title: A Multicenter, Single-Blind, Phase IIa Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of a Cell-Mediated Gene Therapy in Degenerative Knee Arthritis Patients.
abstract: Osteoarthritis leads to articular cartilage wear, and newer therapies are aimed at slowing this degeneration. Growth factors and cytokines influence cartilage formation, and researchers are studying their use on cartilage regeneration in osteoarthritis. One method uses genetically engineered cells to deliver growth factors to damaged cartilage. This technique utilizes transforming growth factor-β proteins in modified chondrocytes to stimulate cartilage growth via an intra-articular injection. We evaluated the efficacy and outcomes of this injection on patients who had International Cartilage Repair Society grade 4 knee osteoarthritis. We evaluated 27 patients (6 men, 21 women) who had late-stage knee osteoarthritis. Patients were randomized to receive genetically engineered chondrocytes doses of 6×10(6) cells (group 1) or 1.8×10(7) cells (group 2) at a 1:1 ratio. Primary endpoints were subjective and functional evaluations, assessed by the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score. Secondary endpoints were pain severity and physical function, using the Western Ontario and McMaster osteoarthritis (WOMAC) index and the 100 mm visual analog scale (VAS). Patients were followed at 2, 4, 12, and 24 weeks postinjection. Both groups had significant improvements in outcomes. Scores improved at 12 and 24 weeks from baseline in IKDC (+10 and +14 points in group 1; +11 and +13 points in group 2), WOMAC (-12 and -13 points in group 1; -10 and -12 points in group 2), and VAS (-19 and -24 points in group 1; -20 and -20 in group 2) scores. Additionally, there were no serious adverse events, and no significant difference in adverse event incidence between the groups. Both groups expressed a mean improvement in pain, function, and physical ability following treatment injection. This modality appears to be a promising treatment for cartilage degeneration. However, further larger, multicenter, randomized studies are needed to truly evaluate the efficacy of this novel approach.
authors.affiliation: 1 Samsung Medical Center, Seoul National University Hospital , Seoul 15-710, South Korea .
authors.forename: Chul-Won
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.affiliation: 1 Samsung Medical Center, Seoul National University Hospital , Seoul 15-710, South Korea .
authors.forename: Jung Jong
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: 2 Rubin Institute for Advanced Orthopedics, Center for Joint Preservation and Replacement, Sinai Hospital of Baltimore , Baltimore, MD 21215.
authors.forename: Randa K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Elmallah
authors.affiliation: 2 Rubin Institute for Advanced Orthopedics, Center for Joint Preservation and Replacement, Sinai Hospital of Baltimore , Baltimore, MD 21215.
authors.forename: Jeffrey J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Cherian
authors.affiliation: 1 Samsung Medical Center, Seoul National University Hospital , Seoul 15-710, South Korea .
authors.forename: Tae Won
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: 1 Samsung Medical Center, Seoul National University Hospital , Seoul 15-710, South Korea .
authors.forename: Myung-Chul
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: 2 Rubin Institute for Advanced Orthopedics, Center for Joint Preservation and Replacement, Sinai Hospital of Baltimore , Baltimore, MD 21215.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mont
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000637:transplantation*; D005260:Female; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1