Clinical Trial Details
— Status: Recruiting
Administrative data
| NCT number |
NCT05879874 |
| Other study ID # |
ID5545 |
| Secondary ID |
|
| Status |
Recruiting |
| Phase |
|
| First received |
|
| Last updated |
|
| Start date |
September 1, 2023 |
| Est. completion date |
June 2026 |
Study information
| Verified date |
May 2023 |
| Source |
Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS |
| Contact |
n/a |
| Is FDA regulated |
No |
| Health authority |
|
| Study type |
Observational
|
Clinical Trial Summary
ATTR amyloidosis is a rare and progressively disabling disease caused by the deposition of
misfolded TTR protein in multiple tissues including the nerves, heart, and gastrointestinal
tract. Polyneuropathy (PN) and cardiomyopathy (CM) are the two most frequent phenotypes and
many patients presented a mixed picture of PN and CM. There are different methods to search
for the existence and extent of PN and disability caused by ATTR amyloidosis (e.g. mNIS+7,
Norfol, QoL-DN), these methods may not be sensitive enough to search for the onset of disease
in patients carrying the pathogenic TTR variants or progression of PN in patients undergoing
treatment. Also, some of the available methods can be difficult and time-consuming to
perform. For this reason, there is a need for sensitive biomarkers that can aid in the
investigation and follow-up of PN in patients with hATTR amyloidosis. NfL, a well-known
biomarker of nerve damage due to both central and peripheral nervous system disorders, was
recently evaluated as a potential biomarker of nerve damage in patients with hATTR
amyloidosis. The results of this study can help understand the potential value of NfL in
patients with PN of hATTR amyloidosis establishing i changes levels of this biomarker in
response to different pathology-specific treatment options correlation between NfL levels and
different ratings clinics. The primary objective of the study is to establish the potential
of NfL as a biomarker of severity of polyneuropathy, progression and response to treatment in
patients with symptomatic hATTR amyloidosis.
Description:
INTRODUCTION, BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE ATTR amyloidosis is a rare and progressively disabling
disorder caused by the deposition of the misfolded TTR protein in multiple tissues including
nerves, heart and gastro-intestinal tract. The disease can be caused by a misfolded or wild
type variant of the TTR protein. Polyneuropathy (PN) and cardiomyopathy (CM) are the two most
frequent phenotypes, and many patients have a mixed picture of PN and CM.
There are different methods to research the existence and extent of PN and the disability
caused by ATTR amyloidosis (e.g. mNIS+7, Norfol, QoL-DN), these methods may not be sensitive
enough to search for disease onset in patients carrying pathogenic TTR variants or PN
progression in patients undergoing treatment. In addition, some of the available methods can
be difficult and time-consuming. For this reason, there is a need for sensitive biomarkers
that can aid in PN research and follow-up in patients with hATTR amyloidosis.
NfL, a well-known biomarker of nerve damage due to both central and peripheral nervous system
disorders, has recently been evaluated as a potential biomarker of nerve damage in patients
with hATTR amyloidosis.
The results of this study may contribute to understanding the potential value of NfL in
patients with hATTR amyloidosis PN by establishing changes in levels of this biomarker in
response to different disease-specific treatment options and the correlation between NfL
levels and different clinical assessments.
OBJECTIVES
Primary Objective The primary objective of the study is to establish the potential of NfL as
a biomarker of severity of polyneuropathy, progression and response to treatment in patients
with symptomatic hATTR amyloidosis.
METHODS
Study design Prospective monocentric longitudinal observational study with drug
Population Adults with hATTR amyloidosis with polyneuropathy with a pathogenic TTR mutation
(NIS score between 5 and 130 points at baseline) will be enrolled in accordance with the
criteria defined in the clinical practice guidelines related to the reference center (FPG).
Inclusion criteria
- Adult patients with hATTR amyloidosis with polyneuropathy with a confirmed TTR
disease-causing mutation (NIS score between 5 and 130 points at baseline).
- Patients on hATTR amyloidosis therapy with gene silencers (patisiran or inotersen) and
TTR stabilizers (tafamidis at doses of 20 or 61 mg).
- Patients who gave consent to participate in the study.
Exclusion criteria
- Patients aged < 18 years
- Pregnant women
- Patients who refused to give their consent to participate in the study.
Duration of the study The enrolment period in the planned study is 12 months from the date of
approval by the local ethics committee. Three visits are scheduled for each patient
(baseline; 9 and 18 months). Therefore, the expected participation in the study for each
patient will be 18 months. The total duration of the study will be 36 months, of which the
last 6 months will be dedicated to data analysis and scientific production.
ENDPOINTS
Primary Endpoint To establish the potential of NfL as a biomarker of severity of
polyneuropathy, progression and response to treatment in patients with symptomatic hATTR
amyloidosis, in terms of serum NfL levels of patients with hATTR amyloidosis at baseline and
after 9 and 18 months of follow-up.
Endpoints secondary Evaluate the correlation between NfL levels and measures of disease
severity and progression.
PROCEDURE Demographic and anthropometric data will be collected for all patients at the time
of enrollment. In addition, the following evaluations will be carried out.
Plasma NfL levels NfL levels will be measured at baseline, at 9 and 18 months. Serum NfL
measurements will be performed with Simple Plex cartridges using Ella equipment
(ProteinSimple, San Jose) at Gemelli Polyclinic, the initiator of the study.
Variables
All enrolled patients will undergo the following assessments at each timepoint:
- Stage of familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP)
- Polyneuropathy Disability Score (PND)
- neuropathy impairment score (NIS)
- compound autonomic dysfunction test (CADT)
- Questionnaire Norfolk Quality of life-Diabetic neuropathy (Norfolk Qol-DN)
- Cardiological evaluation (echocardiogram and clinical examination)
- Evaluation of dysautonomia (Sudoscan)
- Renal and/or gastrointestinal evaluation (laboratory tests and targeted questions)
- Laboratory tests (NT-proBNP, troponin, creatinine, urinalysis, liver enzymes)
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS PLAN
Sample sizing Since this is a rare disease study for which a limited number of patients per
year are observed at the reference center and justified by the primary endpoint of the purely
descriptive study, formal sample sizing is not necessary. All subjects belonging to the
reference structure will therefore be enrolled within the 12 months foreseen for enrollment.
It is estimated in these terms a sample of 40 subjects.
Statistical analysis The sample will be described in its demographic, anthropometric,
clinical, instrumental variables, through descriptive statistical techniques. In detail, the
qualitative variables will be expressed as absolute frequencies and relative percentages.
Quantitative variables, on the other hand, will be reported as mean and standard deviation
(SD) or median and interquartile range (IQR), respectively, if they are normally distributed
or not. Their distribution will be evaluated in advance by Shapiro Wilk's test. Assessment of
the correlation between serum NfL levels at baseline and demographic data (age at onset, age
at time of assessment, duration of disease), clinical scales (FAP stage, PND, NIS, NIS-LL
score), questionnaires (CADT, Norkfolk QuL-DN) and instrumental evidence (Sudoscan on full
and hands, interventricular septal thickness, cardiac markers ) will be carried out through
the Spearman or Pearson correlation test, as appropriate. The results will be further graphed
in the form of Heatmaps constructed through the R packages "ggpubr" [8], "ggplot2", "ggprism"
and "ggsignif" [9-11]. The relationship between NFL levels at 9 and 18 months respectively
and the above parameters will be further investigated through a mixed model for repeated
measurements (MMRM). The model will include the outcome parameter (NFL) at the end of
treatment. Fixed effects will include age at onset and disease duration, follow-up
time-points as a categorical variable (baseline, 9 or 18 months), and baseline outcome
parameter values. Correlations between repeated measurements will be modeled using a
repeating effect with a compound symmetry structure. The models will be rented using the R
packages "lme4" and "lmertest" [12,13]. In order to use these models on small samples, a
Bartlett-type adjustment will be made by bootstrap resampling with the R package "pbkrtest"
[14]. In fact, taking into account that the approximation of the maximum likelihood T-test
(LR) statistic to the chi-square distribution in large samples is not accurate on a low
scale, the Bartlett correction divides by a correction term, with the adjustment term being
an estimate of the first moment of the null distribution of the T-statistic. Statistical
significance will be set at a p-value <0.05. All analyses will be performed with R software
version 4.2.0 (CRAN ® , R Core, Vienna, Austria, 2022) [15].
Safety/adverse event management Definitions "Adverse event" means any harmful clinical event
that occurs in a person who has been given a medicinal product and who does not necessarily
have a causal relationship with such treatment.
"Adverse reaction" means the unintended and noxious reaction resulting not only from the
authorised use of a medicinal product under normal conditions of use but also from medication
errors and uses not in accordance with the indications given in the marketing authorisation,
including misuse and abuse of the medicinal product.
"Serious adverse reaction" means an adverse reaction that causes:
- death
- life threatening,
- hospitalization or prolongation of hospitalization,
- severe or permanent invalidity,
- congenital anomalies/birth defects,
- other clinically relevant condition.
Management of adverse events All adverse events will be collected, recorded and evaluated for
severity and relationship to investigational and non-investigational medicinal products for
the purpose of identifying suspected adverse reactions.
Any suspected adverse reaction will be reported to the National Competent Authority - AIFA,
regardless of the severity, according to the post-marketing pharmacovigilance flow, provided
for by DM 30 April 2015 and GVP (Good Vigilance Practices) module VI, by communication to the
Local Pharmacovigilance Manager for inclusion in the National Pharmacovigilance Network and,
where required, to the Ethics Committee.
Suspected adverse drug reactions should be reported to the Local Pharmacovigilance Manager
within 48 hours of becoming known, and suspected adverse reactions from biological medicinal
products should be reported no later than 36 hours.
STUDY MANAGEMENT Ethical and regulatory considerations This study will be conducted in
accordance with the protocol, the Ethical Committee Approval of Policlinico Gemelli, with all
applicable regulatory requirements and with the current Good Clinical Practice (GCP)
guidelines. GCP adherence publicly ensures the protection of the rights, safety and
well-being of trial patients in accordance with the principles of the Helsinki Declaration.
Study documentation, confidentiality and retention All documentation (including personal
data) related to the study will be kept as required by local laws and regulations.
The investigator must ensure that the confidentiality of all patients is maintained.
On submitted documents, patients should not be identified by their names, but by numbers or
codes assigned to the patient.
End of the study The term of the study is defined by the completion of the last NfL
measurement at 18 months for all patients enrolled.
Data quality control and quality assurance Data Management The following patient health
information (PHI)/HIPAA identifiers will be collected through a database: name, medical
registration numbers, birthdays, gender, race, height, weight, medical and surgical history
and dates of diagnoses, laboratory and imaging results, histological findings, drug lists,
allergies, clinic, and hospital notes. The information obtained will be limited to the
minimum necessary to achieve the purposes of the research study. This study will be monitored
by first investigator Dr. Marco Luigetti. The data (name, surname, date of birth) will be
coded and stored at the Policlinico Gemelli (Department of Neurology) and will be accessible
only to the first researcher and the study group.
Publishing Policy It is understood that after completion of the study, the data should be
submitted for publication in a scientific journal and/or for communication at scientific
conferences.
