The purpose of this study is look at the safety of: * Taking a specific combination of immunosuppressant drugs after liver transplantation * Receiving one of three different doses of donor-alloantigen-reactive regulatory T cells (darTregs) while taking this specific combination of drugs
After liver transplantation, immunosuppressants must be taken every day to prevent the body from injuring the transplanted liver by a process called rejection. People who take these drugs may experience side effects. Studies show that some of body's cells, called T regulatory cells (Tregs), may play a part in accepting the transplanted liver. The investigators are learning about whether scientists can take Tregs from the blood of a liver transplant recipient and teach them to protect the transplanted liver from rejection. In the laboratory, the recipient Tregs are exposed to cells from the liver donor. Research data suggests that giving these "donor reactive" Tregs back to the transplant recipient might allow a liver transplant recipient to take lower doses of immunosuppressants, or perhaps to stop them altogether, without rejecting the liver.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
15
Liver transplantation/Treg-supportive immunosuppression (IS) treatment. Subjects will be given a dose range of 3.0-4.5 mg/kg total, in divided doses of 1.5 mg/kg/day. Subjects who meet eligibility criteria for Thymoglobulin® administration will be given 1.5 mg/kg intravenously (IV) on post-operative day 3, within 72 hours of transplantation. Additional doses of 1.5 mg/kg IV will be administered until CD3 count is \<50/mm\^3 or when the maximal dose of 4.5/mg/kg has been given.
A single dose darTreg infusion (Cohorts 2 - 4) will be received as per protocol.
Liver transplantation/Treg-supportive immunosuppression (IS) treatment. Subjects meeting eligibility criteria for Treg-supportive IS regimen will begin EVR no sooner than 30 days after liver transplantation and no later than 44 days after transplantation; with target trough levels of 6-8 μg/L.EVR target trough levels will be further reduced to 4-6 μg/L 24 - 26 weeks after transplantation.
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, California, United States
Northwestern University
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Mayo Clinic
Rochester, Minnesota, United States
Percent of Participants With Biopsy-Proven Acute and/or Chronic Rejection
Biopsy-proven acute rejection graded as Mild, Moderate or Severe, per 1997 Banff classification. Chronic Rejection graded using Banff 2000 classification. References: 1.) Banff Schema for Grading Liver Allograft Rejection: An International Consensus Document developed by an international panel of experts in liver transplantation pathology, hepatology, and surgery (Hepatology 1997; 25(3): 658-663). 2.) Update of the International Banff Schema for Liver Allograft Rejection: Working Recommendations for the Histopathologic Staging and Reporting of Chronic Rejection (Hepatology 2000; 31(3): 792-799).
Time frame: Transplantation to 40 Weeks Post Transplantation
Percent of Participants With Grade 3 or Higher Infectious Adverse Event(s)
The severity of infectious adverse events (AEs) was classified into grades as follows: * Grade 1 = asymptomatic; clinical or diagnostic observation only; intervention with oral antibiotic, antifungal, or antiviral agent only; no invasive intervention required * Grade 2 = symptomatic; intervention with intravenous antibiotic, antifungal, or antiviral agent; invasive intervention may be required * Grade 3 = any infection associated with hemodynamic compromise requiring pressors; any infection necessitating intensive care unit level of care; any infection necessitating operative intervention; any infection involving the central nervous system; any infection with a positive fungal blood culture; any proven or probable aspergillus infection; any tissue invasive fungal infection; any pneumocystis jiroveci infection * Grade 4 = life-threatening infection * Grade 5 = death resulting from infection
Time frame: Transplantation to 40 Weeks Post Transplantation
Percent of Participants With Grade 3 or Higher Wound Complication(s) Adverse Event(s)
The severity of adverse events (AEs) was classified into grades using the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI-CTCAE) version 4.0 (4/28/2009): * Grade 3 wound complications are defined as "Hernia without evidence of strangulation; fascial disruption/dehiscence; primary wound closure or revision by operative intervention indicated" * Grade 4 complications are defined as "Hernia with evidence of strangulation; major reconstruction flap, grafting, resection, or amputation indicated"
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Liver transplantation/Treg-supportive immunosuppression (IS) treatment. Between 30 and 44 days following transplant: Subjects who are not eliminated by Exclusion Criteria C1 (Protocol Section 14.3.1) will proceed in the study and receive either TAC-based or EVR- based IS, based on eligibility Criteria C2 (Section 4.3.4 ) * TAC-based IS: reduce TAC trough level to 3-8 μg/dL; continue MMF * EVR-based IS: reduce TAC trough level to 3-8 μg/dL; EVR target trough level of 6-8 μg/dL; decrease then discontinue MMF
Liver transplantation/Treg-supportive immunosuppression (IS) treatment. 1000 mg total daily dose. MMF will be initiated within 24 hours of transplantation. MMF must be discontinued as soon as target EVR trough levels have been achieved.
Liver transplantation/Treg-supportive immunosuppression (IS) treatment. Solumedrol 500 mg will be given IV on the day of transplantation. Additional Solumedrol will be prescribed according to site-specific standard of care. Oral prednisone should be initiated once oral medication is tolerated.
Pre-medication for single dose darTreg infusion (Cohorts 2 - 4). 650mg of acetaminophen will be administered intravenously or by mouth 30-60 minutes prior to the darTreg infusion.
Pre-medication for single dose darTreg infusion (Cohorts 2 - 4). 25-50mg of diphenhydramine will be administered intravenously or by mouth 30-60 minutes prior to the darTreg infusion.
Intravenous ganciclovir and/or oral Valcyte will be administered for the prophylaxis of cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) for at least six months after liver transplantation.
Leukapheresis is necessary to ensure collection of adequate numbers of autologous Tregs to support ex vivo expansion of darTregs for infusion after liver transplantation. Participants enrolled in Cohorts 3 and 4 will undergo leukapheresis. Participants enrolled in Cohort 2 will have either whole blood collection or leukapheresis for the purpose of isolating autologous Tregs for later manufacture. If a cohort 2 subject has a hemoglobin level \>/=10.5 gm/dL, he or she will undergo phlebotomy. If the patient has a hemoglobin level \</=10.5 gm/dL and remains eligible for the study, the patient will undergo leukapheresis.
Blood draws are necessary to carefully and frequently evaluate allograft function after liver transplantation and treatment with Treg-supportive IS as well as after darTreg infusion. Peripheral blood samples will be collected and analyzed per protocol throughout subject participation in this study.
Subjects will have a liver biopsy for this study 12-14 weeks after transplantation. For subjects receiving darTregs, a second biopsy will be performed 7-10 days after darTregs infusion.
Inclusion in this trial is in the setting of subjects defined as having end-stage liver disease and listed for primary solitary liver transplant.
Time frame: Transplantation to 40 Weeks Post Transplantation
Percent of Participants With Grade 2 or Higher Hematologic Adverse Events (AEs) of Anemia, Neutropenia, and/or Thrombocytopenia
The severity of adverse events (AEs) was classified into grades using the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI-CTCAE) version 4.0 (4/28/2009): * Grade 1 = mild AE * Grade 2 = moderate AE * Grade 3 = severe and undesirable AE * Grade 4 = life-threatening or disabling AE * Grade 5 = death
Time frame: Transplantation to 40 Weeks Post Transplantation
Percent of Participants With Adverse Events (AEs) Attributable to the Donor Alloantigen Reactive Tregs (darTregs) Infusion
AEs classified by the site investigator/clinician as possibly or definitely related to the study treatment, the Donor Alloantigen Reactive Tregs (darTregs) infusion. These AEs include: * infusion reaction * Grade 3 or higher cytokine release syndrome (Reference: National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI-CTCAE) version 4.0 (4/28/2009) grading criteria * malignant cellular transformation.
Time frame: Transplantation to 40 Weeks Post Transplantation