Title

RCT of ChondroCelect® (in an ACI Procedure) vs Microfracture in the Repair of Cartilage Defects of the Knee
Prospective Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial of ChondroCelect® (Via Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation) vs Microfracture (as Procedure) in the Repair of Symptomatic Cartilaginous Defects of the Femoral Condyles
  • Phase

    Phase 3
  • Study Type

    Interventional
  • Intervention/Treatment

    chondrocelect ...
  • Study Participants

    118
This is a phase III, multicenter, open-label, randomized controlled trial of ChondroCelect® in an Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation (ACI) procedure compared to the procedure of microfracture (MF) in the repair of symptomatic cartilage lesions of the knee. Eligible patients attended two screening visits and were booked for arthroscopy approximately 2 weeks later. At that time, patients were randomized to either ACI with ChondroCelect® or to MF, a procedure in which the subchondral bone is perforated to allow a bloodcloth to form scar tissue. Patients randomized to MF had the procedure performed at the time of their arthroscopy; those randomized to ACI with ChondroCelect® had their cells harvested during the arthroscopy and then returned to the clinic approximately 4 weeks later for an open knee procedure, during which the ACI procedure using ChondroCelect® was performed. Patients subsequently followed the same rehabilitation program and had follow-up assessments up to 12 months post-surgery. The 12-month visit was the end-of-study visit for the TIG/ACT/01/2000 protocol. Subject to satisfying the eligibility criteria, patients who had participated in the initial 12 month trial could enter the extension trial. The 12-month visit for the initial study was the baseline visit for the extension study. During the extension study, patients have follow-up assessments up to 60 months post-surgery.
see above
Study Started
Feb 28
2002
Primary Completion
Jul 31
2006
Study Completion
Jan 31
2010
Results Posted
Jan 18
2010
Estimate
Last Update
Sep 26
2011
Estimate

Drug ChondroCelect implantation

10.000 cells/µl cell suspension for implantation (Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation). ChondroCelect consists of characterised autologous cartilage-forming cells expressing a specific marker profile. The dose depends on the size of the lesion. Recommended dose is 0.8 to 1.0 million cells/cm².

  • Other names: CCI

Procedure Microfracture

A procedure in which the subchondral bone is perforated to allow a bloodcloth to form scar tissue.

  • Other names: subchondral drilling

ChondroCelect Experimental

Microfracture Active Comparator

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Signed patient informed consent
Symptomatic cartilage single lesion of the femoral condyle
Lesion on femoral condyle between 1 and 5 cm²
Agree to participate actively in a strict rehabilitation protocol and follow-up programme
Agree to only use paracetamol mono-or combination preparation (max 4g/d) and Non-Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS) during the study and to discontinue this medication 2 weeks before the baseline visit and the follow-up visits. The use of paracetamol mono-preparation (max 4g/d) is allowed up to one week before the baseline visit and the follow-up visits.
Females of childbearing age should use a proven method to prevent pregnancy

Exclusion Criteria:

Participation in concurrent trials
Participation in previous trials within 3 months
Subjects with hepatitis, HIV or syphilis
Malignancy
Alcohol or drug (medication) abuse
Poor general health as judged by Investigator
Clinically relevant second cartilage lesion on the patella
Patellofemoral cartilage lesion
Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD) : recent OCD (within 1 year before baseline), depth of lesion > 0.5cm, subchondral slerosis
Advanced osteoarthritis (OA) : radiographic atlas of OA grade 2-3
Known allergy to gentamicin or penicillins (or presence of multiple severe allergies)
Complex ligamentous instability of the knee
Meniscal transplant
Meniscal suture with meniscal arrows (ipsilateral)
Meniscus resection : if < 1 yr before baseline - lateral meniscus resection or medial meniscus resection of more than 50%. If > 1 yr before baseline - ipsilateral meniscus resection of more than 50%, controlateral meniscus resection of more than 50% if ipsilateral meniscus is not intact, combination of medial and lateral meniscus resection and one of both > 50%.
Varus or valgus malalignment of more than 5°
Mosaicplasty
Microfracture performed less than 1 yr before baseline
Having received hyaluronic acid intra-articular injections in the affected knee within the last 6 months of baseline
Taking specific OA drugs such as chondroïtin sulfate, diacerein, n-glucosamine, piascledine, capsaicin within 2 weeks of the baseline visit
Corticosteroïd treatment by systemic or intra-articular route within the last month of baseline or intramuscular or oral corticosteroïds within the last 2 weeks of baseline
Chronic use of anticoagulants
Uncontrolled diabetes
Any concomitant painful or disabling disease of the spine,hips or lower limbs that would interfere with evaluation of the afflicted knee
Any clinically significant or symptomatic vascular or neurologic disorder of the lower extremities
Any evidence of the following diseases in the target joint : septic arthritis, inflammatory joint disease, gout, recurrent episodes of pseudogout, Paget's disease of bone, ochronosis, acromegaly, hemochromatosis, Wilson's disease, primary osteochondromatosis, heritable disorders, collagen gene mutation
Current diagnosis of osteomyelitis
Liver enzymes (SGOT, SGPT, Alkaline Phosphatase) of more then two times the upper limit of normal or any other result that is clinically important according to the Investigator
CRP > 10 mg/l

Summary

ChondroCelect

Microfracture

All Events

Event Type Organ System Event Term ChondroCelect Microfracture

Histomorphometry Safranin-O + Anti-Collagen II Antibody Staining

Histomorphometry on end point biopsies at 12 months post-surgery. Safranin-O (ratio 0-1)+ anti-Collagen II antibody (ratio 0-1) stain signal expressed as a ratio of the total cartilage surface area (Saf O + anti Coll II divided by total surface = ratio 0-2). Safranin-O stains proteoglycans and anti-Collagen II antibody reflects the presence of Collagen II.

ChondroCelect

1.01
Ratio (Least Squares Mean)
Standard Error: 0.08

Microfracture

0.75
Ratio (Least Squares Mean)
Standard Error: 0.08

Overall Histology Assessment on First Subscale of ICRS II Score

Overall histology assessment of cartilage repair, first subscale of International Cartilage Repair Society II (ICRS II) score by two blinded independant histopathologists on a visual analogue scale (VAS 0-100mm) from worst (0) to best (100)

ChondroCelect

55.11
Points on a scale (Least Squares Mean)
Standard Error: 3.98

Microfracture

44.2
Points on a scale (Least Squares Mean)
Standard Error: 3.74

Change From Baseline in Overall Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) at 12-18 Months (Average)

Overall Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome score (average of 4 KOOS subdomains, Sports not included) at the average of 12-18 months (calculated by averaging change from baseline measurements at 12 and 18 months). Best score = 100; worst score = 0. The analysis was the average of the change from baseline at the 12 and 18 months timepoints.

ChondroCelect

Baseline value

56.3
points on a scale (0-100) (Least Squares Mean)
Standard Error: 13.61

Change in oKOOS

16.18
points on a scale (0-100) (Least Squares Mean)
Standard Error: 2.42

Value at 12 months

73.26
points on a scale (0-100) (Least Squares Mean)
Standard Error: 14.66

Value at 18 months

74.73
points on a scale (0-100) (Least Squares Mean)
Standard Error: 17.01

Microfracture

Baseline value

59.53
points on a scale (0-100) (Least Squares Mean)
Standard Error: 14.95

Change in oKOOS

14.37
points on a scale (0-100) (Least Squares Mean)
Standard Error: 2.35

Value at 12 months

73.1
points on a scale (0-100) (Least Squares Mean)
Standard Error: 16.01

Value at 18 months

75.04
points on a scale (0-100) (Least Squares Mean)
Standard Error: 14.50

Safety: Adverse Events

Side effects are recorded as the number of patients with adverse events. These events are coded according to the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Affairs (MedDRA terms).

ChondroCelect

51.0
participants

Microfracture

61.0
participants

Change From Baseline in Overall Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) at 36 Months

Overall Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome score (average of 4 KOOS subdomains: Activities of Daily Living, Quality of Life, Symptoms and Stiffness Pain; Sports not included) at 36 months (change from baseline). Best = 100; worst = 0.

ChondroCelect

Baseline value

56.3
Units on a scale (Mean)
Standard Error: 1.91

Change in oKOOS

21.25
Units on a scale (Mean)
Standard Error: 3.60

Value at 36 month

78.46
Units on a scale (Mean)
Standard Error: 18.70

Microfracture

Baseline value

59.46
Units on a scale (Mean)
Standard Error: 1.98

Change in oKOOS

15.83
Units on a scale (Mean)
Standard Error: 3.48

Value at 36 month

74.47
Units on a scale (Mean)
Standard Error: 18.60

Number of Treatment Failures at 36 Months

Participants with failed treatment - defined as the number of patients who underwent a reintervention of the index lesion - at 36 months. The index lesion is the lesion that was initially treated in the study.

ChondroCelect

2.0
Participants

Microfracture

7.0
Participants

Change From Baseline in Overall Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) at 60 Months

Patient-administered instrument to assess the patients opinion about their knee and associated problems. It consists of 5 subscales; Pain, other Symptoms, Function in daily living (ADL), Function in sport and recreation (Sport/Rec) and knee related Quality of life QOL. The last week is taken into consideration when answering questions. Standardized answer options are given (5 Likert boxes) and each question gets a score from 0 to 4. A normalized score (100 indicating no symptoms and 0 indicating extreme symptoms) is calculated for each subscale. The result can be plotted as an outcome profile.

ChondroCelect

21.17
units on a scale (Mean)
Standard Error: 2.89

Microfracture

14.07
units on a scale (Mean)
Standard Error: 2.54

Number of Treatment Failures at 60 Months Post-surgery

Participants with failed treatment - defined as the number of patients who underwent a reintervention of the index lesion - at 60 months. The index lesion is the lesion that was initially treated in the study.

ChondroCelect

7.0
participants

Microfracture

10.0
participants

Total

118
Participants

Age Continuous

33.92
years (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 8.54

Age, Categorical

Region of Enrollment

Sex: Female, Male

Overall Study

ChondroCelect

Microfracture