Study of Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes in Vitiligo (hUMSCs-Exo-VIT)

April 1, 2026 updated by: Xijing Hospital

A Single-Center, Randomized, Controlled Trial of Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes for the Treatment of Vitiligo

This study evaluates whether exosomes derived from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUMSCs-Exo) are safe and effective for treating vitiligo in adults.

Vitiligo is a skin condition that causes white patches due to loss of pigment-producing cells. Current treatments have limitations, especially for patients with active disease who require oral steroids with significant side effects.

This study is a single-center, randomized, controlled trial enrolling 96 adults aged 18 to 65 years with non-segmental vitiligo. Participants are divided into two groups based on disease activity: progressive vitiligo (new patches appearing or existing patches expanding in the past 3 months) and stable vitiligo (no changes in the past year).

For progressive vitiligo, participants are randomly assigned to either:

Experimental group: hUMSCs-Exo given by intravenous infusion every 2 weeks for 5 sessions, plus tacrolimus ointment and narrowband UVB light therapy, or Control group: oral prednisone (a standard steroid treatment) plus tacrolimus ointment and narrowband UVB light therapy

For stable vitiligo, participants are randomly assigned to either:

Experimental group: hUMSCs-Exo given by local injection into the white patches every 2 weeks for 5 sessions, plus tacrolimus ointment and narrowband UVB light therapy, or Control group: tacrolimus ointment plus narrowband UVB light therapy alone The treatment period lasts 12 weeks, with follow-up visits continuing to 24 weeks. The main outcome measures include improvement in skin repigmentation measured by the Vitiligo Area Scoring Index (VASI), changes in quality of life, and safety monitoring throughout the study.

This study aims to establish a standardized approach for using hUMSCs-Exo in vitiligo treatment and to explore how exosomes may work by reducing oxidative stress and regulating immune responses.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

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.

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 (Estimated)

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.
96

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
  • Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

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

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • China
    • Shaanxi
      • Xi'an, Shaanxi, China, 710032
        • Xijing Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University
        • Contact:

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

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Clinically diagnosed non-segmental vitiligo
  • Progressive vitiligo: new lesions or enlargement of existing lesions within the past 3 months (VIDA score ≥ 3); Stable vitiligo: no new lesions or enlargement of existing lesions within the past 1 year (VIDA score = 0)
  • Total body surface area (BSA) of vitiligo lesions between 1% and 30%
  • Age 18 to 65 years, male or female
  • Willing to participate and provide written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding
  • Known allergy to mesenchymal stem cells or exosome components
  • Severe cardiac, hepatic, or renal dysfunction, or severe immunocompromised status
  • For progressive vitiligo: use of systemic immunosuppressants, corticosteroids, phototherapy, or photochemotherapy within the past 3 months
  • For stable vitiligo: use of phototherapy, topical immunosuppressants, or corticosteroids within the past 1 month
  • Concurrent autoimmune diseases (e.g., systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis) or severe infectious diseases
  • History of malignancy or hematologic disorders
  • History of psychiatric disorders or inability to comply with study procedures
  • Any other condition that, in the investigator's judgment, may increase the risk to the participant or interfere with the conduct of the trial

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: Treatment
  • 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: Progressive Stage Experimental Group
Patients in progressive stage receive intravenous infusion of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (hUC-MSC-Exos) at a fixed dose of 2×10¹¹ particles per infusion, administered once every 2 weeks for a total of 5 infusions, combined with topical tacrolimus ointment and NB-UVB phototherapy.
Biological: Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes (hUC-MSC-Exos) Intravenous Infusion
Intravenous infusion of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes at a fixed dose of 2×10¹¹ particles per infusion, administered once every 2 weeks for a total of 5 infusions, for patients with progressive vitiligo.
Drug: Topical Tacrolimus Ointment
Topical application of tacrolimus ointment, twice daily, as a combined treatment for all participants.
Procedure: Narrow-Band Ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) Phototherapy
Narrow-band ultraviolet B phototherapy, administered 3 times weekly, as a combined treatment for all participants.
Active Comparator: Progressive Stage Control Group
Patients in progressive stage receive oral prednisone 0.5 mg/kg daily for 4 weeks followed by gradual tapering, combined with topical tacrolimus ointment and NB-UVB phototherapy.
Drug: Topical Tacrolimus Ointment
Topical application of tacrolimus ointment, twice daily, as a combined treatment for all participants.
Procedure: Narrow-Band Ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) Phototherapy
Narrow-band ultraviolet B phototherapy, administered 3 times weekly, as a combined treatment for all participants.
Drug: Oral Prednisone
Oral administration of prednisone at 0.5 mg/kg daily for 4 weeks followed by gradual tapering, for patients with progressive vitiligo.
Experimental: Stable Stage Experimental Group
Patients in stable stage receive local injection of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (hUC-MSC-Exos) at a fixed dose of 1×10¹⁰ particles per cm² of lesion area per infusion, administered once every 2 weeks for a total of 5 infusions, combined with topical tacrolimus ointment and NB-UVB phototherapy.
Drug: Topical Tacrolimus Ointment
Topical application of tacrolimus ointment, twice daily, as a combined treatment for all participants.
Procedure: Narrow-Band Ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) Phototherapy
Narrow-band ultraviolet B phototherapy, administered 3 times weekly, as a combined treatment for all participants.
Biological: Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes (hUC-MSC-Exos) Local Injection
Local injection of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes at a fixed dose of 1×10¹⁰ particles per cm² of lesion area per infusion, administered once every 2 weeks for a total of 5 infusions, for patients with stable vitiligo.
Active Comparator: Stable Stage Control Group
Patients in stable stage receive topical tacrolimus ointment combined with NB-UVB phototherapy, following the routine clinical regimen.
Drug: Topical Tacrolimus Ointment
Topical application of tacrolimus ointment, twice daily, as a combined treatment for all participants.
Procedure: Narrow-Band Ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) Phototherapy
Narrow-band ultraviolet B phototherapy, administered 3 times weekly, as a combined treatment for all participants.

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
VASI 50 Response Rate at Week 24
Time Frame: Baseline to 24 weeks
Proportion of participants achieving at least 50% improvement in Vitiligo Area Scoring Index (VASI) from baseline to week 24. VASI is calculated by summing the product of body surface area affected and degree of depigmentation across all body regions. VASI 50 response is defined as (baseline VASI - week 24 VASI) / baseline VASI × 100% ≥ 50%.
Baseline to 24 weeks

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
Percent Change in VASI From Baseline
Time Frame: Baseline, weeks 4, 8, 12, 16, and 24
Percent change in Vitiligo Area Scoring Index (VASI) from baseline to each follow-up time point. VASI is calculated by summing the product of body surface area affected and degree of depigmentation. Negative values indicate improvement.
Baseline, weeks 4, 8, 12, 16, and 24

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.
Xijing Hospital

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 (Estimated)

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.
April 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

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.
November 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

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.
March 1, 2028

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 1, 2026

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 1, 2026

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 9, 2026

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.
April 9, 2026

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.
April 1, 2026

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.
March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

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.
  • XJPF-LCY-V20260331

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

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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