Cyclophosphamide in Myalgic Encephalopathy/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) (CycloME)

Cyclophosphamide in Myalgic Encephalopathy/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). Part A: an Open Label Phase-II Study With Six Intravenous Cyclophosphamide Infusions Four Weeks Apart, and Follow-up for 12 Months

Significant clinical improvements of ME/CFS symptoms were observed in two patients with long-standing ME/CFS who received adjuvant chemotherapy including cyclophosphamide for breast cancer, also in one ME/CFS patient who received chemotherapy including iphosphamide for Hodgkin lymphoma.

Three pilot ME/CFS patients were thereafter treated with six intravenous infusions four weeks apart, in two of these with a significant clinical response.

The hypothesis is that a subset of ME/CFS patients have an activated immune system, and that ME/CFS symptoms may be alleviated by treatment with cyclophosphamide as intravenous pulse infusions four weeks apart, six infusions in total.

The purpose of the present study is to treat ME/CFS patients with cyclophosphamide as intravenous pulse infusions four weeks apart, six infusions in total. The effects on ME/CFS symptoms and tolerability/side effects during 12 months follow-up will be registered, and additional tests will be performed to objectively register changes in physical ability during follow-up. Studies to investigate possible large vessel endothelial dysfunction and skin microvascular dysfunction will be performed before start of intervention and during follow-up.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS); Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Cyclophosphamide

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 40
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Norway
  • Bergen, Norway, N-5021
    • Dept. of Oncology, Haukeland University Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients with ME/CFS according to "Canadian" criteria (2003)
• Duration of ME/CFS at least 2 years
• Mild/Moderate, Moderate, Moderate/Severe and Severe ME/CFS may be included
• Age 18-65 years
• Signed informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with fatigue who do not comply by the diagnostic "Canadian" criteria (2003) for ME/CFS
• Duration of ME/CFS less than 2 years
• Mild ME/CFS
• Very severe ME/CFS (bedridden requiring help for all tasks)
• Patients where the workup uncovers other pathology as possible cause of symptoms
• Pregnancy or breast feeding
• Previous malignant disease (except basal cell carcinoma of skin and cervical carcinoma in situ/dysplasia)
• Previous long-term systemic treatment with immunosuppressive agents (e.g. azathioprine, ciclosporin, mycophenolate mofetil). Except steroid treatment for e.g. obstructive lung disease or autoimmune diseases such as e.g. ulcerative colitis
• Serious endogenous depression
• Lack of ability to complete the study including follow-up
• Reduced renal function (creatinine > 1.5 x UNL)
• Reduced liver function (bilirubin or transaminases > 1.5 x UNL)
• Known hypersensitivity to cyclophosphamide or metabolites
• Reduced bone marrow function
• Ongoing cystitis or urinary tract obstruction
• Known HIV positivity, previous hepatitis B or hepatitis C, or reason to suspect other ongoing and clinically relevant infection

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: Cyclophosphamide; Cyclophosphamide, intravenous infusions four weeks apart. Six infusions in total. First infusion: 600 mg/m2. Infusions 2 to 6: 700 mg/m2	Drug: Cyclophosphamide; Cyclophosphamide intravenous infusions four weeks apart, in total six infusions. First infusion: cyclophosphamide 600mg/m2. Infusions 2 to 6: cyclophosphamide 700 mg/m2 . Follow-up for 12 months.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Fatigue score, selfreported	Selfreported Fatigue score is registered every second week, always compared to baseline, as the mean of the four symptoms: "Post-exertional malaise", "Fatigue", "Need for rest", Daily functioning" (scale 0-6, in which 3 is unchanged from baseline). Mean Fatigue scores for the time intervals 0-3, 3-6, 6-9 and 9-12 months are recorded for each patient. Changes in selfreported Fatigue scores from baseline to the mean values in each of the time intervals 0-3, 3-6, 6-9 and 9-12 months follow up, will constitute the primary endpoint. Responses for the primary endpoint will be recorded separately for the group of (at least) 25 ME/CFS patients not given rituximab previously, for the group with previous rituximab intervention for ME/CFS with no clinical response and for the group with previous rituximab intervention with clinical response but later relapse, and also for all 40 included patients together.	Within 12 months follow-up
Overall response	Overall response is recorded as the effect on ME/CFS symptoms during 12 months follow-up. The overall response is not predefined to a specific time interval during follow-up, but is defined as mean Fatigue score at least 4.5 for at least 6 consecutive weeks for moderate response, and mean Fatigue score at least 5.0 for at least 6 consecutive weeks for major response. Single response periods and the sum of response periods during 12 months follow-up will be recorded. Overall response will be recorded separately for the group of (at least) 25 ME/CFS patients not given rituximab previously, for the group with previous rituximab intervention for ME/CFS with no clinical response and for the group with previous rituximab intervention with clinical response but later relapse, and also for all 40 included patients together.	Within 12 months follow-up

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Short Form-36 (SF-36)	SF-36 (ver 1.2) is completed by patients at baseline, and at 3, 6, 9, 12 months follow-up. Changes in Physical health summary score, Physical function, and "Mean of five subdimensions" (Physical function, Bodily pain, Vitality, Social function, General health) from baseline to each of the time points 3, 6, 9 and 12 months follow-up are recorded and constitute secondary endpoints. Secondary endpoints will be recorded separately for the group of (at least) 25 ME/CFS patients not given rituximab previously, for the group with previous rituximab intervention for ME/CFS with no clinical response and for the group with previous rituximab intervention with clinical response but later relapse, and also for all 40 included patients together.	Recorded at baseline, and at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months follow-up.
Physical activity (Sensewear armband)	The patients' physical activity level, in a home setting for 7 consecutive days, is recorded using Sensewear armbands, with registration at baseline and repeated in the time interval 7-9 months follow-up, and in the interval 11-12 months. Changes from baseline to analysis during the time intervals 7-9 months and 11-12 months, for mean number of steps per 24h, maximum number of steps per 24h, mean duration per 24h with activity level at least 3.5 METs, max duration per 24h with activity level at least 3.5 METs, are recorded. Changes in Physical activity will be recorded separately for the group of (at least) 25 ME/CFS patients not given rituximab previously, for the group with previous rituximab intervention for ME/CFS with no clinical response and for the group with previous rituximab intervention with clinical response but later relapse, and also for all 40 included patients together.	Recorded at baseline, at 7-9 months, and at 11-12 months
Cardiopulmonary exercise tests for two following days	For patients who can tolerate exercise, cardiopulmonary exercise tests will be performed for two consecutive days, at baseline, and repeated in the time intervals 7-9 months, and 11-12 months. A programmed ramp-protocol is used. Oxygen-uptake and work load (Watt) day 2, at maximum effort and at anaerobic threshold, will be recorded and used for comparison to oxygen-uptake and work load with repeated tests after 7-9 and 11-12 months. Changes from baseline to repeated exercise tests after 7-9 and 11-12 months will be analyzed.	At baseline, and repeated at 7-9 months, and 11-12 months
Self-recorded Function level	Self-recorded "Function level" (scale 0-100, compared to healthy state, according to a set of examples) are registered every second week. Mean "Function level" for the time intervals 0-3, 3-6, 6-9, 9-12 months are calculated. The changes in selfreported "Function level", from baseline to the mean value during each of the the time intervals 0-3, 3-6, 6-9, 9-12 months constitute secondary endpoints. Changes in Self-reported Function level will be recorded separately for the group of (at least) 25 ME/CFS patients not given rituximab previously, for the group with previous rituximab intervention for ME/CFS with no clinical response and for the group with previous rituximab intervention with clinical response but later relapse, and also for all 40 included patients together.	At baseline, and at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months follow-up
Fatigue Severity Scale	Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) is completed by patients at baseline and at 3, 6, 9, 12 months. The changes in FSS from baseline to 3, 6, 9 and 12 months constitute secondary endpoints. Changes in Fatigue severity scale will be recorded separately for the group of (at least) 25 ME/CFS patients not given rituximab previously, for the group with previous rituximab intervention for ME/CFS with no clinical response and for the group with previous rituximab intervention with clinical response but later relapse, and also for all 40 included patients together.	Baseline, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months
Longest continuous response duration	The longest duration of continuous self-reported Fatigue score ≥ 4,5 (for at least 6 consecutive weeks) within 12 months follow-up. The longest response duration will be recorded separately for the group of (at least) 25 ME/CFS patients not given rituximab previously, for the group with previous rituximab intervention for ME/CFS with no clinical response and for the group with previous rituximab intervention with clinical response but later relapse, and also for all 40 included patients together.	Within 12 months follow-up
Sustained clinical response at 12 months	The fraction of patients with sustained clinical response (defined as Fatigue score of at least 4.5) at 12 months, constitute a secondary endpoint. Sustained clinical response at 12 months will be recorded separately for the group of (at least) 25 ME/CFS patients not given rituximab previously, for the group with previous rituximab intervention for ME/CFS with no clinical response, and for the group with previous rituximab intervention with clinical response but later relapse, and for all included patients together.	Assessment at end of follow-up (12 months)
Safety and tolerability	Safety will be assessed by interim history, physical examination, and laboratory assessments every four weeks the first six months, thereafter at 6, 9 and 12 months follow-up. Adverse events will be graded according to the Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Effects (NCI-CTCAE, version 4.0). Number of patients with any grade, or severe (≥ grade 3 NCI-CTCAE version 4.0) toxicity will be reported, as a measure of tolerability and safety. Adverse Events may include include hair loss, vomiting, diarrhea, jaundice, leukopenia, anemia, thrombocytopenia, infections, allergic reactions and hemorrhagic cystitis, disturbed ovarian function. The investigators will also collect information on possible toxicity after the formal 12 months study period.	Continuously within the study period of 12 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Haukeland University Hospital
• Collaborators: Oslo University Hospital; The Kavli Foundation
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Mella Olav, MD, PhD, Haukeland University Hospital; Study Director: Øystein Fluge, MD, PhD, Haukeland University Hospital

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Fluge O, Bruland O, Risa K, Storstein A, Kristoffersen EK, Sapkota D, Naess H, Dahl O, Nyland H, Mella O. Benefit from B-lymphocyte depletion using the anti-CD20 antibody rituximab in chronic fatigue syndrome. A double-blind and placebo-controlled study. PLoS One. 2011;6(10):e26358. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0026358. Epub 2011 Oct 19.
• Fluge O, Mella O. Clinical impact of B-cell depletion with the anti-CD20 antibody rituximab in chronic fatigue syndrome: a preliminary case series. BMC Neurol. 2009 Jul 1;9:28. doi: 10.1186/1471-2377-9-28.
• Rekeland IG, Fossa A, Lande A, Ktoridou-Valen I, Sorland K, Holsen M, Tronstad KJ, Risa K, Alme K, Viken MK, Lie BA, Dahl O, Mella O, Fluge O. Intravenous Cyclophosphamide in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. An Open-Label Phase II Study. Front Med (Lausanne). 2020 Apr 29;7:162. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2020.00162. eCollection 2020.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 1, 2015
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 6, 2019
• Study Completion (Actual): December 6, 2019

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 25, 2015
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 13, 2015
• First Posted (Estimate): May 14, 2015

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 11, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 10, 2021
• Last Verified: December 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Cyclophosphamide; CFS; Chronic Fatigue Syndrome; Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME); Immunomodulatory treatment
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Virus Diseases; Infections; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Disease; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Muscular Diseases; Neuromuscular Diseases; Musculoskeletal Pain; Central Nervous System Infections; Syndrome; Fatigue; Myalgia; Brain Diseases; Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic; Encephalomyelitis; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Antirheumatic Agents; Antineoplastic Agents; Immunosuppressive Agents; Immunologic Factors; Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; Alkylating Agents; Myeloablative Agonists; Cyclophosphamide
• Other Study ID Numbers: KTS-7-2015; 2014-004029-41 (EudraCT Number)

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No