Clinical Research Directory

Statin and Beta Blocker Use in Patients With Decompensated Cirrhosis

Decompensated cirrhosis (liver disease) occurs when liver function decreases to the extent that serious complications develop and can include internal bleeding, fluid buildup in the abdomen, or mental confusion. This reduced decreased liver function subsequently decreases life expectancy. There is a critical need for strategies to delay progression to decompensation and reduce the occurrence of serious complications. Currently, limited therapeutic options are available for managing decompensated liver disease, with beta-blockers (BB) being the only proven medication with significant benefits in preventing disease progression. Statins have been historically under- prescribed in cirrhosis due to concerns of liver damage. However, there is emerging evidence that statin use may be beneficial and able to lessen liver disease worsening, with studies demonstrating its safety. Thus, we aim to conduct a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) study of 50 subjects comparing the outcomes of decompensated cirrhotic patients receiving the statin, atorvastatin, and a non-selective beta-blocker (NSBB) versus those receiving NSBB plus placebo. Both groups will be followed for 12 months to investigate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of combination therapy.

RTX001 Autologous Engineered Macrophages for Liver Cirrhosis

The purpose of this study is to assess the safety and efficacy of RTX001 in patients with end-stage liver disease. This study is the first time RTX001, a macrophage cell therapy engineered to have an anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effect, will be given to humans.

TIPS in Patients With Decompensated Liver Cirrhosis

This is a single center patient registry of patients receiving a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) at Hannover Medical School. By collecting and analyzing clinical data as well as blood samples, the overall aim is to optimize TIPS therapy (e.g. specify selection criteria).

Effect of Single vs Repeated Cycles of a Combination of Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor and Darbepoetin vs Standard Medical Treatment on Immunometabolic Profile in Patient With Early Decompensated Cirrhosis.

Exogenous growth factor-mobilized bone marrow (BM) stem cells(G-CSF) and DARBEPOETIN use have shown a differential response in the management of decompensated cirrhosis (DC) with improved survival, CTP and MELD scores. This study was designed to evaluate potential clinical benefit of repeated cycles of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) and DARBEPOETIN versus single cycle on delta change in immunometabolic profile of patients at 6 months assessed in terms of -Change in innate immunity -Monocyte, neutrophils -distribution , function and bioenergetic adaptation .

LEOPARD Training and Validation Data Collection Study

Intro: The present clinical research protocol is part of the LEOPARD European project (Grant n° 101080964 Horizon Europe) which aims to design and validate new predictive models of mortality among liver transplantation (LT) candidates. MELD based-liver graft allocation systems have become increasingly inaccurate over the last decade to predict mortality/dropout of liver transplantation (LT) candidates on the waitlist (WL). Wide disparities in mortality/dropout on the WL also exist across European countries, ranging from 5 to 30% according to transplantation indications and countries. In this setting, the European Commission- Horizon Europe funded-LEOPARD project intends to design new, 2nd generation, AI-machine learning-based predictive models of delisting in LT candidates, to better serve on time patients with the highest risk of dropout on the WL and to improve equity of access to LT across Europe. Hypothesis/Objective: The scientific justification of the LEOPARD TVDCS is therefore to collect a large set of data in liver transplantation candidates listed in Europe a) to design and b) to validate LEOPARD 2nd generation AI-based predictive models of mortality/dropout The primary objective is to develop new predictive models of mortality/drop out on the waitlist in patients with decompensated cirrhosis, or other end-stage chronic liver diseases, and in patients listed for Hepato-cellular carcinoma (HCC). Method: Longitudinal multicenter prospective health care data collection cohort study in 2 sets : Training/development set : Prospective health care data collection in 3,000 patients listed in 50 centres across 7 countries and Validation set: Prospective health care data collection in 1,500 subsequent patients listed in the same 50 centres.

LEOPARD Prospective Validation Cohort 1

Intro: The present clinical research protocol is part of the LEOPARD European project (Grant n° 101080964 Horizon Europe) which aims to design and validate new predictive models of mortality among liver transplantation (LT) candidates. MELD based-liver graft allocation systems have become increasingly inaccurate over the last decade to predict mortality/dropout of liver transplantation (LT) candidates on the waitlist (WL). Wide disparities in mortality/dropout on the WL also exist across European countries, ranging from 5 to 30% according to transplantation indications. In this setting, the European Commission- Horizon Europe funded-LEOPARD project intends to design new, 2nd generation, AI-machine learning-based predictive models of delisting in LT candidates, to better serve on time patients with the highest risk of dropout on the WL and to improve equity of access to LT across Europe. Hypothesis/Objective The scientific justification of the LEOPARD PVC1 is therefore 1. to build an external cohort of LT candidates to test and validate the LEOPARD models, therefore providing robust evidence for adoption of LEOPARD models by Organ Sharing Organizations (OSOs). 2. to collect granular data, bio- and tissues sampes and images to test last-generation OMICs predictors and radiomics, therefore opening the door to design of 3rd generation, precision medicine-based predictive models. The primary objective of the LEOPARD longitudinal study is to test and validate AI-based 2nd generation LEOPARD predictive models of mortality/drop out on the waitlist in patients with decompensated cirrhosis, or other end-stage chronic liver diseases, and in patients listed for HCC. Method Multicenter Prospective longitudinal study in up to 630 enrolments (in case of replacing participants after inclusion) to obtain 600 patients meeting selection criteria, in 30 hospitals in 5 European countries including France, Italy, The Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.

Safety of Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells (UC-MSC) in Patients With Decompensated Hepatitis B Cirrhosis

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of multiple doses of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell injection in patients with decompensated hepatitis B cirrhosis, and to further explore the efficacy, pharmacodynamic profile and appropriate dose of administration to provide a basis for the use of safer and more effective treatments for patients with decompensated hepatitis B cirrhosis in the future. Participants are required to sign an informed consent form and, after undergoing a series of tests and meeting the protocol's entry and exclusion criteria, are assigned to a dose group for intravenous infusion of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells.