Clinical Research Directory

Efficacy and Safety of Firsekibart in the Treatment of Systemic Sclerosis

This study is a single-center, single-arm, open-label, exploratory clinical trial. A total of 30 patients with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc) will be enrolled. A historical control cohort will be established to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Firsekibart by comparing with historical data.

TBI Using IMRT and Cyclophosphamide Prior to Stem Cell Transplant for the Treatment of Severe Systemic Sclerosis

This early phase I trial studies the side effects and feasibility of total body irradiation using intensity modulation radiation therapy (IMRT) when given in combination with cyclophosphamide prior to stem cell transplant to treat severe systemic sclerosis. IMRT delivers total body radiation therapy more precisely and may reduce radiation exposure to sensitive normal organs. Giving chemotherapy, such as cyclophosphamide, and total body irradiation before a donor stem cell transplant helps kill cancer cells in the body and helps make room in the bone marrow for new blood-forming cells (stem cells) to grow. Giving IMRT and cyclophosphamide prior to stem cell transplant may work better in treating severe systemic sclerosis and reduce radiation doses to lung and kidneys compared to cyclophosphamide alone.

Nivolumab in Treating Patients With Autoimmune Disorders and Advanced, Metastatic, or Unresectable Cancer

This phase Ib trial studies the side effects of nivolumab and to see how well it works in treating patients with autoimmune disorders and cancer that has spread to other places in the body or cannot removed by surgery. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as nivolumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread.

Familial Systemic Scleroderma

Studying familial forms of systemic scleroderma offers several advantages: 1. To better understand the pathophysiology of a complex autoimmune disease based on "extreme" cases (familial forms); 2. To identify potential molecular markers predictive of disease progression; 3. To identify potential pathophysiological targets for developing new therapies, particularly relevant in severe and refractory forms of the disease.

Diffuse Cutaneous Scleroderma (DSSc) SFDI Study

Scleroderma (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by fibrosis (or collagen deposition) of the skin and internal organs. The extent of skin fibrosis is an important predictor of internal organ complications and increased mortality. Currently a very imprecise, subjective method that varies amongst different doctors for the same patient is used to quantify skin fibrosis in patients, by "pinching" their skin and assessing how thick it is; this is the method used to determine the modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS). A previous plot study was conducted by the investigators to determine if spatial frequency domain imaging (SFDI), a method of light scattering, could be used to measure the collagen content in the skin of SSc patients. This non-painful, noninvasive method takes very little time and the investigators hypothesized that it would be more accurate than the "pinching" method. For that pilot study, patients with various stages of the disease were selected, and SFDI was used to image 6 areas. A forearm skin biopsy was taken for subsequent histopathology analyses of collagen content. The clinical mRSS was assessed at the time of SFDI measurement. Optical property imaging data was analyzed and statistically correlated and analyzed with immunohistochemistry (a method of identifying proteins) of the skin. Preliminary results demonstrated a strong correlation between mRSS and SFDI. Some of the imaging parameters of the SFDI were modified based on the initial results. Initial results demonstrated that the device can detect increases in skin thickness observed in SSc skin.

Longitudinal Spatial Frequency Domain Imaging Study

Scleroderma (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by fibrosis (or collagen deposition) of the skin and internal organs. The extent of skin fibrosis is an important predictor of internal organ complications and increased mortality. Currently imprecise and subjective methods that varies amongst different doctors for the same patient are available to quantify skin fibrosis in patients, by "pinching" their skin and assessing how thick it is; this is the method used to determine the modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS). Skin thickness and the amount of fibrosis can change over time due to disease progression or in response to therapy. In this research, longitudinal measurements will be taken to determine if spatial frequency domain imaging (SFDI) can detect changes in skin thickness that occur over time in response to therapy or from disease progression in scleroderma patients. This study will compare SFDI with other clinical outcome assessments of skin thickness and fibrosis in scleroderma patients including mRSS, skin biopsy histology, scleroderma skin patient reported outcome (SSPRO), ultrasound, and durometry (durometer measures skin hardness). SFDI information will also be compared with capillaroscopy (allows for non-invasive imaging of the nailfold capillaries) if available from the electronic medical record. If SFDI correlates well with other clinical outcome assessments, it may be used in the future as a rapid, non-invasive tool for monitoring disease activity in scleroderma patients.

Efficacy and Safety of Allogenic Cultured Adipose-derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Injections on MoUth Fibrosis and Handicap in Patients With Systemic sclEroderma

Orofacial manifestations and microstomia are a frequent complication in systemic sclerosis (SSc) with a major impact on oral hygiene, dental care and quality of life. Peri-oral injection of allogeneic cultured adipose-derived stromal cells constitutes a promising approach to treat scleroderma-induced mouth fibrosis where no alternative therapy is validated. The aim of this phase 2 study is to compare efficacy and safety of perioral injection of allogeneic cultured adipose-derived stromal cells (AdMSC) versus placebo to improve oro-facial fibrosis in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Characterization of Autoreactive b Lymphocytes in Autoimmune Diseases and Immune Deficiencies

Autoimmune diseases (AID), whether systemic or organ-specific, affect approximately one in ten people, and their prevalence continues to increase. Many AIDs are linked to the emergence of autoreactive B cells (BCs) directed against components of the self. In healthy individuals, these autoreactive B cells are counter-selected or regulated before reaching the antibody-secreting cell compartment. However, in predisposed individuals, a breakdown in B cell tolerance can occur, leading to the formation of autoantibodies with devastating consequences, such as the emergence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis, and vasculitis. B-cell depletion is often beneficial in these patients, but paradoxically, therapies targeting B cells are not always effective. Furthermore, B cell depletion via LB-specific antibodies (anti-CD20) or treatment with CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR T) leads to complete and prolonged depression of the entire B compartment without targeting the LB population responsible for the onset of the disease. To date, two pitfalls in studies of human autoreactive LBs often complicate the interpretation of results: i) the difficulty of identifying autoreactive LBs among all LBs, ii) demonstrating the pathogenicity of autoreactive B lymphocytes when they can be identified individually. We propose to quantify and phenotype these autoreactive/pathogenic B cells using high-throughput flow cytometry in several clinical situations.

Clinical Study of Divozilimab in Patients With Systemic Scleroderma

The study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study of the efficacy and safety of divozilimab in patients with systemic scleroderma.The study will enroll adult patients of both sexes diagnosed with active systemic scleroderma according to the ACR/EULAR 2013 criteria with a modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS) of 10 to 20. In patients having signs of ILD, the Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) should be at least 40 % of the due value. Subjects will be randomized to divozilimab or placebo group.

Safety and Efficacy of CD19 Targeted CAR-T Therapy for Refractory Autoimmune Disease

This is a single arm study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CD19 targeted CAR-T cells therapy for patients with Refractory Autoimmune Disease