Nandrolone Decanoate in the Treatment of Telomeropathies

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Decrease in blood cell counts due to deficient bone marrow function, called bone marrow failure, as well as some lung diseases, called idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, can be caused by genetic defects in telomere biology genes, eventually causing telomere erosion. These disorders are collectively termed telomeropathies. There is evidence that male hormones may improve blood cell counts in marrow failure, and these hormones are able to stimulate telomerase function in hematopoietic cells in vitro. We propose this study to the use of male hormone in patients with aplastic anemia and pulmonary fibrosis associated with defects in telomeres.

Detailed Description
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Telomeres are repeated nucleotide sequences of non-coding DNA at the ends of chromosomes that have protective functions and avoid chromosomes recombinations and fusions. Loss-of-function mutations in genes of the telomerase complex, a enzyme responsible for maintaining telomere length, has been associated with bone marrow failures, notedly mutations in DKC1 gene, detected in a rare inherited form of marrow aplasia, called dyskeratosis congenita. These findings implicated telomerase dysfunction and shortening telomere length in failed hematopoiesis. In family members of probands with aplastic anemia, marrow aplasia and telomerase mutations also have been observed and associated to varying degrees of cytopenias, IPF and/or cirrhosis. Moreover, patients with varying degrees of cytopenias, with significant family history for cytopenias, IPF and/or cirrhosis, have been identified with very short telomeres and some mutations in telomerase complex genes. Additionally, telomere length has been associated with human cancer. In vitro studies suggest that telomere length could be modulated with sex hormones. Normal lymphocytes and human bone marrow progenitor cells exposed to androgens increased telomerase activity in vitro, and in individuals with telomerase mutations (TERT) androgens increased telomerase activity.This could be the explanation for the hematologic improvement observed in some aplastic anemia patients treated over 40 years ago with male hormones. Therefore, we hypothesize that androgens therapy might modulate telomere attrition in vivo and ameliorate progression or reverse the clinical consequences of shortening telomere length, and we propose androgens therapy in patients with cytopenias and/or IPF with a short age adjusted telomere length, with or without telomerase gene mutations. The primary biologic endpoint will be the reduction of telomere attrition over time compared to known rates of telomere erosion in normal individuals and in those who carry mutation in the telomerase genes. Secondary endpoints will be tolerability of nandrolone decanoate over two years, improvement in blood counts and/or pulmonary function.

Official Title
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Male Hormones for Telomere Related Diseases

Conditions
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Aplastic Anemia, Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes, Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, Telomere Shortening

Intervention / Treatment
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* Drug: Nandrolone Decanoate


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Peripheral blood leukocytes telomeres short for age, below the first percentile of a curve based on 500 healthy individuals between 0 and 100 years, with or without a telomerase gene mutation. AND One or more of the following cytopenias: Anemia (symptoms of anemia with hemoglobin <9.5 g/dL, or need for transfusion > 2 units of packed red blood cells/month for at least two months, or absolute reticulocytes count <60.000/μL). Thrombocytopenia (platelets counts <30.000/μL or <50.000/μL associated with bleeding, or megakaryocytes reduction in the bone marrow). Neutropenia (absolute neutrophil counts <1.000/μL). OR Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis diagnosed according to the American Thoracic Society (ATS) criteria. Exclusion Criteria: Terminal disease or liver disease, renal, cardiac, neurological, infectious or concomitant metabolic state whose gravity prevents the ability of the patient to tolerate the treatment protocol, or probable death within 30 days. People with cancer who are undergoing chemotherapy. Pregnancy, or desire to not prevent pregnancy in childbearing age. Aplastic Anemia patients with indication for bone marrow transplantation and matched donor.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 2 Years
Maximum Age: 99 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Nandrolone Decanoate<br>Nandrolone Decanoate intramuscularly administered, every two weeks, 5 mg/kg/dose | Drug: Nandrolone Decanoate<br> <br> |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Reduction in telomere attrition | The biologic endpoint is reduction in telomere attrition rate yearly compared to known rates of telomere erosion in normal individuals and in those who carry mutation in the telomerase genes | 2 years | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Hematologic response | The hematologic response will be determined by one or more of the following: absolute neutrophil counts (increase of more than 500/μL above initial value) platelets (increase of more than 20.000/μL above initial value) Hemoglobin: Increase in hemoglobin of more than 1.5 g/dL above initial value OR Transfusion independence in transfusion-dependent patients (more than 2 months without transfusion) OR Reduction of the transfusion needs in more than 50% | 2 years | 
| Clonal evolution | Number of participants that evolute to myelodysplasia or acute leukemia. | 2 years | 
| Improvement in lung function | The pulmonary response will be determined by the presence of one or more of the following: Improvement of dyspnea severity, objectively evaluated by Baseline Dyspnea Index; forced vital capacity (10% absolute increase) Diffusion of carbon monoxide (DLCO) corrected for hemoglobin (15% increase) No worsening of pulmonary fibrosis and reduction of assessed ground-glass opacities in computed tomography of the chest | 2 years | 
| Survival |  | 2 years | 
| Safety | Number of participants with adverse effects attributed to the use of nandrolone decanoate during the 24 months treatment period. | 2 years | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Hormones, Androgens, Aplastic Anemia, Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes, Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, Telomere, Telomere Shortening