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Study of Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Pediatric Perianal Fistulizing Crohn's Disease

A Phase I Study of Adult Allogeneic Bone Marrow Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Pediatric Perianal Fistulizing Crohn's Disease

Status
Terminated
Phases
Phase 1
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04791878
Enrollment
6
Registered
2021-03-10
Start date
2021-04-01
Completion date
2023-11-01
Last updated
2026-04-16

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

Conditions

Perianal Fistula Due to Crohn's Disease (Disorder)

Keywords

perianal, fistula, pediatric, crohn's disease

Brief summary

This study plans to enroll 10 patients aged 13-17 years of age with refractory perianal fistulizing disease. Patients will be treated by direct injection to the fistula tract(s) with 75 million allogeneic bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells at baseline and again after 3 months if not completely healed.

Detailed description

Crohn's disease (CD), a chronic transmural inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract, continues to increase in incidence for unknown reasons. According to population based studies, at least 26% of patients with CD will develop perianal fistulas in the first two decades following diagnosis, particularly those with colonic and rectal involvement. These patients experience significant morbidity due to pain, persistent drainage, recurrent perianal sepsis, and ongoing need to access medical care resulting in increased costs and impaired quality of life. Onset of Crohn's disease in childhood is associated with even more aggressive perianal fistula development, with fistulas occurring in as many as 20-31% of children within 5-7 years after Crohn's disease diagnosis. Based on national estimates of pediatric Crohn's disease prevalence, this suggests that there are more than 10,000 children with perianal fistulas due to Crohn's disease in the United States. This study plans to enroll 10 patients (aged 13-17 years) with refractory perianal fistulizing disease. The next step in management for these patients would be a mucosal tissue flap, temporary stoma, or proctectomy with permanent ostomy. Patients will be treated by direct injection of 75 million allogeneic bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells at baseline and again after 3 months if not completely healed. Patients will be followed for a total of 12 months post initial injection.

Interventions

DRUGMesenchymal stem cells

Direct injection of 75 million allogeneic bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells at baseline and again after 3 months if not completely healed

Sponsors

Anthony Lembo
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
13 Years to 17 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

1. Males and females aged 13-17 with a diagnosis of Crohn's disease for at least six months duration. 2. Single and Multi-tract Perianal fistula, with or without previous failed surgical repair. 3. Have no contraindications to MR evaluations: e.g. pacemaker or magnetically active metal fragments, claustrophobia 4. Ability to comply with protocol 5. Competent and able to provide written informed consent 6. Concurrent Crohn's-related therapies with stable doses corticosteroids, 5- ASA drugs, immunomodulators, anti-TNF therapy, anti-integrin and anti-interleukin therapies are permitted. 7. Agree to use birth control or abstinence to avoid pregnancy during the study

Exclusion criteria

1. Inability to give informed consent. 2. Clinically significant medical conditions within the six months before administration of MSCs: e.g. myocardial infarction, active angina, congestive heart failure or other conditions that would, in the opinion of the investigators, compromise the safety of the subject. 3. Specific exclusions: 1. Hepatitis B or C 2. HIV 3. Abnormal AST or ALT at screening (defined as \>/+2x ULN) 4. History of colon cancer in the past two years, or treatment for other cancers within the last 6 months. 5. Investigational drug within one month of treatment 6. Pregnant or breast feeding or trying to become pregnant. 7. Presence of a rectovaginal or perineal body fistula 8. Change in Crohn's immunosuppressive regimen within the 2 months prior to enrollment 9. Uncontrolled intestinal Crohn's disease which will require escalation for medical therapy or surgery within 2 months of enrollment 10. Severe anal canal disease that is stenotic and requires dilation 11. Female participant unwilling to agree to use acceptable contraception methods during participation in study

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Treatment related adverse eventsMonth 3Number of participants with treatment related adverse events post-injection of 75 million allogeneic bone marrow derived MSC's for the treatment of perianal fistula(s) in the setting of Crohn's disease as assessed by protocol

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Complete clinical healingMonth 3Number of participants with complete clinical healing post-injection of 75 million allogeneic bone marrow derived MSC's for the treatment of perianal fistula(s) in the setting of Crohn's disease. Complete Healing is defined as: Radiographic Healing: MRI with an absence of a fluid collection \>2 cm in 3 of 3 dimensions, lack of edema, inflammation or sign of active inflammatory response. A remnant scar of a fistula tract may remain Clinical Healing: 100% cessation of drainage on both clinical exam with deep palpation and per patient report and epithelization of the external fistula opening
Partial clinical healingMonth 3Number of participants with partial clinical healing post-injection of 75 million allogeneic bone marrow derived MSC's for the treatment of perianal fistula(s) in the setting of Crohn's disease Partial clinical healing is defined as: Radiographic Healing: MRI with an absence of a fluid collection \>2 cm in 2 of 3 dimensions, lack of edema, inflammation or sign of active inflammatory response. A remnant scar of a fistula tract may remain Clinical healing: Greater than or equal to 50 % cessation of drainage on both clinical exam with deep palpation and per patient report and epithelization of the external fistula opening
Lack of responseMonth 3Number of participants with lack of response post-injection of 75 million allogeneic bone marrow derived MSC's for the treatment of perianal fistula(s) in the setting of Crohn's disease Lack of response is defined as: Radiographic and Clinical healing which does not meet the threshold for Partial Healing
Worsening of diseaseMonth 3Number of participants with worsening of disease post-injection of 75 million allogeneic bone marrow derived MSC's for the treatment of perianal fistula(s) in the setting of Crohn's disease Worsening disease is defined as: Radiographic: MRI with a fluid collection \>2 cm in 2 of 3 dimensions, edema, inflammation or sign of active inflammatory response. An increased number of tracts may be seen, or increased branching from the primary tract, Clinical: Increased drainage per patient report and on clinical exam

Countries

United States

Contacts

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORAmy Lightner, MD

The Cleveland Clinic

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Apr 17, 2026