Skip to content

A Study of Local Administration of Autologous Mesenchymal Stromal Cells in Dysphonic Patients With Vocal Fold Scarring

An Open Phase I/II Study in Patients With Dysphonia and Vocal Fold Scarring to Evaluate Safety, Tolerability and Vocal Function After Surgery With Local Administration of Autologous Mesenchymal Stromal Cells

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 1Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04290182
Enrollment
9
Registered
2020-02-28
Start date
2021-03-01
Completion date
2025-01-01
Last updated
2026-01-27

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

Conditions

Aphonia, Dysphonia, Hoarseness, Vocal Fold Scar

Keywords

Vocal fold scar, MSC, dysphonia

Brief summary

The overall aim of the project is to develop a new method for treatment of untreatable severe hoarseness due to vocal fold scarring by local injection of autologous mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC). At present there is no lasting effective treatment for this condition which results in personal suffering, and often extended sick leave, change of work or unemployement for the patients. Based on the previous results the investigators expect the autologous MSC product KI-MSC-PL-204 to be a new effective treatment without side effects for many patients with severe hoarseness or aphonia due to vocal fold scarring.

Detailed description

The general aim of the project is to develop a treatment for severe hoarseness due to vocal fold (VF) scarring. Vocal fold scarring can be caused by tumor surgery, radiotherapy, severe inflammation or is early acquired (sulcus vocalis with scar) and results in stiff vocal folds with decreased vibratory capacity and severe deterioration or total loss of voice (aphonia). There is no lasting effective treatment. Bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are immunomodulatory, decrease inflammation and improve endogenous healing. After receiving ethical permission the investigators have since 2012 treated 16 patients with manifest vocal fold scarring and severe hoarseness by scar resection and local injection of autologous bone marrow MSC to restore speech. This project was the first in the world to study the effects of MSC treatment of vocal fold scarring in humans. Analysis was made before and up to 12 months post operatively with voice recordings, examination with high speed camera and elasticity measurements of the vocal folds with novel technology. No side effects were found for any patient and for two thirds of the patients with 12 months follow-up the vocal fold function improved and no patient deteriorated. While cell therapy with autologous MSC was classified according to the Tissue Legislation before 2015, it is now regarded as drug treatment. In accordance with this legislation, the MSC production is now full scale GMP. The investigators have recently received permissions from Swedish Medical Product Agency (DNr 5.1-2019-92069) and from the Regional ethic committee (Drn 2019-06160) for an open Phase I/Il study in patients with severe dysphonia and vocal fold scarring to evaluate safety, tolerability and vocal function after surgery with local administration of autologous mesenchymal stromal cell product KI-MSC-PL-204 as an extended study on 15 patients. MSC may in the future be used to treat patients with severe hoarseness due to scarring, as well as other damages in the airways.

Interventions

BIOLOGICALMSC-KI-PL-204

Autologous MSC product

Sponsors

Karolinska University Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER
Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research
CollaboratorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Intervention model description

This is a phase I/IIa open, single-arm clinical study evaluating the safety and tolerability as well as the influence on VF function, of local injection of the autologous MSC product KI-MSC-PL-204, in patients suffering from chronic VF dysfunction.

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

* Patients between 18-65 years with VF scarring and severe voice problems, such as permanent severe hoarseness, complete aphonia or severe voice strain during speech (\>1 year) where other treatments have proven ineffective and no alternative treatment is possible. * No alternative treatment ongoing or planned (phonosurgery with augmentation implantation, voice therapy or other medical treatment).

Exclusion criteria

* Active treatment of laryngeal disorder, inflammatory condition of the larynx, or laryngeal/VF papilloma. * Diagnosed or suspicion of local malignancy or other malignancies, Disease-free period of \>5 years after malignant disease (\>10 years for local laryngeal cancer). * Smokers. * Large scar defects. * Pregnant or nursing (lactating) women. * Serological evidence of infection with HIV, HBV, HCV, HTLV and/or syphilis. * Active ongoing local or systemic infections. * Ongoing immune suppressive treatment.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Safety and tolerability of treatment3 yearNumber of serious adverse events/ adverse events treatment and conseques

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Assessment of VF function by high speed laryngeal/stroboscopy recordingsfrom baseline to 1 year after treatment.Description: Assessment of VF function change from baseline to 1 year after treatment, as evaluated by an expert panel of high speed laryngeal/stroboscopy recordings. (Expert panel catagories: (Improved, unchanged, deteriorated)
Assessment of subjective VHI change (points)changes from baseline to 1 year after treatementAssessment of patient´s subjective VHI (voice handicap index) ratings change (points)
Assessment of Phonation Threshold Pressure changes (cmH2O)changes from baseline to 1 year after treatmentMeasurements of phonation threshold pressure (PTP) changes from baseline to 1 year after treatment
Assessment of perceptual voice analysis changes (points)changes from baseline to 1 year after treatmentEvaluation by an expert panel of perceptual voice parameters, changes from baseline to 1 year after treatment
Assessment of subjective VFI change (points)from baseline to 1 year after treatmentAssessment of Vocal fatigue index (VFI) changes from baseline to 1 year after treatment
Assessment of maximum phonation time change (seconds)from baseline to 1 year after treatmentMeasurements of maximum phonation time change from baseline to 1 year after treatment

Countries

Sweden

Contacts

STUDY_CHAIRPatric Scicluna, Clin Research Manager

Karolinska Trial Alliance

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Apr 21, 2026