GMF Score II-IV and an abnormal brain MRI suggestive of an acquired etiology (versus a genetic etiology or brain malformation).
- Autologous umbilical cord blood available at a private or public cord blood bank with a minimum total nucleated cell dose of ≥ 1 x 107 cells/kilogram.
- Parental consent.
Who cannot join
- Athetoid cerebral palsy.
- Autism and autistic spectrum disorders without motor disability.
- Hypsarrhythmia.
- Intractable seizures causing epileptic encephalopathy.
- Evidence of a progressive neurologic disease.
- Known HIV or uncontrolled bacterial, fungal, or viral infections.
Show all 20Show fewer
- Impaired renal or liver function as determined by serum creatinine >1.5mg/dL and/or total bilirubin >1.3mg/dL.
- Head circumference >3 standard deviations below the mean for age.
- Known genetic disease or phenotypic evidence of a genetic disease on physical examination.
- Concurrent genetic or acquired disease or comorbidity(ies) that could require a future allogeneic stem cell transplant.
- Requires ventilatory support, including home ventilator, CPAP, BiPAP, or supplemental oxygen.
- Patient's medical condition does not permit safe travel.
- Previously received any form of cellular therapy.
- Autologous umbilical cord blood unit has any of the following:
- Total nuclear cell dose < 1 x 107 cells/kilogram
- Positive maternal infectious disease markers (except CMV)
- Evidence of infectious contamination of the cord blood unit
- Lack of a test sample to confirm identity
- Evidence of a genetic disease
- Unable to obtain parental consent.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
Duke University Medical Center
Durham, North Carolina, 27705
About this study
Official title: Is Autologous Umbilical Cord Blood Reinfusion Beneficial in Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Randomized, Blinded, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study
The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy of a single intravenous infusion of autologous umbilical cord blood (UCB) for the treatment of pediatric patients with spastic cerebral palsy.
Read the detailed description
Cerebral palsy results from in utero or perinatal injury to the developing brain, often through stroke, hypoxic insult or hemorrhage. Currently available treatments for patients with cerebral palsy are supportive, but not curative. Umbilical cord blood (UCB) has been shown to lessen the clinical and radiographic impact of hypoxic brain injury and stroke in animal models. UCB also engrafts and differentiates in brain, facilitating neural cell repair, in animal models and human patients with inborn errors of metabolism undergoing allogeneic, unrelated donor UCB transplantation. We hypothesize that, in the setting of brain injury, infusion of autologous UCB will facilitate neural cell repair resulting in improved function in pediatric patients with cerebral palsy.
- Conditions
- Cerebral Palsy, CP, Spastic Cerebral Palsy
- Being tested
- Autologous UCB Reinfusion, Placebo
- Keywords
- Cerebral Palsy, CP, Spastic Cerebral Palsy, Cord Blood, Umbilical Cord Blood, Autologous Cord Blood
- Medical subject headings
- Cerebral Palsy
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Autologous UCB ReinfusionBiological
Autologous umbilical cord blood (UCB) reinfusion
PlaceboOther
Placebo
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Autologous UCB Reinfusion First,Then Placebo | Active comparator | Subjects receive their autologous umbilical cord blood cells at Baseline, than placebo at Year 1. Receives: Biological: Autologous UCB Reinfusion; Other: Placebo |
| Placebo First, Then Autologous UCB Reinfusion | Placebo comparator | Subjects receive placebo at Baseline, then autologous umbilical cord blood cell reinfusion at Year 1. Receives: Biological: Autologous UCB Reinfusion; Other: Placebo |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in Gross Motor Function Measure 66 (GMFM-66) Score
Change in Gross Motor Function Measure 66 (GMFM-66) Score from Baseline to Year 1. The GMFM-66 is a clinical tool used to evaluate gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy and is scored using a propriety software program called the Gross Motor Ability Estimator (GMAE) that produces an interval level continuous score ranging from 0 to 100. Higher scores indicate better motor function. A negative change in GMFM-66 score indicates a reduction in motor function, a positive change indicates improvement in motor function, and zero indicates no change in motor function.
Measured: Baseline to Year 1
Secondary outcomes (24)
Change in Peabody Gross Motor Quotient From Baseline to Year 1
The Peabody Developmental Motor Scales - Second Edition (PDMS-2) measures gross and fine motor skills in children from birth through five years of age. The Gross Motor Quotient score from the PDMS-2 was used in this study to evaluate gross motor function. The Gross Motor Quotient measures the ability to use large muscle systems for locomotion, maintain a stable posture when not moving, and throw/catch objects. The range of possible scores is 41 to 164. High scores indicate better gross motor function. Lower scores indicate less gross motor function ability. The change in Gross Motor Quotient from Baseline to Year 1 was evaluated in this study. Positive numbers indicate an increase in gross motor ability, negative numbers indicate decreases in gross motor function, and a zero indicates no change.
Measured: Baseline to Year 1
Change in IT-QOL Questionnaire Score
The Infant and Toddler Quality of Life Questionnaire (IT-QOL) was utilized for children ages one to three years at study entry.This 97-item questionnaire is completed by the parents and covers 12 concepts related to the physical, mental, and social well being of the child and the impact of their illness on the family. Scores range from 0 (worst health) to 100 (best health). The change from Baseline to Year 1 is summarized here for each of the 12 items on the questionnaire. Negative values indicate a decline in quality of life over time, positive values indicate an improvement, and zero indicates no change.
Measured: Baseline to Year 1
Change in CP-QOL Score
Children age four years or older at study entry were assessed using the disease-specific "CP-QOL Child" assessment tool as completed by a parent. The CP-QOL Child primary-caregiver proxy form is designed for children 4 - 12 with cerebral palsy and contains 66 items which assess physical, emotional, and social well being as well as access to services and acceptance by others. Scores are summarized in seven topic areas. Scores in each area range from 0 (worst health) to 100 (best health). The change score from Baseline to Year 1 is summarized here for each item. Negative scores indicated a decrease in quality of life, positive scores indicate an increase and zero indicates no change.
Measured: Baseline, Year 1
Change in Whole Brain Connectivity Measured by Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Change in number of connections in the brain as measured by diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Changes in connectivity are normalized to white matter volume of the brain. A positive number indicates an increase in connections, a negative number indicates a decrease, and zero indicates no change. The number of connections is expressed in terms of 10e5. For example, a change of 1 indicates an increase of 1x10e5 or 100,000 connections.
Measured: Baseline to Year 1
Change in Loes Score of Functional MRI From Baseline to Year 1 and From Year 1 to Year 2
No data were collected from this procedure because enrolled subjects who were eligible to receive fMRI were unable to comply with the procedure.
Measured: Baseline, Year 1, Year 2
Change in Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-III, Cognitive Composite From Baseline to Year 1
Cognitive function was assessed in English-speaking study participants using one of three different tools depending on the age of the patient at the time of assessment: The Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (Bayley-III), the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-IV), and the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI-III). Some patients were assessed with different tools at subsequent visits as they aged during the conduct of the trial. The Bayley-III is designed to assess developmental functioning of infants and toddlers. Scores for the Cognitive Composite range from 1 to 19 and results in the range of 8 to 12 are considered average. The outcome measure reported here is the change in Cognitive Composite between Baseline to Year 1. Positive numbers indicate increases in cognitive functioning, negative numbers indicate a decrease, and zero indicates no change.
Measured: Baseline to Year 1
Change in Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI) III Full Scale Intelligence Quotient (IQ) for Younger Children (Ages 2 Years & 6 Months to 3 Years & 11 Months) From Baseline to Year 1.
Cognitive function was assessed in English-speaking study participants using one of three different tools depending on the age of the patient at the time of assessment: The Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (Bayley-III), the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-IV), and the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI-III). Some patients were assessed with different tools at subsequent visits as they aged during the conduct of the trial. There are two versions of the WPPSI-III for two different age ranges: 2 years \& 6 months to 3 years \& 11 months, and 4 years to 7 years \& 3 months. The Full Scale IQ is calculated for both age ranges and provides a continuous score with an average of 100 and a standard deviation of 15. Change from Baseline to Year 1 was evaluated, with positive numbers indicating an increase in cognitive ability, negative numbers indicating a decrease in cognitive ability, and zero indicating no change.
Measured: Baseline to Year 1
Change in the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-IV) From Baseline to Year 1.
Cognitive function was assessed in English-speaking study participants using one of three different tools depending on the age of the patient at the time of assessment: The Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (Bayley-III), the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-IV), and the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI-III). Some patients were assessed with different tools at subsequent visits as they aged during the conduct of the trial. The WISC-IV is designed for children 6 years 0 months to 16 years 11 months. This study used the Full Scale IQ, which ranges from 45 to 155 with a mean of 100 and standard deviation of 15. Higher scores indicate stronger cognitive function. Scores between 90 and 110 are considered to be within the range of average IQ.
Measured: Baseline to Year 1
Change in Cognitive Z-Score From Baseline to Year 1
Because patients in this study were evaluated with different cognitive assessments based on their age at the time of assessment (The Bayley-III Cognitive Composite, the WPSSI-III Full Scale IQ, and the WISC-IV Full Scale IQ Composite), with some patients being assessed using different tools at subsequent visits during the trial, a method for combining the assessments was employed to evaluate change in cognitive function over time in as many patients as possible. A cognitive Z-score was calculated for each participant at Baseline and Year 1 by adjusting each score by the relevant assessments' population mean and standard deviation. The Z-scores represent the distance from the population mean, as measured by standard deviations. The analysis presented here summarizes the change in Z-score between Baseline and Year 1. A positive number indicates an increase in cognitive function, a negative number indicates a decrease, and zero indicates no change.
Measured: Baseline to Year 1
Change in Assisting Hand Assessment (AHA) Score From Baseline to Year 1
The Assisting Hand Assessment (AHA) measures the use of hemiplegic cerebral palsy patients' involved hand in tasks involving two hands. The test is valid for ages 18 months to 12 years. The score is an interval scale ranging from 22 to 88 with higher numbers indicating more effective use of the affected hand in performance of bimanual tasks. Change in this score was evaluate between Baseline and Year 1. Positive numbers indicate more effective use of the affected hand, negative numbers indicate a reduction in the effective use of the affected hand, and a zero indicates no change.
Measured: Baseline to Year 1
Change in Pediatric Evaluation of Disability (PEDI) Self Care Score
The Pediatric Evaluation of Disability is used to evaluate functional skills in children aged 6 months to 7 years in three areas: Self Care, Mobility, and Social Function. The score in each area can range from 10-90. Higher scores indicate higher function. The change from Baseline to Year 1 in the Self Care score is presented here. Positive scores indicate increased function, negative scores indicate a decrease, and zero indicates no change.
Measured: Baseline to Year 1
Change in Pediatric Evaluation of Disability (PEDI) Mobility Score
The Pediatric Evaluation of Disability is used to evaluate functional skills in children aged 6 months to 7 years in three areas: Self Care, Mobility, and Social Function. The score in each area can range from 10-90. Higher scores indicate higher function. The change from Baseline to Year 1 in the Mobility score is presented here. Positive scores indicate increased function, negative scores indicate a decrease, and zero indicates no change.
Measured: Baseline to Year 1
Change in Pediatric Evaluation of Disability (PEDI) Social Function Score
The Pediatric Evaluation of Disability is used to evaluate functional skills in children aged 6 months to 7 years in three areas: Self Care, Mobility, and Social Function. The score in each area can range from 10-90. Higher scores indicate higher function. The change from Baseline to Year 1 in the Social Function score is presented here. Positive scores indicate increased function, negative scores indicate a decrease, and zero indicates no change.
Measured: Baseline to Year 1
Change in Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) Z-score Internalizing Problems From Baseline to Year 1
Two versions of the CBCL exist for children ages 1.5 to 5 years and ages 6-18 years. The CBCL evaluates internalizing and externalizing behaviors and total problems using 99-item assessments that are scored on an ordinal scale as 0 for "not true of the child," 1 for "somewhat or sometimes true of the child," and 2 for "very true or often true of the child" based on behavior in the preceding two months. Scores are expressed on a standard normal distribution with mean 50 and standard deviation 10. Z scores were created for analysis. A Z-score represents the distance from the population mean in terms of the number of standard deviations. The change in Z-score from Baseline to Year 1 was calculated for each patient. A positive number indicates an increase in the behavior, a negative number indicates a decrease in the behavior, and a zero indicates no change.
Measured: Baseline to Year 1
Change in Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) Z-score Externalizing Problems From Baseline to Year 1
Two versions of the CBCL exist for children ages 1.5 to 5 years and ages 6-18 years. The CBCL evaluates internalizing and externalizing behaviors and total problems using 99-item assessments that are scored on an ordinal scale as 0 for "not true of the child," 1 for "somewhat or sometimes true of the child," and 2 for "very true or often true of the child" based on behavior in the preceding two months. Scores are expressed on a standard normal distribution with mean 50 and standard deviation 10. Z scores were created for analysis. A Z-score represents the distance from the population mean in terms of the number of standard deviations. The change in Z-score from Baseline to Year 1 was calculated for each patient. A positive number indicates an increase in the behavior, a negative number indicates a decrease in the behavior, and a zero indicates no change.
Measured: Baseline to Year 1
Change in Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) Z-score Total Problems From Baseline to Year 1
Two versions of the CBCL exist for children ages 1.5 to 5 years and ages 6-18 years. The CBCL evaluates internalizing and externalizing behaviors and total problems using 99-item assessments that are scored on an ordinal scale as 0 for "not true of the child," 1 for "somewhat or sometimes true of the child," and 2 for "very true or often true of the child" based on behavior in the preceding two months. Scores are expressed on a standard normal distribution with mean 50 and standard deviation 10. Z scores were created for analysis. A Z-score represents the distance from the population mean in terms of the number of standard deviations. The change in Z-score from Baseline to Year 1 was calculated for each patient. A positive number indicates an increase in the behavior, a negative number indicates a decrease in the behavior, and a zero indicates no change.
Measured: Baseline to Year 1
Change in Parental Distress From Baseline to Year 1
Parent stress was evaluated with the Parenting Stress Index - Short Form for children aged 0-12 years, which measures stress in three domains: Parental Distress, Parent-Child Dysfunctional Interaction, and Difficult Child. Results in each domain are expressed as percentiles. Scores from the 15th-80th percentile are considered to be within the normal range.
Scores at or above the 85th percentile considered high distress. Scores greater than the 89th percentile indicate clinically significant levels of distress. Analysis focused on changes in percentile scores between Baseline and Year 1. Positive numbers represent an increase in distress, negative numbers represent a decrease in distress, and zero indicates no change.
Measured: Baseline to Year 1
Change in Parent-Child Dysfunctional Interaction From Baseline to Year 1
Parent stress was evaluated with the Parenting Stress Index - Short Form for children aged 0-12 years, which measures stress in three domains: Parental Distress, Parent-Child Dysfunctional Interaction, and Difficult Child. Results in each domain are expressed as percentiles. Scores from the 15th-80th percentile are considered to be within the normal range. Scores at or above the 85th percentile considered high distress. Scores greater than the 89th percentile indicate clinically significant levels of distress. Analysis focused on changes in percentile scores between Baseline and Year 1. Positive numbers represent an increase in distress, negative numbers represent a decrease in distress, and zero indicates no change.
Measured: Baseline to Year 1
Change in Difficult Child Score From Baseline to Year 1
Parent stress was evaluated with the Parenting Stress Index - Short Form for children aged 0-12 years, which measures stress in three domains: Parental Distress, Parent-Child Dysfunctional Interaction, and Difficult Child. Results in each domain are expressed as percentiles. Scores from the 15th-80th percentile are considered to be within the normal range. Scores at or above the 85th percentile considered high distress. Scores greater than the 89th percentile indicate clinically significant levels of distress. Analysis focused on changes in percentile scores between Baseline and Year 1. Positive numbers represent an increase in distress, negative numbers represent a decrease in distress, and zero indicates no change.
Measured: Baseline to Year 1
Modified Ashworth Scale at Baseline
The Modified Ashworth Scale uses a 6 point scale (range 0, 1, 1+, 2, 3, or 4) to measure spasticity in 5 body regions (central, right upper extremity, left upper extremity, right lower extremity, and left lower extremity). Scores of 0 indicate no increase in muscle tone whereas a score of 4 indicates rigidity in flexion or extension.
Measured: Baseline
Modified Ashworth Scale at Year 1
The Modified Ashworth Scale uses a 6 point scale (range 0, 1, 1+, 2, 3, or 4) to measure spasticity in 5 body regions (central, right upper extremity, left upper extremity, right lower extremity, and left lower extremity). Scores of 0 indicate no increase in muscle tone whereas a score of 4 indicates rigidity in flexion or extension.
Measured: Year 1
Change in Bruininks-Oseretsky-2 Total Motor Composite From Baseline to Year 1
The Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, Second Edition, (BOT-2) evaluates motor function in four areas: stability, mobility, strength, coordination, and object manipulation. A Total Motor Composite is then calculated and expressed on a normal distribution with mean 50 and standard deviation of 10. Higher scores indicate better motor function. The BOT-2 Total Motor Composite was used to measure motor function in children at age 6 in this study. The study intended to evaluate change in the BOT-2 Total Motor Composite from Baseline to Year 1, where positive change indicates improvement in motor function, negative change indicates decrease in motor function, and zero indicates no change.
Measured: Baseline to Year 1
Parent Experience of Child Illness (PECI)
The PECI is a 25-item measure designed to examine parental adjustment related to caring for a chronically ill child.
Measured: Baseline to Year 1
Correlation Between Clinical Response and RNA Expression of Neural, Endothelial and Inflammatory Cytokines Measured by RNA Arrays in Cord Blood Cells Given to These Patients.
Various pre-selected neural, angiogenic, and anti-inflammatory markers expressed by UCB cells and clinical response will be evaluated.
Measured: 2 years
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted22 Jun 2010 (estimated)
- Study startJun 2010
- Primary completionMar 2016
- Study completionMar 2016
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Cerebral PalsyStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
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
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Quadruple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 63 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Joanne Kurtzberg, MD
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- The Robertson Foundation
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Joanne Kurtzberg, MD, Duke University
- Investigators
- Joanne Kurtzberg, MD, Principal investigator, Duke University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT01147653
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- Pro00017801
- Status last verified
- Dec 2022
- First submitted
- 17 Jun 2010
- Last updated
- 6 May 2026
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
- Data monitoring committee
- No
Publications
Sun JM, Song AW, Case LE, Mikati MA, Gustafson KE, Simmons R, Goldstein R, Petry J, McLaughlin C, Waters-Pick B, Chen LW, Wease S, Blackwell B, Worley G, Troy J, Kurtzberg J. Effect of Autologous Cord Blood Infusion on Motor Function and Brain Connectivity in Young Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Stem Cells Transl Med. 2017 Dec;6(12):2071-2078. doi: 10.1002/sctm.17-0102. Epub 2017 Oct 28.
PubMed 29080265
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 6 May 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Is Autologous Umbilical Cord Blood Reinfusion Beneficial in Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Randomized, Blinded, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT01147653
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- Pro00017801
- Conditions
- Cerebral Palsy, CP, Spastic Cerebral Palsy
- Keywords
- Cerebral Palsy, CP, Spastic Cerebral Palsy, Cord Blood, Umbilical Cord Blood, Autologous Cord Blood
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 63 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Joanne Kurtzberg, MDUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- The Robertson Foundation
- Study start
- Jun 2010
- Primary completion
- Mar 2016 (actual)
- Study completion
- Mar 2016 (actual)
- First posted
- 22 Jun 2010 (estimated)
- Results
- Posted 12 Jun 2017
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy of a single intravenous infusion of autologous umbilical cord blood (UCB) for the treatment of pediatric patients with spastic cerebral palsy.
Detailed description
Cerebral palsy results from in utero or perinatal injury to the developing brain, often through stroke, hypoxic insult or hemorrhage. Currently available treatments for patients with cerebral palsy are supportive, but not curative. Umbilical cord blood (UCB) has been shown to lessen the clinical and radiographic impact of hypoxic brain injury and stroke in animal models. UCB also engrafts and differentiates in brain, facilitating neural cell repair, in animal models and human patients with inborn errors of metabolism undergoing allogeneic, unrelated donor UCB transplantation. We hypothesize that, in the setting of brain injury, infusion of autologous UCB will facilitate neural cell repair resulting in improved function in pediatric patients with cerebral palsy.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Quadruple blind (participant, care provider, investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Autologous UCB Reinfusion First,Then Placebo | Active comparator | Biological: Autologous UCB Reinfusion, Other: PlaceboSubjects receive their autologous umbilical cord blood cells at Baseline, than placebo at Year 1. |
| Placebo First, Then Autologous UCB Reinfusion | Placebo comparator | Biological: Autologous UCB Reinfusion, Other: PlaceboSubjects receive placebo at Baseline, then autologous umbilical cord blood cell reinfusion at Year 1. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 12 months to 6 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Key inclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Age ≥ 12 months and ≤ 6 years
- Diagnosis: Spastic cerebral palsy with diplegia, hemiplegia, or quadraplegia.
- Performance status:
- Gross Motor Function (GMF) Classification Score levels II - IV or GMF Score leve I, age >/= 2 years Spastic hemiplegia: GMF Score II-IV or minimal functional capabilities in the affected upper extremity. A subject classified as GMFCS level I with significant upper extremity impairment will be eligible if the affected upper extremity is used as an assist only. An eligibility committee will meet to review the child's records and determine eligibility.
- Bilateral hypotonic CP (diplegia or quadriplegia): GMF Score II-IV and an abnormal brain MRI suggestive of an acquired etiology (versus a genetic etiology or brain malformation).
Key exclusion criteria (20 listed)
- Athetoid cerebral palsy.
- Autism and autistic spectrum disorders without motor disability.
- Hypsarrhythmia.
- Intractable seizures causing epileptic encephalopathy.
- Evidence of a progressive neurologic disease.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Autologous UCB ReinfusionAutologous umbilical cord blood (UCB) reinfusion | Biological | Autologous UCB Reinfusion First,Then Placebo, Placebo First, Then Autologous UCB Reinfusion |
| PlaceboPlacebo | Other | Autologous UCB Reinfusion First,Then Placebo, Placebo First, Then Autologous UCB Reinfusion |
Primary outcome
Change in Gross Motor Function Measure 66 (GMFM-66) Score
Time frame: Baseline to Year 1
Change in Gross Motor Function Measure 66 (GMFM-66) Score from Baseline to Year 1. The GMFM-66 is a clinical tool used to evaluate gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy and is scored using a propriety software program called the Gross Motor Ability Estimator (GMAE) that produces an interval level continuous score ranging from 0 to 100. Higher scores indicate better motor function. A negative change in GMFM-66 score indicates a reduction in motor function, a positive change indicates improvement in motor function, and zero indicates no change in motor function.
24 secondary outcomes
Change in Peabody Gross Motor Quotient From Baseline to Year 1
Time frame: Baseline to Year 1
Change in IT-QOL Questionnaire Score
Time frame: Baseline to Year 1
Change in CP-QOL Score
Time frame: Baseline, Year 1
Change in Whole Brain Connectivity Measured by Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Time frame: Baseline to Year 1
Change in Loes Score of Functional MRI From Baseline to Year 1 and From Year 1 to Year 2
Time frame: Baseline, Year 1, Year 2
Change in Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-III, Cognitive Composite From Baseline to Year 1
Time frame: Baseline to Year 1
Change in Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI) III Full Scale Intelligence Quotient (IQ) for Younger Children (Ages 2 Years & 6 Months to 3 Years & 11 Months) From Baseline to Year 1.
Time frame: Baseline to Year 1
Change in the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-IV) From Baseline to Year 1.
Time frame: Baseline to Year 1
Change in Cognitive Z-Score From Baseline to Year 1
Time frame: Baseline to Year 1
Change in Assisting Hand Assessment (AHA) Score From Baseline to Year 1
Time frame: Baseline to Year 1
Change in Pediatric Evaluation of Disability (PEDI) Self Care Score
Time frame: Baseline to Year 1
Change in Pediatric Evaluation of Disability (PEDI) Mobility Score
Time frame: Baseline to Year 1
Change in Pediatric Evaluation of Disability (PEDI) Social Function Score
Time frame: Baseline to Year 1
Change in Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) Z-score Internalizing Problems From Baseline to Year 1
Time frame: Baseline to Year 1
Change in Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) Z-score Externalizing Problems From Baseline to Year 1
Time frame: Baseline to Year 1
Change in Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) Z-score Total Problems From Baseline to Year 1
Time frame: Baseline to Year 1
Change in Parental Distress From Baseline to Year 1
Time frame: Baseline to Year 1
Change in Parent-Child Dysfunctional Interaction From Baseline to Year 1
Time frame: Baseline to Year 1
Change in Difficult Child Score From Baseline to Year 1
Time frame: Baseline to Year 1
Modified Ashworth Scale at Baseline
Time frame: Baseline
Modified Ashworth Scale at Year 1
Time frame: Year 1
Change in Bruininks-Oseretsky-2 Total Motor Composite From Baseline to Year 1
Time frame: Baseline to Year 1
Parent Experience of Child Illness (PECI)
Time frame: Baseline to Year 1
Correlation Between Clinical Response and RNA Expression of Neural, Endothelial and Inflammatory Cytokines Measured by RNA Arrays in Cord Blood Cells Given to These Patients.
Time frame: 2 years
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 6 May 2026.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 29080265Sun JM, Song AW, Case LE, Mikati MA, Gustafson KE, Simmons R, Goldstein R, Petry J, McLaughlin C, Waters-Pick B, Chen LW, Wease S, Blackwell B, Worley G, Troy J, Kurtzberg J. Effect of Autologous Cord Blood Infusion on Motor Function and Brain Connectivity in Young Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Stem Cells Transl Med. 2017 Dec;6(12):2071-2078. doi: 10.1002/sctm.17-0102. Epub 2017 Oct 28.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Joanne Kurtzberg, MD principal investigator
Duke University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 2 study testing Autologous UCB Reinfusion in people with Cerebral Palsy and CP, run by Joanne Kurtzberg, MD 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 7 inclusion and 20 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 6 May 2026. 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. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. 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 12 Jun 2017). 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?
Change in Gross Motor Function Measure 66 (GMFM-66) Score (time frame: Baseline to Year 1). 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 NCT01147653, which also lists 1 linked publication.
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 6 May 2026.