Clinical trial NCT00451867: A Randomized Multicenter Double-Blind CT to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Mycophenolate Mofetil . . .
Official title: A Randomized Multicenter Double-Blind Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Mycophenolate Mofetil (CellCept) for the Treatment of Refractory Interstitial Cystitis (IC)
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: TERMINATED
Phase: PHASE3
Conditions: Interstitial Cystitis
Painful Bladder Syndrome
Keywords: interstitial cystitis research
painful bladder syndrome research
pelvic pain research
interstitial cystitis and autoimmune
interstitial cystitis and cellcept
interstitial cystitis and mycophenolate mofetil
interstitial cystitis and MMF
interstitial cystitis and inflammation
inflammatory diseases and immunosupression
Lead sponsor: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Sponsor class: NIH
First posted: 2007-03-26
Enrollment: 210
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: The purpose of this study is to investigate the safety and effectiveness of a medication called CellCept in treating refractory (has not responded to other treatments) interstitial cystitis.

CellCept belongs to a class of medications called immuno-suppressants. Immuno-suppressants work in the body by reducing the immune system's ability to produce certain reactions that can cause inflammation. In some people, the inflammation produced by their immune system can damage healthy tissues and cause symptoms of pain and discomfort. CellCept is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in patients who have had an organ transplant. When used in combination with other drugs, CellCept helps to prevent the rejection of the transplanted organ and is used widely in patients who have received kidney, liver and heart transplants. CellCept is also frequently used but not FDA approved for the treatment of severe rheumatoid arthritis which is a disease caused when the body's immune system acts against healthy tissues in the joints.

Due to its special activity, CellCept may be useful in treating certain inflammatory diseases or conditions like interstitial cystitis.

Detailed description: Interstitial Cystitis (IC) is a bladder syndrome characterized as painful, debilitating and chronic, with no universally successful treatment option currently available. Characteristic symptoms include pain with bladder filling, and marked urinary frequency (to relieve pain). The only FDA-approved oral medication for treatment of IC is pentosan polysulfate (Elmiron), recently demonstrated by our collaborative research network to perform with little more efficacy than placebo (ref), and which is expensive and has associated side effects. Current clinical treatment protocols are empiric and usually aimed at relieving pain. There is a pressing need for an effective oral medication for treatment of IC. The presentation of symptoms can be quite variable among patients, suggesting that IC is a multi-factorial syndrome with several proposed etiologies, some of which may be interrelated.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Participant at least 18 years of age and received a diagnosis of PBS/IC, confirmed by cystoscopy and hydrodistention in the past with findings of glomerulations and/or ulceration.
* Participant has symptoms of urinary frequency and pain/discomfort (at least 4 on each 0-10 Likert scale) at entry.
* Participant failed at least 24 weeks of active treatment with a minimum of 3 standard forms of therapy (including hydrodistension) or combination of therapies for PBS/IC.
* Participant will receive cystoscopy to be performed in the office at baseline visit before randomization if none has been conducted within the previous 24 weeks. Cystoscopy results must show no unevaluated lesions.
* Female participants with a cervix are required to have Pap smear exam within the past 12 months prior to enrollment with normal results reported.
* Participant (female) with child-bearing potential must agree to use two reliable/medically approved methods of birth control.

Exclusion Criteria:

* History of cancer or known pre-malignant conditions, including skin cancer.
* History of bladder calculus, tuberculous cystitis; neurologic disease affecting bladder function.
* Current immunocompromised condition, including current or chronic treatment with immunosuppressive agents, or known positive for HIV (positive antibody confirmed by Western Blot or IFA); active tuberculosis requiring on-going therapy; current systemic steroid treatment at any dose.
* Liver function test or creatinine results greater than 2x the upper limit of normal at home institution laboratory.
* Any baseline leukopenia (an absolute neutrophil count \<1,500/µL), thrombocytopenia (a platelet count less than 150,000/microL), or anemia - HGB \< 12 or \< 11 g/dLin men and in women respectively.
* Is seropositive for Hepatitis B surface antigen; or is seropositive for Hepatitis B surface antibody (if not previously vaccinated); is seropositive for Hepatitis C antibody or HIV antigen or antibody.
* Allergy or hypersensitivity to study medication.
* Unable to void spontaneously.
* Active urethral or ureteral calculi, urethral diverticulum.
* Any severe debilitating or urgent concurrent medical condition.
* Previous cytoxan/cyclophosphamide treatment, pelvic radiation therapy; augmentation cystoplasty, cystectomy, or cystolysis; neurectomy.
* Participants with history of treatment for genital tract dysplasia or genital warts or genital herpes.
* Patients with active or a history of peptic ulcer disease, inflammatory bowel disease or gastrointestinal bleeding.
* Patients with hypertension not adequately controlled with medication.
* Patient currently taking H2 blockers or proton pump inhibitors.
* Patients who cannot tolerate or refuse an office cystoscopy.

Exclusion criteria for men only:

* Currently being treated for chronic bacterial prostatitis, as documented by a positive urine culture or prior history of recurrent bacterial urinary infections.
* Unevaluated suspicious prostate exam.

Exclusion criteria for women only:

* Lactation, pregnancy, or refusal of two types of (medically approved/reliable) birth control in women of child-bearing potential.
* Pain, frequency, urgency symptoms present only during menses.

Primary outcomes:
measure: To compare CellCept 2 grams daily to placebo for effects on overall IC symptoms and well being in patients with refractory PBS/IC.
timeFrame: 12 Weeks
measure: To assess the safety profile of CellCept in the treatment of refractory PBS/IC.
timeFrame: 12 Weeks
Secondary outcomes:
measure: To investigate the association between clinical subgroups, characterized by differences in baseline characteristics (such as presence of ulcers, duration of symptoms, significant co-morbid diseases, serological abnormalities), and efficacy of CellCept.
timeFrame: 12 Weeks
measure: To assess the patterns of patient expectations, associations with symptom severity, and the potential impact of patient expectations on response to treatment.
timeFrame: 12 Weeks
measure: To assess patterns of treatment goals and goal achievement in this study population, as well as baseline characteristics and factors related to goal selection and achievement.
timeFrame: 12 Weeks
measure: To assess impact of study medication on pain medication use.
timeFrame: 12 Weeks
measure: To assess the frequency and mechanism of un-blinding on study results and assess how the patient's perception of which treatment they received changes over time and influences ultimate outcome.
timeFrame: 12 Weeks
measure: To assess the rate of detectable immune disorders in patients with PBS/IC refractory to standard treatment using CellCept.
timeFrame: 12 Weeks
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: San Diego
country: United States
facility: Univeristy of California San Diego
state: California
city: Stanford
country: United States
facility: Stanford University Medical center
state: California
city: Maywood
country: United States
facility: Loyola University Medical Center
state: Illinois
city: Iowa City
country: United States
facility: University of Iowa
state: Iowa
city: Baltimore
country: United States
facility: University of Maryland
state: Maryland
city: Detroit
country: United States
facility: Henry Ford Hospital
state: Michigan
city: Royal Oak
country: United States
facility: William Beaumont Hospital
state: Michigan
city: Rochester
country: United States
facility: University of Rochester
state: New York
city: Philadelphia
country: United States
facility: University of Pennsylvania Health System
state: Pennsylvania
city: Seattle
country: United States
facility: University of Washington
state: Washington
city: Kingston
country: Canada
facility: Queen's University
state: Ontario
Study officials:
affiliation: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
name: John Kusek, PhD
role: STUDY_DIRECTOR
affiliation: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
name: LeRoy Nyberg, MD, PhD
role: STUDY_DIRECTOR
affiliation: University of Pennsylnania
name: Richard Landis, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
affiliation: Henry Ford Hospital
name: David Burks, MD
role: STUDY_CHAIR
affiliation: Yale University
name: Harris Foster, MD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: