Skip to content

Calcineurin Inhibitor (CNI)-Free Immunosuppressive Regimen in T1D Patients Receiving Islet Transplantation

A Multi-step Trial Towards Single Donor Islet Transplantation in Type 1 Diabetic Patients, Using Calcineurin Inhibitor-free Immunosuppression

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 1Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01346085
Acronym
ECIT-1
Enrollment
10
Registered
2011-05-02
Start date
2006-10-31
Completion date
2012-06-30
Last updated
2014-05-09

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Type 1 Diabetes

Keywords

islet transplantation, brittle diabetes, type 1 diabetes

Brief summary

Our final objective is to develop an adoptive therapy with tolerogenic donor-specific Tr1 cells in T1D patients undergoing pancreatic islet transplantation (Tx). The achievement of this objective depends by the availability of an immunosuppressive treatment (IS) compatible with the survival, function, and expansion of the transferred Tr1 cells. For this purpose the investigators design a CNI-free single-group, phase 1-2 trial excluding the ATG or anti-CD25 induction therapy after the 1st islet infusion

Detailed description

We designed the clinical trial as a single-arm, phase 1-2 trial conducted in two transplant centers (San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; Cell Isolation and Transplantation Center, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland) which used a common protocol for islet preparation, post-transplantation patient management and data collection. The trial is exploratory in nature and the target enrollment is 10 patients. The recruitment is competitive between the two centers and each patient is to receive at least 10,000 IE/kg. Up to three islet infusions are allowed per patients until insulin independence is reached, provided that partial islet function (i.e., fasting C-peptide ≥0.3 ng/mL) is maintained between infusions. We planned an individual follow-up of 3 years after the last islet infusion. Patients with type 1 diabetes are eligible for this study. Major criteria for inclusion are: age 18-65 years; type 1 diabetes with onset \<40 years of age; insulin treatment of at least 5 years at the time of enrollment; stimulated C-peptide in response to arginine \<0.5 ng/ml; multiple (three or more) daily insulin injections or Continuous Subcutaneous Insulin Infusion; self-blood glucose monitoring ≥3 times/day; high glycemic instability and/or hypoglycemia unawareness; inability to consistently attain a glycated hemoglobin target of \<7.5 % without severe hypoglycemia (defined as an hypoglycemic episode requiring the assistance by another person for its resolution) in the past 36 months despite medical management by a diabetes specialist. Major criteria for exclusion are: HbA1c \>12%; BMI \>30 kg/m2, or insulin requirement \> 0.8 IU/kg/day; poorly controlled hypertension; untreated proliferative diabetic retinopathy; presence or history of macroalbuminuria (\>300mg/g day) or estimated glomerular filtration rate \<60 ml/min/1.73 m2 for females or \<70 ml/min/1.73 m2 for males.

Interventions

DRUGCNI free immunosuppression

Immunosuppression consisted of: (i) pre-Tx rapamycin treatment (0.1 mg/kg/day) for at least 30 days; (ii) induction therapy with ATG (1.5 mg/kg/day for 4 days starting at day -1) and a steroid bolus (methyl-prednisolone 500 mg, day -1) plus low dose steroids (prednisone, 10 mg/day) and interleukin-1 (IL-1) receptor antagonist (100 mg/day) for 2 weeks (with ATG and steroid bolus administered only prior to the 1st islet infusion; (iii) maintenance with rapamycin (0.1 mg/kg/day) plus mycophenolate mofetil (2 g/day).

Sponsors

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
CollaboratorOTHER
Ospedale San Raffaele
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Male and female patients aged 18-65yr * ability to provide written informed consent and comply with the study protocol procedures * clinical history of type 1 diabetes with onset \<40yr of age, on insulin for at least 5yr at the time of enrollment * absent stimulated C-peptide (\<0.5ng/ml) in response to arginine * multiple (three or more) daily insulin injections or insulin pump therapy * self blood glucose monitoring ≥3 times/day, supervised by a specialist physician * high glycemic instability and hypoglycemia unawareness * inability to consistently attain a HbA1c \< 7.5 % target without experiencing severe hypoglycemia (assistance by another person) in the past 36 months despite appropriate medical management.

Exclusion criteria

* HbA1c \>12% * BMI \>30 kg/m2, or insulin requirement of \> 0.8 IU/kg/day; * poorly controlled hypertension; * untreated proliferative diabetic retinopathy; * presence or history of macroalbuminuria (\>300mg/g day) or measured glomerular filtration rate \<60 ml/min/1.73 m2 for females and \<70 ml/min/1.73 m2 for males * for female participants: positive pregnancy test, presently breast-feeding, or unwilling to use effective contraceptive measures for the duration of the study and 3 months after discontinuation * for male participants: intent to procreate during the duration of the study or within 3 months after discontinuation or unwillingness to use effective measures of contraception; * any history of malignancy within the previous 5 years, except for completely resected squamous or basal cell carcinoma of the skin;

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
The Proportion of Insulin Free Patients 3 Years After the Last Islet Infusion3 yearInsulin independence is defined as no need for exogenous insulin, with adequate glycemic control \[i.e., glycated hemoglobin \<7% (normal range 3.5 - 6.0%), fasting glucose levels not exceeding 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L) more than three times per week and 2-hour postprandial levels not exceeding 180 mg/dL (10 mmol/L) more than four times per week\].

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Basal and Stimulated Blood C-peptide Levels in Response to Arginine Challenge Throughout Follow-upup to 3 year
the Reduction in Insulin Requirement Compared to Baselineup to 3 years
Severe Hypoglycemic Events Since Completion of Transplantup to 3 years
Glycated Hemoglobin Levels Throughout Follow-upup to 3 years
Any Adverse Event Throughout Follow-upup to 3 yearsAmong study participants there were no reports of death, post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disease, cancer, or opportunistic infections. There was no evidence of cytomegalovirus disease, infection or serological activation (CMV early antigens negative during the whole follow-up), nor of Epstein-Barr clinical and serological reactivation (all patients were antibodies anti EBV positive before transplant, as per the inclusion criteria).
Insulin Independence With Adequate Glycemic Control Throughout Follow-upup to 3 years

Countries

Italy, Switzerland

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
CNI-free Single-group
CNI free immunosuppression: Immunosuppression consisted of: (i) pre-Tx rapamycin treatment (0.1 mg/kg/day) for at least 30 days; (ii) induction therapy with ATG (1.5 mg/kg/day for 4 days starting at day -1) and a steroid bolus (methyl-prednisolone 500 mg, day -1) plus low dose steroids (prednisone, 10 mg/day) and interleukin-1 (IL-1) receptor antagonist (100 mg/day) for 2 weeks (with ATG and steroid bolus administered only prior to the 1st islet infusion; (iii) maintenance with rapamycin (0.1 mg/kg/day) plus mycophenolate mofetil (2 g/day).
10
Total10

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicCNI-free Single-group
Age, Continuous39.6 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 4.94
Region of Enrollment
Italy
8 participants
Region of Enrollment
Switzerland
2 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
6 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
4 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
— / —
other
Total, other adverse events
10 / 10
serious
Total, serious adverse events
8 / 10

Outcome results

Primary

The Proportion of Insulin Free Patients 3 Years After the Last Islet Infusion

Insulin independence is defined as no need for exogenous insulin, with adequate glycemic control \[i.e., glycated hemoglobin \<7% (normal range 3.5 - 6.0%), fasting glucose levels not exceeding 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L) more than three times per week and 2-hour postprandial levels not exceeding 180 mg/dL (10 mmol/L) more than four times per week\].

Time frame: 3 year

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
CNI-free Single-groupThe Proportion of Insulin Free Patients 3 Years After the Last Islet Infusion4 participants
Secondary

Any Adverse Event Throughout Follow-up

Among study participants there were no reports of death, post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disease, cancer, or opportunistic infections. There was no evidence of cytomegalovirus disease, infection or serological activation (CMV early antigens negative during the whole follow-up), nor of Epstein-Barr clinical and serological reactivation (all patients were antibodies anti EBV positive before transplant, as per the inclusion criteria).

Time frame: up to 3 years

Secondary

Basal and Stimulated Blood C-peptide Levels in Response to Arginine Challenge Throughout Follow-up

Time frame: up to 3 year

Secondary

Glycated Hemoglobin Levels Throughout Follow-up

Time frame: up to 3 years

Secondary

Insulin Independence With Adequate Glycemic Control Throughout Follow-up

Time frame: up to 3 years

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
CNI-free Single-groupInsulin Independence With Adequate Glycemic Control Throughout Follow-up4 participants
Secondary

Severe Hypoglycemic Events Since Completion of Transplant

Time frame: up to 3 years

Secondary

the Reduction in Insulin Requirement Compared to Baseline

Time frame: up to 3 years

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026