Rituximab Treatment of Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis

Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) Clinical Trial

Official title:

Anti-CD20, Rituximab, for the Treatment of Recurrent or Primary Resistant Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS)

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT00550342
• Other study ID #: R21 DK77329 (completed)
• Secondary ID: R21DK077329
• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 2
• First received: October 26, 2007
• Last updated: September 12, 2017
• Start date: January 2008
• Est. completion date: December 2009

Study information

• Verified date: April 2012
• Source: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine whether the approved drug, rituximab, is effective in the treatment of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS)

Description:

Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) remains an enigmatic disease despite many years of study. There has been a recent increased incidence of FSGS particularly in African Americans in whom the outcome tends to be worse. In about 30% of patients transplanted for FSGS, the disease recurs and often results in severe nephrotic syndrome and accelerated graft loss. FSGS is a common cause of nephrotic disease accounting for 10-20% of cases of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome in children and 35% of cases in adults. Most cases are refractory to current therapy resulting in the ultimate progression to end stage renal disease. Overall, FSGS accounts for about 15% of pediatric and 5% of adult cases of end stage renal disease. With the frequent post transplant recurrence, the morbidity and mortality of FSGS is increased. Thus, FSGS is a disease that is associated with a large cost to society and long-term morbidity to the individual patient. A treatment that could induce permanent remission and reverse organ damage would make a major contribution to society by reduction of these expenses. A circulating Permeability Factor (PF, Savin Factor) has been suspected as central to the pathogenesis of recurrent disease but its identity has been difficult to discern. The molecular weight has reported to be between 30 and 100 kDa. Although, PF has been reported to adhere to protein A columns and such columns can be part of the treatment of FSGS, this molecular weight would exclude PF being an intact antibody. Immunosuppressive agents have been the only therapy demonstrating efficacy, albeit partial, suggesting that at least some cases of FSGS are immune mediated. While high dose steroids are the first line of treatment for FSGS, cyclosporine has been efficacious in randomized trials and has been used for steroid resistant FSGS but is associated with substantial toxicity. If cyclosporine fails, cyclophosphamide, plasmapheresis, protein A immunoabsorption, and most recently mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) have been used with variable efficacy.

Rituximab, primarily indicated for treatment of lymphoma, has become a first line agent in the treatment of post transplant lymphoma. However, it has been used with increased frequency to treat various autoimmune diseases including those such as rheumatoid arthritis that have been thought to be primarily T-cell mediated and others such as immune thrombocytopenia purpura that have been thought to be primarily B-cell mediated. In a trial being conducted by the Immune Tolerance Network, ANCA positive vasculitis is being treated with rituximab and it appears that a short course of rituximab leads to tolerance in this autoimmune disease. Rituximab's mechanism of action in the various autoimmune diseases for which has efficacy has been variously suggested to result from elimination of either circulating autoantibody, by elimination of B-cell produced cytokines, or by interference with the antigen presentation provide by B cells.

We have recently had a case of immediate post transplant recurrence of FSGS in a child that failed to respond to MMF, steroids, long-term plasmapheresis and conversion from tacrolimus to cyclosporine. The FSGS associated proteinuria however completely resolved at about 6 months after treatment of post transplant lymphoma with 6 doses of rituximab. A similar case that also resolved after treatment of PTLD with rituximab was recently reported. While the mechanism of action of both cyclosporine and MMF is unknown in FSGS, both drugs have been shown to have activity against B cells. The response seen in these two recent cases following treatment with a B cell specific agent leads to the hypothesis that at least some cases of FSGS have an autoimmune mechanism in which B cells play a central role. We propose to test this hypothesis by the treatment of patients with recurrent or primary persistent FSGS with rituximab.

This study will be a single center, single-arm, pilot trial. As the study will be registered at clintrials.gov, subjects may be referred from outside physicians. However, all treatment will be done at IU in the GCRC. After meeting inclusion/exclusion criteria and signing the consent, serum for PF levels, and blood for B cell flow cytometry will be obtained. Rituximab (375 mg/m2) will be administered intravenously as per current package label in a facility capable of handling infusion reactions. Subjects would be pre dosed with diphenhydramine and acetaminophen. Solu-Medrol, 1.5 mg/kg would be dosed 1 hour prior to the first dose of rituximab. Three subsequent doses of rituximab will be given at weekly intervals. Study visits will then be conducted monthly thereafter for the 6 months and then every 3 months, at which time, assessments of safety will be made. Efficacy will be determined by monitoring first AM Uprotein/C ratio. Flow cytometry, PF factor, urine proteomics and general blood work including CBC, Chemistry, electrolytes, serum immunoglobulin will also be done. During the second year, subjects would be followed every three months. The primary endpoint will be resolution of proteinuria defined as a Up/C ratio of <0.2. Secondary endpoints will be the number of subjects who achieve partial remission defined at a fall of 50% or more in the Up/C ratio from the pre-treatment baseline; the number of patients who develop a recurrence or increase of proteinuria on samples obtained at least 4 weeks apart; effect of treatment on PF levels; safety as measured by infections and drug infusion reactions. Consideration will be given to a plan of redosing in subjects who relapse after initial response.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 10
• Est. completion date: December 2009
• Est. primary completion date: December 2009
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: All
• Age group: 5 Years to 60 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Primary FSGS involving either native kidneys or primary FSGS recurring after renal transplantation. Age 5-60 years at onset of signs or symptoms of FSGS

2. Estimated GFR = 40 ml/min/1.73 m2

3. Up/c > 1.0 g protein/g creatinine on first am void

4. Biopsy confirmed as primary FSGS (including all subtypes). At least 1 glomerulus demonstrating segmental sclerosis or minimal change FSGS or idiopathic mesangial proliferation with negative immunostains by light microscopy and no dense deposits on electron microscopy. Biopsy required but can be normal for those subjects with rapid recurrence of post transplant FSGS.

5. Steroid resistance as defined by primary physician

6. If participant is female with reproductive potential, she must be willing to avoid pregnancy and have a negative pregnancy test

7. At least one month from last immunization received

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Are immunodeficient or have clinically significant chronic lymphopenia

2. Have an active infection or positive PPD test result

3. Be currently pregnant or lactating, or anticipate getting pregnant

4. Have serologic evidence of current or past HIV, Hepatitis B, or Hepatitis C infection

5. Have any complicating medical issues that interfere with study conduct or cause increased risk

6. Have a history of malignancies within the last five years except for adequately treated skin cancer

7. Have severe cardiac problems such as angina or medically treated arrythmia

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS)
• Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental

Intervention

Drug:
• rituximab
375 mg/m2 intravenously for 4 doses

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	Indiana University	Indianapolis	Indiana

Sponsors (3)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)	Genentech, Inc., Indiana University

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

References & Publications (1)

Pescovitz MD, Book BK, Sidner RA. Resolution of recurrent focal segmental glomerulosclerosis proteinuria after rituximab treatment. N Engl J Med. 2006 May 4;354(18):1961-3. — View Citation

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	The primary endpoint will be resolution of proteinuria defined as a Up/C ratio of <0.2.		One year
Secondary	Number of subjects who achieve partial remission defined at a fall of 50% or more in the Up/C ratio from the pre-treatment baseline		one year
Secondary	Number of subjects who develop a recurrence or increase of proteinuria on samples obtained at least 4 weeks apart		one year
Secondary	Effect of treatment on PF levels		one year
Secondary	Safety as measured by infections and drug infusion reactions.		one year