Clinical Efficacy of Platelet Gel From Cord Blood for the Treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcers

Summary

A novel method (PCT n. WO 2010/007502 A2, 2010) has been developed to obtain platelet gel from umbilical cord blood (CBPG). The main advantages so far identified in CBPG as compared to platelet gel derived from adult platelets relate to the lack of microbiological contamination in the former and to a different profile of growth factors concentrations, such as a higher content of VEGF and lower content of TGF in CBPG. Recent developments have led to a procedure in which CBPG can be prepared, stored in a cryopreservation bag and applied to the skin ulcer without breaking the sterility chain. In spite of promising results on allogeneic CBPG, a randomized clinical trial of sufficient statistical power to detect significant advantages (clinical and economical) will be performed in patients affected by diabetic foot ulcers and randomly treated with CBPG versus standard local medications (SLM).This study is a multicenter (8 centers) controlled randomized clinical trial. Outcomes: (1) primary objective is to evaluate the number of closed skin ulcers within 4 weeks of treatment with CBPG vs standard local medications; (2) secondary objectives are percent skin ulcer closure area, number and type of adverse events and cost of treatment. Sample size calculation: 95 + 5 (dropout) test and 95 + 5 (dropout) control patients ensure 80% power to detect as statistically significant (p\<0.05) \>60% healing in test vs 40% healing in control.Each clinical centre has been invited to enrol 15 treated and 15 control patients, according to local availability in 12 months. CB units are routinely collected after mother's informed consent before and after placenta delivery in accredited public cord blood banks belonging to the Italian Cord Blood Network (ITCBN) coordinated by the Centro Nazionale Sangue (CNS). After storage and transportation at monitored room temperature, the units will be processed for the preparation of CBPG within 48 hours of collection. CBPG will be prepared according to standard procedures with a defined final platelet concentration (0.8-1.2 x 109/L). The CBPC units will be finally cryopreserved in a -80°C freezer in view of the clinical use of the CBPG, which will require thawing at 37°C in a waterbath and activation with Calcium gluconate. For SLM, each clinical center will use their validated standard procedures.

Timeline

Start

2015-01

Primary completion

2017-02

Completion

2017-02

Publications

• Results Rosso L, Parazzi V, Damarco F, Righi I, Santambrogio L, Rebulla P, Gatti S, Ferrero S, Nosotti M, Lazzari L. Pleural tissue repair with cord blood platelet gel. Blood Transfus. 2014 Jan;12 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):s235-42. doi: 10.2450/2013.0214-12. Epub 2013 May 14.
• Results Parazzi V, Lazzari L, Rebulla P. Platelet gel from cord blood: a novel tool for tissue engineering. Platelets. 2010;21(7):549-54. doi: 10.3109/09537104.2010.514626.
• Results Giusti I, Rughetti A, D'Ascenzo S, Millimaggi D, Pavan A, Dell'Orso L, Dolo V. Identification of an optimal concentration of platelet gel for promoting angiogenesis in human endothelial cells. Transfusion. 2009 Apr;49(4):771-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1537-2995.2008.02033.x. Epub 2008 Dec 23.
• Results Mishra A, Woodall J Jr, Vieira A. Treatment of tendon and muscle using platelet-rich plasma. Clin Sports Med. 2009 Jan;28(1):113-25. doi: 10.1016/j.csm.2008.08.007.
• Results Spyridakis M, Christodoulidis G, Chatzitheofilou C, Symeonidis D, Tepetes K. The role of the platelet-rich plasma in accelerating the wound-healing process and recovery in patients being operated for pilonidal sinus disease: preliminary results. World J Surg. 2009 Aug;33(8):1764-9. doi: 10.1007/s00268-009-0046-y.
• Results O'Connell SM, Impeduglia T, Hessler K, Wang XJ, Carroll RJ, Dardik H. Autologous platelet-rich fibrin matrix as cell therapy in the healing of chronic lower-extremity ulcers. Wound Repair Regen. 2008 Nov-Dec;16(6):749-56. doi: 10.1111/j.1524-475X.2008.00426.x.
• Results Gope ML, Gope R. Tyrosine phosphorylation of EGF-R and PDGF-R proteins during acute cutaneous wound healing process in mice. Wound Repair Regen. 2009 Jan-Feb;17(1):71-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1524-475X.2008.00443.x.
• Results Nikolidakis D, Jansen JA. The biology of platelet-rich plasma and its application in oral surgery: literature review. Tissue Eng Part B Rev. 2008 Sep;14(3):249-58. doi: 10.1089/ten.teb.2008.0062.
• Results Knighton DR, Ciresi KF, Fiegel VD, Austin LL, Butler EL. Classification and treatment of chronic nonhealing wounds. Successful treatment with autologous platelet-derived wound healing factors (PDWHF). Ann Surg. 1986 Sep;204(3):322-30. doi: 10.1097/00000658-198609000-00011.
• Results Knighton DR, Ciresi K, Fiegel VD, Schumerth S, Butler E, Cerra F. Stimulation of repair in chronic, nonhealing, cutaneous ulcers using platelet-derived wound healing formula. Surg Gynecol Obstet. 1990 Jan;170(1):56-60.

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