Demethylating Agent Azacitidine on Prevention of Acute Kidney Injury-chronic Kidney Disease Continuum

Sponsor
National Taiwan University Hospital (Other)
Overall Status
Not yet recruiting
CT.gov ID
NCT05325099
Collaborator
(none)
60
1
2
26
2.3

Study Details

Study Description

Brief Summary

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is increasing worldwide in recent years and is a major risk factor of chronic kidney disease (CKD). AKI, acute kidney disease (AKD) and CKD form a continuum whereby initial kidney injury leads to ongoing renal injury and eventually end-stage renal disease if no effective treatment is applied. Nevertheless, there are no useful pharmacotherapies approved clinically for the treatment of AKI and subsequent CKD.

Previous studies of the investigators have confirmed that pericytes are the primary cell source of scar-producing myofibroblasts. Furthermore, the investigators had demonstrated that significant epigenetic modification in transcriptome analysis of pericytes develops in different stage of AKI-CKD continuum. These epigenetic memory made pericytes obtain proliferative and pro-fibrotic phenotypes in activated status and persist in inactivated status. Demethylation by azacitidine prevented AKI-CKD transition, and attenuated fibrogenesis induced by a second adenine-AKI.

Azacitidine has been approved in the United States Food and Drug Administration and European Union for treatment of adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML), particularly recommended front-line treatment for older patients with acute myeloid leukemia who are not candidates for intensive treatment regimens. Dosage of azacitidine in clinical trial is calculated according to previous study and is lower than chemotherapeutic dose. Low dose azacitidine has demethylation effect and less cytotoxicity.

CSA-AKI is the second commonest cause of AKI in ICU. The investigators plan to initiate a double-blind randomized controlled trial (RCT) to recruit CSA-AKI patients. The patients will be divided as azacitidine group and placebo group. Patients in azacitidine group will receive three doses of low dose azacitidine in one week when AKI is diagnosed. After that, the investigators will follow up their renal function and urine protein every three month. Primary composite outcomes include a decline of at least 50% in the estimated GFR, an increase of urine protein-creatinine ratio (UPCR) over 1000 mg/g, and the development of end stage renal disease (ESRD). Secondary outcome is overall mortality.

Condition or Disease Intervention/Treatment Phase
Phase 1/Phase 2

Detailed Description

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is increasing worldwide in recent years and is a major risk factor of chronic kidney disease (CKD). An episode of AKI is not only associated with significant risk of short- and long-term morbidity and mortality but also a tremendous burden to patients, societies, and health care system. AKI, acute kidney disease (AKD) and CKD form a continuum whereby initial kidney injury leads to ongoing renal injury and eventually end-stage renal disease if no effective treatment is applied. Nevertheless, there are no useful pharmacotherapies approved clinically for the treatment of AKI and subsequent CKD. Current management can only focus on avoiding risk factors to prevent AKI and supportive care after diagnosis of AKI.

Pericytes, sharing developmental origins with fibroblasts, are the collagen-producing cells contacted with the microvascular. Previous studies of the investigators have confirmed that pericytes are the primary cell source of scar-producing myofibroblasts. Furthermore, the investigators had demonstrated that significant epigenetic modification in transcriptome analysis of pericytes develops in different stage of AKI-CKD continuum. These epigenetic memory made pericytes obtain proliferative and pro-fibrotic phenotypes in activated status and persist in inactivated status. The investigators found methylation of Ybx2 gene and other four repressor genes of αSMA were induced by TGF-b1 after AKI. Demethylation by azacitidine recovered the microvascular stabilizing function of aPericytes, reversed the profibrotic property of iPericytes, prevented AKI-CKD transition, and attenuated fibrogenesis induced by a second adenine-AKI. As a result, azacitidine is a potential therapeutic agents to prevent AKI-CKD continuum by its demethylating effect.

Azacitidine has been approved in the United States Food and Drug Administration and European Union for treatment of adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML), particularly recommended front-line treatment for older patients with acute myeloid leukemia who are not candidates for intensive treatment regimens. Azacitidine is used in clinical trial of other malignancies such as breast cancer or lung cancer. Dosage of azacitidine is calculated according to previous study and is lower than chemotherapeutic dose. Low dose azacitidine has demethylation effect and less cytotoxicity.

CSA-AKI is the second commonest cause of AKI in ICU. 8.2% patients after cardiac surgery in our hospital had severe AKI defined as Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria stage 2 or 3. Therefore, the investigators plan to initiate a double-blind randomized controlled trial (RCT) to recruit CSA-AKI patients. The patients will be divided as azacitidine group and placebo group. Patients in azacitidine group will receive three doses of low dose azacitidine in one week when AKI is diagnosed. After that, the investigators will follow up their renal function and urine protein every three month. Primary composite outcomes include a decline of at least 50% in the estimated GFR, an increase of urine protein-creatinine ratio (UPCR) over 1000 mg/g, and the development of end stage renal disease (ESRD). Secondary outcome is overall mortality. If the results demonstrated the benefit of azacitidine on the prevention of AKI-CKD continuum, the investigators can optimize the strategies and guideline of post-AKI care and the incidence of CKD and ESRD will decrease.

Study Design

Study Type:
Interventional
Anticipated Enrollment :
60 participants
Allocation:
Randomized
Intervention Model:
Parallel Assignment
Masking:
Quadruple (Participant, Care Provider, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Primary Purpose:
Treatment
Official Title:
Study of the Effect of Demethylating Agent Azacitidine on Prevention of Acute Kidney Injury-chronic Kidney Disease Continuum
Anticipated Study Start Date :
Jun 30, 2022
Anticipated Primary Completion Date :
Jun 30, 2024
Anticipated Study Completion Date :
Aug 30, 2024

Arms and Interventions

Arm Intervention/Treatment
Experimental: AKI patient with azacitidine treatment

azacitidine (subcutaneous injection)

Drug: Azacitidine
azacitidine (Vidaza) 1mg/BW(kg) (subcutaneous injection) QOD x 3 times
Other Names:
  • Vidaza
  • Placebo Comparator: AKI patient with placebo treatment

    Placebo drug (subcutaneous injection)

    Drug: Placebo
    Placebo (subcutaneous injection) QOD x 3 times

    Outcome Measures

    Primary Outcome Measures

    1. Renal composite outcome [2 years after recruitment]

      A decline of at least 50% in the estimated GFR (compared with baseline eGFR) An increase of UPCR over 1000 mg/g The onset of end-stage kidney disease

    Secondary Outcome Measures

    1. Overall mortality and cardiovascular death [2 years after recruitment]

    Eligibility Criteria

    Criteria

    Ages Eligible for Study:
    20 Years and Older
    Sexes Eligible for Study:
    All
    Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
    No
    Inclusion Criteria:
    • Patient with cardiac surgery associated-AKI, stage 2 and stage 3
    Exclusion Criteria:
    • Chronic kidney disease

    • Decompensated heart failure (EF < 45%)

    • Liver cirrhosis, child B or C

    • Acute infection

    • Acute bleeding

    • Long-term use of immunosuppressant other than azacitidine

    • Patients with active cancer other than acute leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome

    • Leukopenia, anemia or thrombocytopenia

    • Pregnancy

    Contacts and Locations

    Locations

    Site City State Country Postal Code
    1 Yu Hsiang Chou Taipei City Taiwan 116

    Sponsors and Collaborators

    • National Taiwan University Hospital

    Investigators

    None specified.

    Study Documents (Full-Text)

    None provided.

    More Information

    Publications

    None provided.
    Responsible Party:
    National Taiwan University Hospital
    ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
    NCT05325099
    Other Study ID Numbers:
    • 202110100MINA
    First Posted:
    Apr 13, 2022
    Last Update Posted:
    May 6, 2022
    Last Verified:
    Apr 1, 2022
    Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement:
    No
    Plan to Share IPD:
    No
    Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product:
    No
    Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product:
    No
    Additional relevant MeSH terms:

    Study Results

    No Results Posted as of May 6, 2022