The Safety of ahSC in Chronic SCI With Rehabilitation



Status:Active, not recruiting
Conditions:Hospital, Neurology, Orthopedic
Therapuetic Areas:Neurology, Orthopedics / Podiatry, Other
Healthy:No
Age Range:18 - 65
Updated:3/14/2019
Start Date:January 2015
End Date:August 2019

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The Safety of Autologous Human Schwann Cells (ahSC) in Subjects With Chronic Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Receiving Rehabilitation

The purpose of this study is to assess the safety of autologous human Schwann cell (ahSC)
transplantation in participants with chronic SCI.

This trial design is phase I, open label, unblinded, non-randomized, and non-placebo
controlled multiple injury cohorts.

For humans with chronic SCI, we hypothesize that axons might show improved function if myelin
repair is induced with the implantation of ahSC. In addition spinal cord cavitation may be
reduced, and neural sprouting and plasticity may be enhanced via neurotrophic effects. In
this trial, subjects will receive fitness conditioning and rehabilitation prior to
transplantation in order to validate the stability of their neurological baseline and enhance
their ability to undergo surgery with few complications. They will also receive fitness
conditioning and rehabilitation post-transplantation to maintain health and promote neuronal
activity and potential neuroplasticity.

Trial enrollment will target 2 cohorts. The first cohort will be thoracic (T) level 2-12 ASIA
Impairment Scale (AIS) grade A, B, or C (n = up to 4), the second cohort will be cervical (C)
level 5 through T1 AIS A, B, or C (n = up to 6). Two (2) participants with AIS grade A will
be enrolled prior to enrolling a participant with AIS B or C, applicable to both cohorts.

Participants will be monitored throughout a 6 month post-transplantation evaluation period
for occurrence of AEs (acute, delayed, and/or cumulative), as well as for changes in clinical
status and neurological status. Safety and efficacy assessments will be performed at weeks 1
and 2 post-transplantation and months 2 and 6 post-transplantation.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Persons with traumatic SCI that occurred a minimum of 12 months prior to enrollment;

2. Between the ages of 18 and 65 at last birthday;

3. SCI between spinal levels C5-T12 as defined by the most caudal level of intact motor
and sensory function on the International Standards for Neurological Classification of
Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI);

4. ASIA Impairment Scale (AIS) grade A, B, or C at time of enrollment;

5. Lesion length less than or equal to 3 cm and lesion volume less than or equal to 2 cc,
as approximated by MRI.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Persons unable to safely undergo an MRI;

2. Persons with penetrating injury of the spinal cord or complete transection of the
cord, as identified by MRI;

3. Persons with severe, uncorrected post-injury spinal deformity and/or spinal cord
inadequately decompressed;

4. Persons with a cavity structure that would preclude successful transplantation, as
identified by MRI;

5. Persons with syringomyelia - defined as patients with progressively enlarging cysts on
T2 weighted images with associated neurological decline;

6. Persons with pre-existing conditions that would preclude satisfactory sural nerve
harvest;

7. Intolerance to functional electrical stimulation of muscles;

8. Exercise induced abnormalities;

9. Range of motion of the upper or lower extremities outside functional limits for
targeted fitness and rehabilitation activities;

10. Evidence of bone or joint pathology that adversely influences participation in the
fitness and rehabilitation activities;

11. Fracture, dislocation, or extremity instruments (implanted or external) that adversely
influences participation in the fitness and rehabilitation activities;

12. Unhealed pressure ulcer;

13. History of documented seizures, stroke, brain tumor, serious head injury, or any other
intracranial problem that could increase the risk of seizures during motor evoked
potentials testing;

14. Pregnant women or a positive pregnancy test in those women with reproductive potential
prior to enrollment;

15. Presence of disease that might interfere with participant safety, compliance, or
evaluation of the condition under study;

16. Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥ 35;

17. History of active substance abuse;

18. Persons who are current participants in any interventional trial;

19. Persons with a history of prior intrathecal or intraspinal cell therapy for SCI;

20. Persons allergic to gentamicin;

21. Persons who test positive for HIV or Hepatitis B or C virus;

22. Persons with lab values significantly outside of the upper and lower limits;

23. Persons who can independently ambulate.
We found this trial at
1
site
Miami, Florida 33124
(305) 284-2211
Phone: 305-243-7108
University of Miami A private research university with more than 15,000 students from around the...
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Miami, FL
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