Repeat infusion of autologous bone marrow cells in progressive multiple sclerosis - A phase I extension study (SIAMMS II).

BACKGROUND: During the safety and feasibility 'Study of Intravenous Autologous Marrow in Multiple Sclerosis (SIAMMS)', intravenous infusion of autologous marrow was well tolerated. The efficacy of the approach is being explored in a placebo-controlled randomised controlled trial (ACTiMuS, NCT01815632) but it is not known whether repeated infusions will be required to optimise benefit. The objective of the current study was to explore the safety and feasibility of repeat treatment with intravenous autologous bone marrow for patients with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODS: 'SIAMMS II' was a prospective, single centre phase I extension study in which participants in the SIAMMS study were offered repeat bone marrow harvest and infusion of autologous, unfractionated bone marrow as a day-case procedure. The primary outcome measure was number of adverse events and secondary outcome measures included change in clinical rating scales of disability, global evoked potential and cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). RESULTS: In total, 4 of the 6 participants in the SIAMMS study had repeat bone marrow harvest and infusion of filtered autologous marrow as a day case procedure which was well tolerated. There were no serious adverse effects. Additional outcome measures including clinical scales, global evoked potentials and cranial MRI were stable. CONCLUSION: SIAMMS II demonstrates the safety and feasibility of repeated, non-myeloablative autologous bone marrow-derived cell therapy in progressive MS.

Repeat infusion of autologous bone marrow cells in multiple sclerosis: protocol for a phase I extension study (SIAMMS-II).

INTRODUCTION: The 'Study of Intravenous Autologous Marrow in Multiple Sclerosis (SIAMMS)' trial was a safety and feasibility study which examined the effect of intravenous infusion of autologous bone marrow without myeloablative therapy. This trial was well tolerated and improvement was noted in the global evoked potential (GEP)--a neurophysiological secondary outcome measure recording speed of conduction in central nervous system pathways. The efficacy of intravenous delivery of autologous marrow in progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) will be examined in the phase II study the 'Assessment of Bone Marrow-Derived Cellular Therapy in Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (ACTiMuS; NCT01815632)'. In parallel with the 'ACTiMuS' study, the current study 'SIAMMS-II' will explore the feasibility of repeated, non-myeloablative autologous bone marrow-derived cell therapy in progressive MS. Furthermore, information will be obtained regarding the persistence or otherwise of improvements in conduction in central nervous system pathways observed in the original 'SIAMMS' study and whether these can be reproduced or augmented by a second infusion of autologous bone marrow-derived cells. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: An open, prospective, single-centre phase I extension study. The six patients with progressive MS who participated in the 'SIAMMS' study will be invited to undergo repeat bone marrow harvest and receive an intravenous infusion of autologous, unfractionated bone marrow as a day-case procedure. The primary outcome measure is the number of adverse events, and secondary outcome measures will include change in clinical rating scales of disability, GEP and cranial MRI. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study has UK National Research Ethics Committee approval (13/SW/0255). Study results will be disseminated via peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT01932593.

Assessment of bone marrow-derived Cellular Therapy in progressive Multiple Sclerosis (ACTiMuS): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: We have recently completed an evaluation of the safety and feasibility of intravenous delivery of autologous bone marrow in patients with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). The possibility of repair was suggested by improvement in the neurophysiological secondary outcome measure seen in all participants. The current study will examine the efficacy of intravenous delivery of autologous marrow in progressive MS. Laboratory studies performed in parallel with the clinical trial will further investigate the biology of bone marrow-derived stem cell infusion in MS, including mechanisms underlying repair. METHODS/DESIGN: A prospective, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, stepped wedge design will be employed at a single centre (Bristol, UK). Eighty patients with progressive MS will be recruited; 60 will have secondary progressive disease (SPMS) but a subset (n = 20) will have primary progressive disease (PPMS). Participants will be randomised to either early or late (1 year) intravenous infusion of autologous, unfractionated bone marrow. The placebo intervention is infusion of autologous blood. The primary outcome measure is global evoked potential derived from multimodal evoked potentials. Secondary outcome measures include adverse event reporting, clinical (EDSS and MSFC) and self-assessment (MSIS-29) rating scales, optical coherence tomography (OCT) as well as brain and spine MRI. Participants will be followed up for a further year following the final intervention. Outcomes will be analysed on an intention-to-treat basis. DISCUSSION: Assessment of bone marrow-derived Cellular Therapy in progressive Multiple Sclerosis (ACTiMuS) is the first randomised, placebo-controlled trial of non-myeloablative autologous bone marrow-derived stem cell therapy in MS. It will determine whether bone marrow cell therapy can, as was suggested by the phase I safety study, improve conduction in multiple central nervous system pathways affected in progressive MS. Furthermore, laboratory studies performed in parallel with the clinical trial will inform our understanding of the cellular pharmacodynamics of bone marrow infusion in MS patients and the mechanisms underlying cell therapy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN27232902 Registration date 11/09/2012. NCT01815632 Registration date 19/03/2013.