Low Dose IL-2 for Ulcerative Colitis

A Phase I Study of Low Dose Subcutaneous Interleukin-2 (IL-2) For The Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis.

The purpose of this study is to determine the safety and maximum effective dose (MED) of Interleukin-2 in subjects with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Ulcerative Colitis
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Interleukin-2 (aldesleukin).

Detailed Description

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a T cell growth factor. IL-2 is currently licensed for the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma and metastatic melanoma, where it promotes the expansion of anti-cancer cytotoxic T cells and natural killer (NK) cells. However at low doses (100-times lower than those used in cancer therapy), IL-2 promotes the selective expansion of regulatory T cells (Tregs): an immune modulating subset of CD4+ lymphocytes.

A recent phase 1 clinical trial from our collaborators at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute showed that low-dose IL-2 selectively expands Tregs in patients with treatment-resistant Graft vs. Host Disease (GvHD), and that low-dose IL-2 is safe in this condition. A detailed immunological analysis of samples from this study showed that low-dose IL-2 treatment was associated with increased Treg proliferation, increased de novo thymic generation of Tregs, and a resolution of defects in intracellular signalling and apoptosis seen in Tregs in chronic GvHD. A recent phase 1 study from another group showed that low-dose IL-2 is safe in the treatment of HCV-associated vasculitis. Low-dose IL-2 has also been shown to be well-tolerated in subjects with HIV.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the colon. Evidence from pre-clinical models of intestinal inflammation, and also from patients with monogenetic defects in Treg function, suggests that Tregs play a role in the prevention of inflammation in the intestine.

The treatment (or intervention) in this study is a once-daily, subcutaneous injection of IL-2, for a total of 8 weeks. The first 2 doses of the study drug will be administered by research nurses at Boston Children's Hospital. Further doses will be self-administered, at home. Training will be provided for correct self-administration.

This is a 3+3 dose escalation study of IL-2 in moderate-to-severe UC. This study design is powered to identify the MED of low-dose IL-2 in UC. Once the MED is identified, a further 10 subjects will receive IL-2 at that dose. Recruitment of between 2 and 28 patients is planned. The maximum tolerated dose (MED) is the highest tolerated dose level at which a minimum of 6 subjects have been evaluated, with fewer than 2 evaluable subjects in 6 experiencing a dose limiting toxicity (DLT); i.e. DLT in >1/6 evaluable subjects. In addition to the above at least 1 patient should meet the criteria for response or remission for it to be considered the MED.

Dose levels are based on the experience of our collaborators in GvHD. In addition to determining the MED, this study will determine if low-dose IL-2 is safe and well-tolerated in patients with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis. A detailed immunological analysis of samples obtained from this study will determine if low-dose IL-2 expands Tregs in vivo, in patients with moderate-to-severe UC. Immunological changes will then be correlated with clinical response.

The study will take place at Boston Children's Hospital. The study will involve 10 study visits. Most of the study visits involve blood tests. A flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy will be performed as part of the screening process. A flexible sigmoidoscopy will also be performed on completion of therapy, to determine clinical response.

The first two subjects to receive the study drug will be admitted overnight following the first dose. Subsequent doses will be administered on an out-patient basis. All other subjects will receive IL-2 on an out-patient basis.

Responders (with an acceptable side-effect profile) will be allowed to continue the study drug for at least 1 year. Compensation will be provided for participants.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 26
• Phase: Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Massachusetts
    • Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02115
      • Brigham & Women's Hospital
    • Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02115
      • Boston Children's Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 70 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 18-70 years.
• A diagnosis of UC made by standard clinical, radiological, endoscopic and histological criteria.
• Moderate to severe UC with a Mayo score of 6-12.
• Failure to tolerate or failure to respond to at least one conventional therapy with the intention of inducing or maintaining remission (examples include oral corticosteroids, oral 5-aminosalicylates, azathioprine and/or 6-mercaptopurine, or a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonist). Corticosteroid dependency (inability to taper oral corticosteroids without a recurrence of disease activity) is also included in this category.
• Stable doses of concomitant medications.
• A negative pregnancy test in the 2 weeks prior to anticipated commencement of the study drug, in female subjects of child-bearing age. Men and women of reproductive potential must agree to use an acceptable method of birth control during treatment and for six months after completion of treatment.
• Ability to provide informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• A diagnosis of Crohn's disease or Inflammatory Bowel Disease - Unspecified (IBD-U, a diagnostic classification formerly termed "indeterminate colitis").
• Requirement for immediate surgical, endoscopic or radiological intervention for toxic megacolon, massive hemorrhage, perforation, sepsis, or intra-abdominal or perianal abscess.
• Ileostomy, proctocolectomy or subtotal colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis.
• History of colorectal cancer or dysplasia.
• Positive stool test for Clostridium difficile.
• Current medically significant infection.

• Significant laboratory abnormalities, including;

  1. Hb < 8.0 g/dL, WBC < 2.5 x 103/mm3, Plt < 100 x 103/mm3.
  2. Creatinine ≥ 1.5x institutional upper limit of normal (ULN).
  3. Total bilirubin > 2.0 mg/dL, ALT > 2x institutional ULN, GGT > 2x institutional ULN. Elevated unconjugated bilirubin related to Gilbert's syndrome is allowed.
  4. Abnormal thyroid function tests.
• Positive serology for HIV, hepatitis B virus (HBV) or HCV.
• Positive screening test for tuberculosis (TB).
• First dose of an anti-TNF medication within 4 weeks of anticipated study commencement, or a subsequent dose within 2 weeks of commencement; or ciclosporin or tacrolimus within 2 weeks of anticipated study commencement.
• Received another investigational new drug (IND) within 5 half-lives of that agent before the planned commencement of SC IL-2.
• Malignancy within the last 5 years.
• Allergy to any component of the study drug.
• Pregnant or lactating women.
• Inability to comply with the study protocol or inability to give informed consent.
• Prior exposure to IL-2.
• Uncontrolled cardiac angina or symptomatic congestive cardiac failure (NYHA Class III or IV).

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Intervention / Treatment

Experimental: Interleukin-2; Study drug: Interleukin-2 (aldesleukin, Proleukin, IL-2). Each subject will receive an 8-week course of once-daily, subcutaneously administered IL-2. There will be three dose cohorts. Each subject will be recruited into a single dose cohort and receive a single dose level of IL-2 throughout the study. The dose levels will be as follows: Cohort 1: 0.3x10^6 IU/m^2/day.; Cohort 2: 1.0x10^6 IU/m^2/day.; Cohort 3: 1.5x10^6 IU/m^2/day. Up to 6 subjects will be recruited to each dose cohort. Once the maximum effective dose has been identified, a further 10 subjects will receive IL-2 at the maximum effective dose.

Drug: Interleukin-2 (aldesleukin).; Description of intervention is covered in "Arm", above.; Other Names: Proleukin.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Number of Subjects With Serious and Non-serious Adverse Events.	Enumeration of the serious and non-serious adverse events seen in the study. Enumeration of any dose limiting toxicity seen in the study.	8 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Number of Participants With Clinical Response	A decrease from baseline in the total Mayo score of at least 3 points and at least 30% , with an accompanying decrease in the subscore for rectal bleeding of at least 1 point or an absolute subscore for rectal bleeding of 0 or 1	8 weeks.
Number of Participants With Clinical Remission	A total Mayo score of 2 points or lower, with no individual subscore exceeding 1 point	8 Weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Scott B. Snapper, MD PHD
• Investigators: Study Director: Jessica R Allegretti, MD, MPH, Brigham and Women's Hospital; Principal Investigator: Scott B Snapper, MD PhD, Boston Children's Hospital

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Rutgeerts P, Sandborn WJ, Feagan BG, Reinisch W, Olson A, Johanns J, Travers S, Rachmilewitz D, Hanauer SB, Lichtenstein GR, de Villiers WJ, Present D, Sands BE, Colombel JF. Infliximab for induction and maintenance therapy for ulcerative colitis. N Engl J Med. 2005 Dec 8;353(23):2462-76. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa050516. Erratum In: N Engl J Med. 2006 May 18;354(20):2200.
• Schroeder KW, Tremaine WJ, Ilstrup DM. Coated oral 5-aminosalicylic acid therapy for mildly to moderately active ulcerative colitis. A randomized study. N Engl J Med. 1987 Dec 24;317(26):1625-9. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198712243172603.
• Saadoun D, Rosenzwajg M, Joly F, Six A, Carrat F, Thibault V, Sene D, Cacoub P, Klatzmann D. Regulatory T-cell responses to low-dose interleukin-2 in HCV-induced vasculitis. N Engl J Med. 2011 Dec 1;365(22):2067-77. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1105143. Erratum In: N Engl J Med. 2014 Feb 20;370(8):786.
• Koreth J, Matsuoka K, Kim HT, McDonough SM, Bindra B, Alyea EP 3rd, Armand P, Cutler C, Ho VT, Treister NS, Bienfang DC, Prasad S, Tzachanis D, Joyce RM, Avigan DE, Antin JH, Ritz J, Soiffer RJ. Interleukin-2 and regulatory T cells in graft-versus-host disease. N Engl J Med. 2011 Dec 1;365(22):2055-66. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1108188.
• Matsuoka K, Koreth J, Kim HT, Bascug G, McDonough S, Kawano Y, Murase K, Cutler C, Ho VT, Alyea EP, Armand P, Blazar BR, Antin JH, Soiffer RJ, Ritz J. Low-dose interleukin-2 therapy restores regulatory T cell homeostasis in patients with chronic graft-versus-host disease. Sci Transl Med. 2013 Apr 3;5(179):179ra43. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.3005265.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: February 1, 2015
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 1, 2020
• Study Completion (Actual): March 1, 2021

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 22, 2014
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 23, 2014
• First Posted (Estimated): July 25, 2014

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 15, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 12, 2023
• Last Verified: August 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Ulcerative colitis; Inflammatory bowel disease; Regulatory T Cells; IL-2; Tregs; Interleukin 2; Interleukin-2; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Digestive System Diseases; Pathologic Processes; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Gastroenteritis; Colonic Diseases; Intestinal Diseases; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases; Ulcer; Colitis; Colitis, Ulcerative; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Anti-Infective Agents; Peripheral Nervous System Agents; Antiviral Agents; Anti-HIV Agents; Anti-Retroviral Agents; Analgesics; Sensory System Agents; Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; Antineoplastic Agents; Aldesleukin; Interleukin-2
• Other Study ID Numbers: IRB-P00009599; 2015P000016 (Other Identifier: Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston MA)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No