This study is a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled multicenter clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell (UC-MSC) transplantation for the treatment of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). UC-MSC therapy may improve the clinical outcomes of patients with ACLF. The trial would provide scientific evidence for UC-MSC transplantation as a potential treatment for ACLF.
Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) has been proposed to define a distinct syndrome which is characterized by an intense systemic inflammatory response, single- or multiple organ system failures, and high 28-day mortality. Current treatments for liver failure are still limited, and liver transplantation remains the only available approach to improve survival but is restricted by a shortage of organ resources, rejection after transplantation, and heavy financial costs. In the past decade, a series of new applications based on mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy have been studied as an alternative interventional method for chronic liver diseases. This randomized double-blind placebo-controlled multicenter clinical trial is aimed at determining the safety and clinical efficacy of UC-MSC transfusions in ACLF patients. A total of 150 ACLF patients would be enrolled,100patients would be assigned to the MSC intervention group and the other 50 patients would be assigned to the placebo control group. This trial is two-stage randomized designed. At the first stage, the patients would be randomized into two groups, the placebo short control group would receive standard medical treatment plus 3 times placebo (at week0, week1 and week2), while the MSC short treatment group would receive standard medical treatment plus 3 times hUC-MSC (1.5×10\^8, Peripheral IV, at week0, week1 and week2). The two groups would be followed up for 2 weeks, and unblinding would be conducted at week4. At the second stage, the survived patients of the MSC short treatment group would be further randomized and blinded into another two groups. The MSC Prolonged treatment group would receive another 2 times hUC-MSC (1.5×10\^8, Peripheral IV, at week4 and week5), while the MSC Prolonged control group would receive 2 times placebo (at week4 and week5). Transplantation free survival rate and incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events would be the primary outcomes, and other outcomes such as international normalized ratio (INR), total bilirubin (TBIL, mg/dL), serum albumin (ALB, g/L), blood urea nitrogen (BUN, mmol/l), the model for end-stage liver disease(MELD) score and child-turcotte-pugh(CTP) score would also be measured.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
the Fifth Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital
Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China
RECRUITINGTransplantation free survival rate
Transplantation free survival rate of ACLF patients.
Time frame: week1, week2, week3, week4, week5, week8, week12, week24, week53
Incidence of Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events
Safety and Tolerability of UC-MSCs transplantation.
Time frame: day0, day3, week1, week2, week3, week4, week5, week8, week12, week24, week53
International Normalized Ratio (INR)
INR was introduced as a standardized reporting mechanism allowing comparisons across laboratories and patients. Consensus guidelines recommend that INR ≥ 1.5 can be used as a threshold, and current recommendations for targeting an INR of \< 1.5 were based on studies across all surgical disciplines.
Time frame: week-1, week0, day3, week1, week2, week3, week4, week5, week12, week24, week53
Concentration of Total Bilirubin (TBIL, mg/dL)
Total bilirubin refers to the concentration of bilirubin in a patient's blood sample, which is automatically measured by the laboratories in accordance with standard operating procedures. APASL defines ACLF as "an acute hepatic insult manifesting as jaundice (Serum Bilirubin ≥ 5 mg/dL) and coagulopathy (international normalized ratio \[INR\] ≥ 1.5) complicated within 4 weeks by clinical ascites and/or encephalopathy in a patient with previously diagnosed or undiagnosed chronic liver disease/cirrhosis, that is associated with a high 28-day mortality."
Time frame: week-1, week0, day3, week1, week2, week3, week4, week5, week12, week24, week53
Concentration of Serum Albumin (ALB, g/L)
Serum albumin refers to the concentration of albumin in a patient's serum, which is automatically measured by the laboratory in accordance with standard operating procedures. Serum albumin is an independent protective factor for 30-day prognosis in ACLF patients.
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Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
150
hUC-MSC (1.5×10\^8 cells/time, Peripheral IV, at week4 and week5)
Time frame: week-1, week0, day3, week1, week2, week3, week4, week5, week12, week24, week53
Concentration of Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN, mmol/L)
Blood urea nitrogen refers to the concentration of urea nitrogen in a patient's blood sample. Blood urea nitrogen is a commonly used indicator of renal function in clinic.
Time frame: week-1, week0, day3, week1, week2, week3, week4, week5, week12, week24, week53
The Model for End-Stage Liver Disease(MELD) score
R = 3.8×ln \[TBiL (mg/dl)\] +11.2×ln (INR) +9.6×ln \[Cr (mg/dl)\] +6.4× (Cause: biliary or alcoholic is 0, other is 1), the result is taken as an integer. Studies have shown that the optimal critical value of MELD score to judge the short-term prognosis of ACLF patients is 30, and when MELD score is greater than 30, the case fatality rate of patients within 3 months is significantly increased.
Time frame: week-1, week1, week2, week4, week5, week12, week24, week53
Child-Turcotte-Pugh(CTP) score
CTP score is currently the most commonly used model to evaluate liver reserve function and prognosis in patients with cirrhosis. This model evaluates liver function based on HE grade, degree of abdominal fluid accumulation, bilirubin (TBiL), albumin (Alb) and prothrombin time (PT). The score ranges from 0 to 15, with the higher the score, the worse the prognosis.
Time frame: week-1, week1, week2, week4, week5, week12, week24, week53