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Trial Comparing Immediate Versus Extended Release Tacrolimus; Reducing Calcineurin Inhibitor Related Toxicity in Lung Transplantation Patients (REVOLUTION)

H

Heleen Grootjans

Status and phase

Enrolling
Phase 3

Conditions

Lung Transplant; Complications

Treatments

Drug: Extended release tacrolimus
Drug: Immediate release tacrolimus

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other
Industry

Identifiers

NCT05001074
202000134

Details and patient eligibility

About

Lung transplantation is a life-saving option in patients with end-stage lung disease. The introduction of calcineurin inhibitors has significantly improved long-term outcome in lung transplantation. The most frequently used calcineurin inhibitor as maintenance therapy is immediate release tacrolimus, dosed twice daily, which has shown to reduce both acute and chronic rejection. However, a drawback to the administration of tacrolimus is its toxicity. Especially progressive renal toxicity, new onset diabetes and hypertension contribute to the high cardiovascular burdon in this patient group. Since a few years an once daily extended release tacrolimus has been introduced in solid organ transplantation. The advantage of extended release tacrolimus is its prolonged release and higher bioavailability than other tacrolimus formulations. This result in lower peaks, more stable serum levels over 24 hours, and less fluctuation of blood concentrations.

Long-term toxicity outcome of extended release tacrolimus after lung transplantation has not been studied so far. Therefore the potential benefit of exteded release tacrolimus in de novo and stable post-lung transplant recipients should be investigated.

Full description

Lung transplantation is a life-saving option in patients with end-stage lung disease. The introduction of calcineurin inhibitors (CNI) has significantly improved long-term outcome in lung transplantation. The most frequently used CNI as maintenance therapy is immediate release tacrolimus, dosed twice daily, which has shown to reduce both acute and chronic rejection. However, a drawback to the administration of tacrolimus is its toxicity. Especially progressive renal toxicity, new onset diabetes and hypertension contribute to the high cardiovascular burdon in this patient group. In lung transplant recipients the incidence of severe renal impairment, new onset of diabetes mellitus, hypertension and dyslipidemia is 53,9%, 40%, 80% and 40,3% post lung transplantation. Tremor is one of the most common CNI induced neurological toxic effect, besides polyneuropathy, headaches, insomnia, vertigo, dysesthesia and reduced cognitive ability. These complications are, among others, attributed to high peak serum tacrolimuslevels, whereas the effectiveness of the drug is determined by the area under the curve. In general lung transplant recipients have higher peak and trough levels when compared to other solid organ transplant recipients and therefore potentially experience more severe toxic side effects.

Since a few years an once daily extended release tacrolimus has been introduced in solid organ transplantation. The advantage of extended release tacrolimus is its prolonged release and higher bioavailability than other tacrolimus formulations. This result in lower peaks, more stable serum levels over 24 hours, and less fluctuation of blood concentrations. In addition, for an equal overall systemic tacrolimus exposure a 30% lower dosage is needed for extended release tacrolimus when compared to other formulations. In kidney and liver transplantation, extended release tacrolimus is safe and effective. Langone et al demonstrated in an enriched population of kidney transplant patients with tremor, that extended release tacrolimus improved hand tremor compared to immediate release tacrolimus.

Long-term toxicity outcome of extended release tacrolimus after lung transplantation has not been studied so far. Therefore the potential benefit of exteded release tacrolimus in de novo and stable post-lung transplant recipients should be investigated.

Enrollment

145 estimated patients

Sex

All

Ages

18+ years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

  • Written informed consent
  • Single or bilateral lung transplantation
  • On twice daily tacrolimus with stable trough levels in target range
  • Participant in the TransplantLines biobank study in the UMCG

Additional criteria for Conversion cohort:

  • At least one year after lung transplantation with a stable clinical course and lung function
  • eGFR >30ml/min*1.73m2 calculated with the CKD-EPI formula

Exclusion criteria

  • Administration of mTOR inhibitors; everolimus, sirolimus
  • Quadruple immunosuppression
  • Renal transplantation
  • The subject has any disease or condition that might interfere with completion of this study or reaching the primary endpoint (e.g., life expectancy of <3 years, renal replacement therapy at start study)

Trial design

Primary purpose

Treatment

Allocation

Randomized

Interventional model

Parallel Assignment

Masking

None (Open label)

145 participants in 4 patient groups

de novo cohort, extended release tacrolimus
Experimental group
Description:
de novo cohort, extended release tacrolimus
Treatment:
Drug: Extended release tacrolimus
de novo cohort, immediate release tacrolimus
Active Comparator group
Description:
de novo cohort, immediate release tacrolimus
Treatment:
Drug: Immediate release tacrolimus
conversion cohort, extended release tacrolimus
Experimental group
Description:
conversion cohort, extended release tacrolimus
Treatment:
Drug: Extended release tacrolimus
conversion cohort, immediate release tacrolimus
Active Comparator group
Description:
conversion cohort, immediate release tacrolimus
Treatment:
Drug: Immediate release tacrolimus

Trial contacts and locations

1

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Central trial contact

Heleen Grootjans; Tji Gan

Data sourced from clinicaltrials.gov

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