Pulmonary Vascular Disease in CF

NCT ID: NCT04549077

Last Updated: 2026-01-07

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
• Total Enrollment: 86 participants
• Study Classification: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2020-07-29
• Study Completion Date: 2026-01-01

Brief Summary

In this project, the investigators seek to understand the role of endothelial cells in Cystic Fibrosis (CF) lung disease. This objective will be achieved by conducting a cross sectional clinical study to define the morphology of the pulmonary circulation across a range of lung function coupled with a mechanistic study of the effect of dysfunctional cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) in endothelial cells on vasculogenesis, epithelial morphogenesis and epithelial CFTR function. Toward that end, the investigators propose the following hypotheses; (a). Loss of pulmonary small blood vessels begins early in the CF lung and worsens with disease progression, (b).VEGFR2-CFTR interactions happen at the plasma membrane of endothelial cells and is likely to be involved in transendothelial ion transport (c) impaired VEGFR2-CFTR interactions on the endothelial cells will have a profound effect on vasculogenesis, epithelial morphogenesis and ion transport.

The first hypotheses will be tested through this clinical study. The following 2 hypotheses will be tested through laboratory studies that do not involve human subjects.

Detailed Description

Pulmonary disease in Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is characterized by progressive loss of functional gas exchange units that eventually results in respiratory failure. In CF lung disease, remodeling of pulmonary blood vessels, and vascular growth of bronchial blood vessels leading to systemic vascularization of the lung are the principal characteristics of pulmonary vascular disease. Studies have demonstrated that abnormal perfusion is present in up to 85% of 1 year old CF infants and only 17% of the perfusion deficits could be explained by mucus plugging or bronchial wall abnormalities at this age. Based on the investigators' state of the art method to reconstruct the pulmonary vasculature from non-contrast high resolution CT scan of the lungs, the investigators demonstrated that the blood volume in small vessels begins to decline when lung function is still in the normal range and worsens with increase disease severity. Furthermore, the investigators have also demonstrated that systemic vascularization of the lungs by the bronchial circulation begins at a FEV1% of 100. Preclinical studies of pulmonary endothelium revealed that delivering vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) antagonist to rats leads to air space enlargement and pruning of the pulmonary arterial tree. Thus, there is a central unanswered question as to whether pulmonary vascular disease (vascular remodeling and systemic vascularization) are just a squeal of parenchymal destruction or whether they contribute to the loss of alveolar gas exchange units and decline in lung function. In this proposal, the investigators will accomplish the following aims: 1) describe the morphology of the pulmonary vasculature across a wide range of lung function and relate the findings to functional outcomes, 2) examine mechanism of early loss of small blood vessels in CF patients as it relates to endothelial CFTR dysfunction. In addition, the investigators will study the changes in the pulmonary circulation after the initiation of triple combination therapy Trikafta (elexacaftor, ivacaftor, and tezacaftor).

This is a case control study of 93 cystic fibrosis patients and 100 age and gender matched controls. CF patients (cases) will be recruited from two cystic fibrosis centers, Cincinnati Children's Hospital and Riley Children's Hospital. Controls will be subjects from the oncology service without lung disease who had CT scan of the chest to rule out pulmonary metastasis. 31 subjects of the 93 subjects enrolled will receive a second evaluation 6 months after starting a clinically prescribed corrector / modulator of Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Protein Regulator (Trikafta) that was approved by the FDA in October, 2019 for patients with CF ages 12 and up. If FDA approval for use of Trikafta for ages 6-11 years of age is obtained, this patient age range will also be eligible for the second evaluation at 6 months.

Conditions

Cystic Fibrosis

Study Design

• Observational Model Type: CASE_CONTROL
• Study Time Perspective: OTHER

Study Groups

Cystic Fibrosis Patients

Patients with Cystic Fibrosis.

No interventions assigned to this group

Historical Controls

Patients diagnosed with solid tumors, who have had a normal chest CT scan during screening for possible metastasis

No interventions assigned to this group

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• 5-21 years of age
• diagnosis of CF based on a positive sweat test and genetic testing
• Baseline pulmonary condition defined as a) Absence of signs and symptoms of pulmonary exacerbation, b) Baseline pulmonary function test (PFT) defined as FEV1% that is no less than 5% of the best PFT in the previous 6 months, c) Patients should be off acute antibiotics for 2 weeks or longer.
• Subjects should be able to perform an acceptable and reproducible spirometry
• Study population will be equally divided between three groups based on FEV1%, (FEV1% ≥ 90); moderate (60 ≤ FEV1% < 90)

• solid tumor diagnosis
• had chest CT scan to survey possible metastasis or any other lung disease
• age and gender matched to Cystic Fibrosis patients

Exclusion Criteria

• Enrollment in clinical trials of CFTR correctors and or potentiator
• Enrollment in gene therapy trial
• Pregnancy.

Historical Controls

• Minimum Eligible Age: 5 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 21 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Locations

Riley Hospital for Children

Indianapolis, Indiana, United States

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

Cincinnati, Ohio, United States

Countries

United States

Other Identifiers

2019-1239

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id