This is an unblinded, randomized, four-arm interventional research study enrolling patients who are undergoing kidney transplantation. The aim of the study is to determine whether patients at low risk of rejection can safely reduce the doses of their post-transplant immunosuppression medications using a combination of tests that include donor-specific antibodies (DSA), histology (looking at tissue from the donor graft), and donor-derived cell-free DNA (AlloSure). Eligible participants will be randomized in a 2:1 ratio into one of two immune-optimization (intervention) arms or the corresponding observational (control) arms. Two thirds of the participants in the study will have their decision to reduce immunosuppression made based on these test results and the other third will have the decision made based on standard of care clinical assessment and laboratory testing. The study will include two additional parameters under investigation - the AlloMap Kidney gene expression profiling test and the iBox prediction algorithm, but these will not be actively used to make any decisions as part of the trial. AlloSure, AlloMap Kidney, and iBox are the three components of the KidneyCare panel developed by CareDx.
This is a prospective, multicenter, open-label randomized controlled four-arm interventional trial of kidney transplant recipients receiving KidneyCare (AlloSure-Kidney, AlloMap Kidney, and iBox) surveillance testing. Eligible patients who meet inclusion/exclusion criteria and provide consent will undergo standard immune induction per their center protocol and begin a post-transplant maintenance regimen of tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), with or without steroids after transplantation. If all prerequisite criteria are satisfied at 3 months, participants will be randomized and participants in the intervention arms will begin protocolized immuno-optimization, with the objective of the study being the gradual elimination of one immunosuppressive agent (either MMF or steroids) and optimization of calcineurin inhibitors (CNI) dosing. Any immune optimization changes in the control/observational arms will occur based on clinician discretion.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Using KidneyCare platform as a tool to successfully augment immunosuppressant agents through regular surveillance allowing minimization of doses and number of agents.
optimization of steroids
optimization of MMF
Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at 12 months, non-inferiority
Demonstrate the safety and efficacy of KidneyCare as tool to successfully adjust immunosuppressant agents using regular surveillance for safe drug minimization. (safety endpoint)
Time frame: 12 months
Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at 24 months, non-inferiority
Demonstrate the safety and efficacy of KidneyCare as tool to successfully adjust immunosuppressant agents using regular surveillance for safe drug minimization. (safety endpoint)
Time frame: 24 months
Interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy (IF/TA) quantified by Banff Working Group biopsy grade(s) at 12-months post-transplant
Demonstrate the safety and efficacy of KidneyCare as tool to successfully adjust immunosuppressant agents using regular surveillance for safe drug minimization. (safety)
Time frame: 12 months
Interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy (IF/TA) quantified by Banff Working Group biopsy grade(s) at 24-months post-transplant
Demonstrate the safety and efficacy of KidneyCare as tool to successfully adjust immunosuppressant agents using regular surveillance for safe drug minimization. (safety)
Time frame: 24 months
Transplant glomerulopathy (TG) at 12-months post-transplant, quantified by biopsy-based histopathology grade(s)
Demonstrate the safety and efficacy of KidneyCare as tool to successfully adjust immunosuppressant agents using regular surveillance for safe drug minimization. (safety)
Time frame: 12 months
Transplant glomerulopathy (TG) at 24-months post-transplant, quantified by biopsy-based histopathology grade(s)
Demonstrate the safety and efficacy of KidneyCare as tool to successfully adjust immunosuppressant agents using regular surveillance for safe drug minimization. (safety)
Time frame: 24 months
Total number of biopsies performed post-transplant, including both surveillance and clinically indicated biopsies
Demonstrate the safety and efficacy of KidneyCare as tool to successfully adjust immunosuppressant agents using regular surveillance for safe drug minimization. (efficacy)
Time frame: 24 months
Number of clinically indicated biopsies planned and performed in the first 12- months post- transplant
Demonstrate the safety and efficacy of KidneyCare as tool to successfully adjust immunosuppressant agents using regular surveillance for safe drug minimization. (efficacy)
Time frame: 12 months
Number of clinically indicated biopsies planned and performed in the 24-months post- transplant
Demonstrate the safety and efficacy of KidneyCare as tool to successfully adjust immunosuppressant agents using regular surveillance for safe drug minimization. (efficacy)
Time frame: 24 months
Histological assessment of tissue biopsy with paired AlloSure dd-cfDNA result - performed both 'For Cause' and 'Surveillance', using standard biopsy and HistoMap molecular assessment using nCounter.
Identify correlation between dd-cfDNA and histopathological allograft rejection based on all clinical biopsies.
Time frame: 24 months
Results of DSA testing, performed as outlined in the testing schedule
Compare rates of de-novo DSA antibody formation in immuno-optimization and control groups.
Time frame: 24 months
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.