Texas Heart Institute Recruiting Patients with Anthracycline-Induced Cardiomyopathy
for Adult Stem Cell Clinical Trial
Study could lead to new treatments for a disease with limited options today
Houston, TX (November 2, 2016) – Texas Heart Institute (THI) is recruiting patients with anthracycline-induced cardiomyopathy (AIC) to participate in a first of its kind clinical trial to assess the safety and feasibility of using adult stem cells to treat symptoms associated with this type of cardiovascular disease.
This trial will be especially relevant for breast cancer survivors and patients treated for lymphoma. Anthracycline-based chemotherapies are a common and effective treatment for certain types of cancer, however, they are known to have toxic effects on the heart which could manifest up to 20 years later. Unfortunately, there are limited therapies available today to help treat patient suffering from AIC.
“This is the first clinical study to evaluate the benefits and risks in using adult stem cells to treat those suffering from anthracycline-induced cardiomyopathy,” said Dr. Emerson Perin, director of the THI Stem Cell Center. “We are hopeful outcomes from this trial will show success.”
Preclinical research suggests that therapies using mesenchymal stem cells may improve heart function. The SENECA trial (Stem Cell Injection in Cancer Survivors) will test mesenchymal stem cells from the bone marrow of a healthy donor. SENECA is a randomized clinical trial that will evaluate heart function and quality of life in two groups of patients: a) those treated with a donor’s cells and b) those treated with placebo. All patients will be followed for one year.
The trial is being administered through the auspices of the Cardiovascular Cell Therapy Research Network (CCTRN), a network of stem cell centers in the United States with expertise in conducting clinical trials that safely evaluate new treatments for cardiovascular diseases. Texas Heart Institute is a member of this network, which is funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
The study began recruiting in September 2016 and is expected to enroll 36 patients over the next 12-18 months. People that have been diagnosed with AIC and have been cancer-free for at least two years are being asked to participate in the study. Individuals can contact stemcell@texasheart.org or 832-355-9404 to be screened for eligibility to participate.
More information about the trial can be found at https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02509156.
###
About the Texas Heart Institute
Texas Heart Institute, founded by world-renowned cardiovascular surgeon Dr. Denton A. Cooley in 1962, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing the devastating toll of cardiovascular disease through innovative and progressive programs in research, education and improved patient care. Together with its clinical partner, CHI St. Luke’s Health – Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center, it has been ranked among the top cardiovascular centers in the United States by U.S. News & World Report’s annual guide to “America’s Best Hospitals” for the past 25 years. More information about THI (@Texas_Heart) is available at www.texasheart.org.
About the Cardiovascular Cell Therapy Research NetworkThe CCTRN is funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and includes key stem cell centers in the United States with expertise in conducting clinical trials that safely evaluate new treatments for cardiovascular diseases. These centers include the Texas Heart Institute, University of Florida at Gainesville, Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation, Stanford University, University of Louisville, University of Miami, and the Vascular and Cardiac Center for Adult Stem Cell Therapy in Indianapolis, Indiana. Further information on the CCTRN is available at www.cctrn.org.
For media inquiries please contact:
Linden Emerson
713-850-2110For THI and St. Luke's media profiles, see Public Affairs.
