Predicting Response to Standardized Pediatric Colitis Therapy — PROTECT  

Ulcerative Colitis Clinical Trial

Official title: Multicenter Open-label Study Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of Standardized Initial Therapy Using Either Mesalamine or Corticosteroids Then Mesalamine to Treat Children and Adolescents With Newly Diagnosed Ulcerative Colitis.

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

This is a multi-center, open-label study to determine the safety and effectiveness (how well it works) of two standardized treatments called "mesalamine" (Pentasa®) and "prednisone" in children with newly diagnosed Ulcerative Colitis (UC). Standardized treatments are types of treatments agreed upon and used by many qualified doctors. The medications being used in this study are considered "standard of care". Currently the ways in which these medicines are used (doses, frequency of dosing) may vary from site to site. This study will determine response to a standardized way of giving these medicines.

This study will also identify biomarkers for ulcerative colitis. Biomarkers are things that doctors can find in blood, stool, or bowel tissue that indicate how much inflammation there is in the bowel, how the inflammation is produced, and whether the inflammation is responding to treatment. Collecting response and remission (free of symptoms) information on these standardized treatments and the "biomarkers" can possibly help doctors create a model, or plan to know which children with UC may respond quickly, or which children may develop complications.

Clinical Trial Description

Ulcerative Colitis (UC) denotes a phenotype of chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), where inflammation is localized to the colonic mucosa, and extends from the rectum proximally in varying extents. The disorder is thought to result from an inappropriate activation of the mucosal immune system by antigens derived from both the host epithelium and the enteric flora, in genetically susceptible individuals. UC is strikingly heterogeneous with respect to age of onset, anatomical extent and disease course, with some experiencing chronically active severe disease, while others have intermittent periods of clinical remission and disease exacerbation. Patients' therapeutic responses vary. The reasons underlying such variability are not well understood. Although it has been widely hypothesized that several genes may influence the development of UC, and modify its phenotypic expression and severity, to date there are few confirmed examples of such relationships.

It has been postulated that the 5-aminosalicylate drugs exert their anti-inflammatory effect locally at the intestinal mucosa. Mechanisms likely include inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase resulting in decreased production of leukotriene B4, scavenging of reactive oxygen metabolites, prevention of up-regulation of leukocyte adhesion molecules, and inhibition of Interleukin 1 (IL-1) synthesis. Though multiple studies have shown the efficacy of aminosalicylates in inducing and maintaining remission in adults with UC, there are few data in children.

Corticosteroids (CS) have been the mainstay of treatment of severe UC since efficacy was first demonstrated in the 1955 randomized controlled trial by Truelove and Witts. Recent practice guidelines developed in adults support their use because of rapid onset of action and significant efficacy though CS dependency is noted. Though no controlled data on their use have been reported in children they are frequently used in this population. A recent report from investigators leading the prospective Pediatric IBD Collaborative Research Group Registry described 97 subjects with a diagnosis of UC and a minimum of 1 year follow-up; 79% received CS. At diagnosis 81% of CS treated patients had moderate/severe disease, and 81% had pancolitis. Clinically inactive disease, determined by physician global assessment, was noted in 60% at 3 months following CS therapy, but by one year 45% were considered CS dependent despite the frequent use of immunomodulators (IM). Among those children with initially moderate to severe disease in clinical remission at 3 months, about two-thirds had stopped the CS by one year. ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Colitis
• Colitis, Ulcerative
• Ulcer
• Ulcerative Colitis

• NCT number: NCT01536535
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: Connecticut Children's Medical Center
• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 4
• Start date: July 10, 2012
• Completion date: April 30, 2018