Effect of Topical Sulforaphane on Skin Fragility Seen in Skin Aging and With Ultraviolet Exposure

June 14, 2023 updated by: Johns Hopkins University
This study aims to compare the expression of keratins before and after application of sulforaphane (SF) to determine whether this agent alters skin fragility seen in both intrinsic and extrinsic skin aging and UV light exposure.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Terminated

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

The primary purpose of the study is to compare the expression of keratins before and after application of sulforaphane (SF) and determine whether these findings alter skin fragility seen in both intrinsic and extrinsic skin aging as well as in ultraviolet (UV) light exposure.

This investigation will be done in collaboration with researchers from the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University. The study population recruited by Johns Hopkins Department of Dermatology will include up to 50 individuals over the age of 18 with healthy skin. Each study participant will have four on-site study visits and will be asked to contribute photographs, undergo non invasive elasticity measurements, use topical sulforaphane for 7 days and contribute up to four biopsy specimens for laboratory study. The investigators will also evaluate any differences in keratins' expression in skin exposed to acute UV light, separately and after pretreatment with sulforaphane.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
9

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Maryland
      • Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21287
        • Cutaneous Translational Research Program, Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Participants must be over the age of 18 years old with healthy skin;
  2. Must be healthy enough to undergo skin biopsy, UV light irradiation, and other study procedures in the opinion of the investigator;
  3. Must be willing to comply with the requirements of the protocol;
  4. Must have the ability to understand and communicate with the investigator;
  5. Participant must provide informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Subjects who are unable to provide informed consent;
  2. Subject with significant medical history or current skin diseases that the investigator feels is not safe for study participation;
  3. Subjects who have been treated with systemic retinoids or steroids within the past month prior to entry to the study;
  4. Subjects who have been treated with topical steroids, retinoids or other topical drugs used within 2 weeks prior to entry to the study;
  5. Recently treated or current skin diseases that would affect clinical evaluation and biopsy;
  6. Subjects with a known allergy to broccoli.
  7. Presence or suspicion of bleeding disorder or diathesis which would complicate biopsy.
  8. Subjects with a history of excessive scar or keloid formation in the past 10 years.
  9. Pregnant or nursing subjects (self-reported).
  10. Subjects with known allergy to anesthetics used.
  11. Patients with history of investigational drug use in the 30 days prior to entry into the study.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Other
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Group A
Sulforaphane will be applied topically to both sites for up to 7 consecutive nights. Biopsies will be obtained prior to, and immediately after this intervention, on standard photoprotected and photoexposed sites.
Drug: Sulforaphane
Isothiocyanate sulforaphane (SF), derived from broccoli sprouts, has been known to induce an antioxidant response through the Keap1-Nrf2-antioxidant response element pathway.
Other Names:
  • Broccoli sprout extract; isothiocyanate sulforaphane
Procedure: 4 mm skin punch biopsy
All areas will be biopsied using standard punch biopsy tools and following standard clinical protocols, including cleansing the skin with an alcohol wipe and injecting local anesthesia with lidocaine and epinephrine. No more than four total skin biopsies will be obtained from a volunteer over the course of the study. After removal of the tissue sample, one or two sutures are placed to close the circular opening. Sutures are removed and a scar is formed, but typically heals well without complications and blends well with the surrounding skin.
Other Names:
  • biopsy
Experimental: Group B
Two photoprotected sites will be identified. Sulforaphane will be applied topically to a single selected site for up to 7 consecutive nights. Both site will be exposed to UV. Biopsies of both sites will be obtained prior to, and 24 hours after UV exposure.
Drug: Sulforaphane
Isothiocyanate sulforaphane (SF), derived from broccoli sprouts, has been known to induce an antioxidant response through the Keap1-Nrf2-antioxidant response element pathway.
Other Names:
  • Broccoli sprout extract; isothiocyanate sulforaphane
Procedure: 4 mm skin punch biopsy
All areas will be biopsied using standard punch biopsy tools and following standard clinical protocols, including cleansing the skin with an alcohol wipe and injecting local anesthesia with lidocaine and epinephrine. No more than four total skin biopsies will be obtained from a volunteer over the course of the study. After removal of the tissue sample, one or two sutures are placed to close the circular opening. Sutures are removed and a scar is formed, but typically heals well without complications and blends well with the surrounding skin.
Other Names:
  • biopsy
Radiation: Narrow-band Ultraviolet B exposure
The investigators will use a Lumera ultraviolet B (UVB) light phototherapy device which allows for targeted delivery of controlled doses of UVB radiation (emission spectrum 290-320 nm).
Other Names:
  • UVB, UV

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Clinical Change Score for Mottled Hyperpigmentation
Time Frame: Clinical Change Score for Mottled Hyperpigmentation , up to 1 week
Clinical assessment of mottled hyperpigmentation pre and post Sulforaphane (SF) treatment will be done for both photoprotected and photodamaged skin treated with sulforaphane. Mottled Hyperpigmentation Score system will be applied, with scale of 0 to 4, 4= clear improvement after 1 week of SF or placebo application.
Clinical Change Score for Mottled Hyperpigmentation , up to 1 week

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Gene Expression Changes as Assessed by Quantitative Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR)
Time Frame: Up to 6 months
We will measure the fold-change in gene expression in human skin after acute UV light exposure, separately and in combination with application of topical sulforaphane using RT-PCR.
Up to 6 months
Gene Expression Changes as Assessed by Immunohistochemistry (IHC)
Time Frame: Up to 6 months
We will measure the fold-change in gene expression in human skin after acute UV light exposure, separately and in combination with application of topical sulforaphane using IHC.
Up to 6 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Johns Hopkins University

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Anna Chien, Johns Hopkins University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
September 15, 2017

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
January 18, 2019

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
January 18, 2019

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
April 7, 2017

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 20, 2017

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
April 24, 2017

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
June 29, 2023

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 14, 2023

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
June 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • IRB00105668

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

Yes

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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