Resveratrol and Sirolimus in Lymphangioleiomyomatosis Trial

RESULT is a phase II dose-escalating, open-label, safety and efficacy study to determine if there is a potential benefit of resveratrol in combination with sirolimus in patients with lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM). The primary study objective is to assess the change in serum vascular endothelial growth factor-D (VEGF-D) level after 24 weeks of treatment with a combination of resveratrol and sirolimus as compared to the VEGF-D level in patients on a stable dose of sirolimus alone. The secondary objectives of this study include an assessment of the safety and adverse effect profile of combined resveratrol and sirolimus in adult patients with LAM, and to determine the effect of treatment with a combination of resveratrol and sirolimus on changes in lung function and quality of life.

Study Design RESULT was an open label, dose-escalation, phase 2 study with longitudinal repeated measures. In order to be eligible for trial inclusion, patients had to satisfy all of the following criteria: 1) confirmed diagnosis of LAM per the American Thoracic Society/Japanese Respiratory Society Clinical Practice Guidelines14, 2) age ≥18 years with signed informed consent, 3) on sirolimus for at least 20 weeks, and 4) VEGF-D stabilization as demonstrated by two stable values post initiation of sirolimus and drawn at least 12 weeks apart from each other. Key exclusion criteria included inability to provide consent, active listing for lung transplantation, enrolled in another interventional clinical trial, known allergy or hypersensitivity to resveratrol, and current or planned pregnancy in the next six months.

RESULT was a single site study conducted at the University of Cincinnati (UC). Study enrollment was open to LAM patients throughout the United States with travel reimbursement provided through the study. The study was reviewed and approved by UC's Institutional Review Board (IRB 2016-4904). An independent Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) was convened and met every six months to ensure the safety of study participants. All subjects provided written informed consent prior to the conduct of any study related activity.

Outcome Measures The primary objective of this study was to assess the change in serum VEGF-D value after 24 weeks of treatment with a combination of resveratrol and sirolimus, as compared to the historical VEGF-D values of patients prior to the study on sirolimus alone. Serial assessments of serum VEGF-D, pulmonary function tests (PFTs), treatment related adverse effects (AEs), complete blood count, liver and renal function tests, and HRQOL were performed at baseline and at 8, 16, and 24 weeks. In addition, sirolimus trough levels, measured 24 +/- 4 hours following the last dose, were assessed at baseline and at weeks 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 18, 20 and 24. VEGF-D quantification was performed at the Translational Trial Development and Support Laboratory based at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center in a College of American Pathologists (CAP)/Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) approved manner. All other laboratory assessments were performed via Quest Diagnostics. HRQOL was measured by using four validated scales: St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), University of California San Diego Shortness of Breath score (SDSOB), EuroQol visual analogue scale (EQVAS), and A Tool to Assess Quality of Life in LAM (ATAQ-LAM).

Study Drug Resveratrol used in this study was obtained from Evolva and manufactured by fermentation using genetically modified yeast in a process that results in trans-resveratrol with a purity of at least 98%, and packaged into capsules with each capsule containing 125mg resveratrol. The capsules were independently verified for content by mass spectrometry performed at UC and for sterility by microbial testing at Q Laboratories Inc., Cincinnati. Investigational new drug (IND) designation for studying Resveratrol in this trial was obtained from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA): IND 131722; IND Sponsor: N. Gupta.

Resveratrol was administered in a stepwise dose escalating fashion at 8-week intervals with assessment of VEGF-D, PFTs, AEs, and HRQOL prior to each dose escalation. The starting dose of resveratrol was 250mg once daily for the first 8 weeks, followed by 500mg daily from Weeks 8 - 16, and 500mg twice daily for the last 8 weeks (Weeks 16 - 24), with provisions for dose reduction if necessitated by AEs. Treatment related AEs were tabulated using the National Cancer Institute's Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 4.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

Subjects enrolled in the trial must meet all of the following criteria.

1. Definitive diagnosis LAM based on the presence of characteristic cystic change on high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the chest. The diagnosis must be confirmed by one of the following:

   A) Histopathological confirmation by biopsy (lung, abdominal mass, lymph node or kidney or cytology from thoracic or abdominal sources revealing human melanoma black-45 (HMB45)+ staining of spindled/epithelioid cells) B) Compatible chest CT scan findings in the setting of tuberous sclerosis, angiomyolipomas (diagnosed by CT, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) by the site radiologist or biopsy) or chylous pleural effusion (verified by tap) C) Chest CT scan findings compatible with LAM and a VEGF-D level ≥ 800pg/ml.
2. Age 18 years or greater.
3. Signed and dated informed consent
4. Currently on sirolimus for treatment of LAM for at least 20 weeks
5. Evidence of disease stabilization on sirolimus as demonstrated by two stable values of serum VEGF-D post initiation of sirolimus drawn at least 12 weeks apart from each other. For the purpose of this study, a variation in serum VEGF-D of less than or equal to 15% is considered stable.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Subjects who meet any of the following criteria are not eligible for enrollment as study participants:

  1. Known allergy or hypersensitivity to Resveratrol
  2. Inability to provide informed consent
  3. Active enrollment in other clinical drug trials for LAM
  4. Pregnant or plan to become pregnant in the next 6 months
  5. Breast feeding
  6. Inability to comply with pulmonary function tests or follow up visits
  7. Inadequate contraception
  8. Use of estrogen containing medications within the 30 days prior to randomization
  9. History of organ transplant
  10. Actively listed for lung transplantation
  11. Inability to comply with study procedures or attend scheduled study visits
  12. Any clinically significant medical disease (other than LAM) that is associated with an expected survival of less than 2 years, or likely to impact the ability of the patient to participate in the study in the opinion of the investigator, or impact the study efficacy or safety assessments.