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Cerebral PalsyPhase 2NCT01147653

A Randomized Study of Autologous Umbilical Cord Blood Reinfusion in Children With Cerebral Palsy

A Phase 2 study testing Autologous UCB Reinfusion in people with Cerebral Palsy and CP, run by Joanne Kurtzberg, MD at 1 site in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy of a single intravenous infusion of autologous umbilical cord blood (UCB) for the treatment of pediatric patients with spastic cerebral palsy. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 12 months to 6 years
Conditions the study is for
Cerebral Palsy, CP, Spastic Cerebral Palsy
What is being tested?
Autologous UCB Reinfusion
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
63 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
Jun 2010to Mar 2016
Phase
Phase 2
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 12 months to 6 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Child

Who may be able to join

  • Age ≥ 12 months and ≤ 6 years
  • Diagnosis: Spastic cerebral palsy with diplegia, hemiplegia, or quadraplegia.
  • Performance status:
  • Gross Motor Function (GMF) Classification Score levels II - IV or GMF Score leve I, age >/= 2 years Spastic hemiplegia: GMF Score II-IV or minimal functional capabilities in the affected upper extremity. A subject classified as GMFCS level I with significant upper extremity impairment will be eligible if the affected upper extremity is used as an assist only. An eligibility committee will meet to review the child's records and determine eligibility.
  • Bilateral hypotonic CP (diplegia or quadriplegia): GMF Score II-IV and an abnormal brain MRI suggestive of an acquired etiology (versus a genetic etiology or brain malformation).
  • Autologous umbilical cord blood available at a private or public cord blood bank with a minimum total nucleated cell dose of ≥ 1 x 107 cells/kilogram.
  • Parental consent.

Who cannot join

  • Athetoid cerebral palsy.
  • Autism and autistic spectrum disorders without motor disability.
  • Hypsarrhythmia.
  • Intractable seizures causing epileptic encephalopathy.
  • Evidence of a progressive neurologic disease.
  • Known HIV or uncontrolled bacterial, fungal, or viral infections.
Show all 20Show fewer
  • Impaired renal or liver function as determined by serum creatinine >1.5mg/dL and/or total bilirubin >1.3mg/dL.
  • Head circumference >3 standard deviations below the mean for age.
  • Known genetic disease or phenotypic evidence of a genetic disease on physical examination.
  • Concurrent genetic or acquired disease or comorbidity(ies) that could require a future allogeneic stem cell transplant.
  • Requires ventilatory support, including home ventilator, CPAP, BiPAP, or supplemental oxygen.
  • Patient's medical condition does not permit safe travel.
  • Previously received any form of cellular therapy.
  • Autologous umbilical cord blood unit has any of the following:
  • Total nuclear cell dose < 1 x 107 cells/kilogram
  • Positive maternal infectious disease markers (except CMV)
  • Evidence of infectious contamination of the cord blood unit
  • Lack of a test sample to confirm identity
  • Evidence of a genetic disease
  • Unable to obtain parental consent.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • Duke University Medical Center

    Durham, North Carolina, 27705

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Is Autologous Umbilical Cord Blood Reinfusion Beneficial in Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Randomized, Blinded, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study

The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy of a single intravenous infusion of autologous umbilical cord blood (UCB) for the treatment of pediatric patients with spastic cerebral palsy.

Read the detailed description

Cerebral palsy results from in utero or perinatal injury to the developing brain, often through stroke, hypoxic insult or hemorrhage. Currently available treatments for patients with cerebral palsy are supportive, but not curative. Umbilical cord blood (UCB) has been shown to lessen the clinical and radiographic impact of hypoxic brain injury and stroke in animal models. UCB also engrafts and differentiates in brain, facilitating neural cell repair, in animal models and human patients with inborn errors of metabolism undergoing allogeneic, unrelated donor UCB transplantation. We hypothesize that, in the setting of brain injury, infusion of autologous UCB will facilitate neural cell repair resulting in improved function in pediatric patients with cerebral palsy.

Being tested
Autologous UCB Reinfusion, Placebo
Keywords
Cerebral Palsy, CP, Spastic Cerebral Palsy, Cord Blood, Umbilical Cord Blood, Autologous Cord Blood
Medical subject headings
Cerebral Palsy

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Autologous UCB ReinfusionBiological

    Autologous umbilical cord blood (UCB) reinfusion

  • PlaceboOther

    Placebo

Study groups in NCT01147653
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Autologous UCB Reinfusion First,Then PlaceboActive comparatorSubjects receive their autologous umbilical cord blood cells at Baseline, than placebo at Year 1.
Receives: Biological: Autologous UCB Reinfusion; Other: Placebo
Placebo First, Then Autologous UCB ReinfusionPlacebo comparatorSubjects receive placebo at Baseline, then autologous umbilical cord blood cell reinfusion at Year 1.
Receives: Biological: Autologous UCB Reinfusion; Other: Placebo

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Change in Gross Motor Function Measure 66 (GMFM-66) Score

    Change in Gross Motor Function Measure 66 (GMFM-66) Score from Baseline to Year 1. The GMFM-66 is a clinical tool used to evaluate gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy and is scored using a propriety software program called the Gross Motor Ability Estimator (GMAE) that produces an interval level continuous score ranging from 0 to 100. Higher scores indicate better motor function. A negative change in GMFM-66 score indicates a reduction in motor function, a positive change indicates improvement in motor function, and zero indicates no change in motor function.

    Measured: Baseline to Year 1

Secondary outcomes (24)
  1. Change in Peabody Gross Motor Quotient From Baseline to Year 1

    The Peabody Developmental Motor Scales - Second Edition (PDMS-2) measures gross and fine motor skills in children from birth through five years of age. The Gross Motor Quotient score from the PDMS-2 was used in this study to evaluate gross motor function. The Gross Motor Quotient measures the ability to use large muscle systems for locomotion, maintain a stable posture when not moving, and throw/catch objects. The range of possible scores is 41 to 164. High scores indicate better gross motor function. Lower scores indicate less gross motor function ability. The change in Gross Motor Quotient from Baseline to Year 1 was evaluated in this study. Positive numbers indicate an increase in gross motor ability, negative numbers indicate decreases in gross motor function, and a zero indicates no change.

    Measured: Baseline to Year 1

  2. Change in IT-QOL Questionnaire Score

    The Infant and Toddler Quality of Life Questionnaire (IT-QOL) was utilized for children ages one to three years at study entry.This 97-item questionnaire is completed by the parents and covers 12 concepts related to the physical, mental, and social well being of the child and the impact of their illness on the family. Scores range from 0 (worst health) to 100 (best health). The change from Baseline to Year 1 is summarized here for each of the 12 items on the questionnaire. Negative values indicate a decline in quality of life over time, positive values indicate an improvement, and zero indicates no change.

    Measured: Baseline to Year 1

  3. Change in CP-QOL Score

    Children age four years or older at study entry were assessed using the disease-specific "CP-QOL Child" assessment tool as completed by a parent. The CP-QOL Child primary-caregiver proxy form is designed for children 4 - 12 with cerebral palsy and contains 66 items which assess physical, emotional, and social well being as well as access to services and acceptance by others. Scores are summarized in seven topic areas. Scores in each area range from 0 (worst health) to 100 (best health). The change score from Baseline to Year 1 is summarized here for each item. Negative scores indicated a decrease in quality of life, positive scores indicate an increase and zero indicates no change.

    Measured: Baseline, Year 1

  4. Change in Whole Brain Connectivity Measured by Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

    Change in number of connections in the brain as measured by diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Changes in connectivity are normalized to white matter volume of the brain. A positive number indicates an increase in connections, a negative number indicates a decrease, and zero indicates no change. The number of connections is expressed in terms of 10e5. For example, a change of 1 indicates an increase of 1x10e5 or 100,000 connections.

    Measured: Baseline to Year 1

  5. Change in Loes Score of Functional MRI From Baseline to Year 1 and From Year 1 to Year 2

    No data were collected from this procedure because enrolled subjects who were eligible to receive fMRI were unable to comply with the procedure.

    Measured: Baseline, Year 1, Year 2

  6. Change in Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-III, Cognitive Composite From Baseline to Year 1

    Cognitive function was assessed in English-speaking study participants using one of three different tools depending on the age of the patient at the time of assessment: The Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (Bayley-III), the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-IV), and the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI-III). Some patients were assessed with different tools at subsequent visits as they aged during the conduct of the trial. The Bayley-III is designed to assess developmental functioning of infants and toddlers. Scores for the Cognitive Composite range from 1 to 19 and results in the range of 8 to 12 are considered average. The outcome measure reported here is the change in Cognitive Composite between Baseline to Year 1. Positive numbers indicate increases in cognitive functioning, negative numbers indicate a decrease, and zero indicates no change.

    Measured: Baseline to Year 1

  7. Change in Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI) III Full Scale Intelligence Quotient (IQ) for Younger Children (Ages 2 Years & 6 Months to 3 Years & 11 Months) From Baseline to Year 1.

    Cognitive function was assessed in English-speaking study participants using one of three different tools depending on the age of the patient at the time of assessment: The Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (Bayley-III), the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-IV), and the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI-III). Some patients were assessed with different tools at subsequent visits as they aged during the conduct of the trial. There are two versions of the WPPSI-III for two different age ranges: 2 years \& 6 months to 3 years \& 11 months, and 4 years to 7 years \& 3 months. The Full Scale IQ is calculated for both age ranges and provides a continuous score with an average of 100 and a standard deviation of 15. Change from Baseline to Year 1 was evaluated, with positive numbers indicating an increase in cognitive ability, negative numbers indicating a decrease in cognitive ability, and zero indicating no change.

    Measured: Baseline to Year 1

  8. Change in the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-IV) From Baseline to Year 1.

    Cognitive function was assessed in English-speaking study participants using one of three different tools depending on the age of the patient at the time of assessment: The Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (Bayley-III), the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-IV), and the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI-III). Some patients were assessed with different tools at subsequent visits as they aged during the conduct of the trial. The WISC-IV is designed for children 6 years 0 months to 16 years 11 months. This study used the Full Scale IQ, which ranges from 45 to 155 with a mean of 100 and standard deviation of 15. Higher scores indicate stronger cognitive function. Scores between 90 and 110 are considered to be within the range of average IQ.

    Measured: Baseline to Year 1

  9. Change in Cognitive Z-Score From Baseline to Year 1

    Because patients in this study were evaluated with different cognitive assessments based on their age at the time of assessment (The Bayley-III Cognitive Composite, the WPSSI-III Full Scale IQ, and the WISC-IV Full Scale IQ Composite), with some patients being assessed using different tools at subsequent visits during the trial, a method for combining the assessments was employed to evaluate change in cognitive function over time in as many patients as possible. A cognitive Z-score was calculated for each participant at Baseline and Year 1 by adjusting each score by the relevant assessments' population mean and standard deviation. The Z-scores represent the distance from the population mean, as measured by standard deviations. The analysis presented here summarizes the change in Z-score between Baseline and Year 1. A positive number indicates an increase in cognitive function, a negative number indicates a decrease, and zero indicates no change.

    Measured: Baseline to Year 1

  10. Change in Assisting Hand Assessment (AHA) Score From Baseline to Year 1

    The Assisting Hand Assessment (AHA) measures the use of hemiplegic cerebral palsy patients' involved hand in tasks involving two hands. The test is valid for ages 18 months to 12 years. The score is an interval scale ranging from 22 to 88 with higher numbers indicating more effective use of the affected hand in performance of bimanual tasks. Change in this score was evaluate between Baseline and Year 1. Positive numbers indicate more effective use of the affected hand, negative numbers indicate a reduction in the effective use of the affected hand, and a zero indicates no change.

    Measured: Baseline to Year 1

  11. Change in Pediatric Evaluation of Disability (PEDI) Self Care Score

    The Pediatric Evaluation of Disability is used to evaluate functional skills in children aged 6 months to 7 years in three areas: Self Care, Mobility, and Social Function. The score in each area can range from 10-90. Higher scores indicate higher function. The change from Baseline to Year 1 in the Self Care score is presented here. Positive scores indicate increased function, negative scores indicate a decrease, and zero indicates no change.

    Measured: Baseline to Year 1

  12. Change in Pediatric Evaluation of Disability (PEDI) Mobility Score

    The Pediatric Evaluation of Disability is used to evaluate functional skills in children aged 6 months to 7 years in three areas: Self Care, Mobility, and Social Function. The score in each area can range from 10-90. Higher scores indicate higher function. The change from Baseline to Year 1 in the Mobility score is presented here. Positive scores indicate increased function, negative scores indicate a decrease, and zero indicates no change.

    Measured: Baseline to Year 1

  13. Change in Pediatric Evaluation of Disability (PEDI) Social Function Score

    The Pediatric Evaluation of Disability is used to evaluate functional skills in children aged 6 months to 7 years in three areas: Self Care, Mobility, and Social Function. The score in each area can range from 10-90. Higher scores indicate higher function. The change from Baseline to Year 1 in the Social Function score is presented here. Positive scores indicate increased function, negative scores indicate a decrease, and zero indicates no change.

    Measured: Baseline to Year 1

  14. Change in Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) Z-score Internalizing Problems From Baseline to Year 1

    Two versions of the CBCL exist for children ages 1.5 to 5 years and ages 6-18 years. The CBCL evaluates internalizing and externalizing behaviors and total problems using 99-item assessments that are scored on an ordinal scale as 0 for "not true of the child," 1 for "somewhat or sometimes true of the child," and 2 for "very true or often true of the child" based on behavior in the preceding two months. Scores are expressed on a standard normal distribution with mean 50 and standard deviation 10. Z scores were created for analysis. A Z-score represents the distance from the population mean in terms of the number of standard deviations. The change in Z-score from Baseline to Year 1 was calculated for each patient. A positive number indicates an increase in the behavior, a negative number indicates a decrease in the behavior, and a zero indicates no change.

    Measured: Baseline to Year 1

  15. Change in Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) Z-score Externalizing Problems From Baseline to Year 1

    Two versions of the CBCL exist for children ages 1.5 to 5 years and ages 6-18 years. The CBCL evaluates internalizing and externalizing behaviors and total problems using 99-item assessments that are scored on an ordinal scale as 0 for "not true of the child," 1 for "somewhat or sometimes true of the child," and 2 for "very true or often true of the child" based on behavior in the preceding two months. Scores are expressed on a standard normal distribution with mean 50 and standard deviation 10. Z scores were created for analysis. A Z-score represents the distance from the population mean in terms of the number of standard deviations. The change in Z-score from Baseline to Year 1 was calculated for each patient. A positive number indicates an increase in the behavior, a negative number indicates a decrease in the behavior, and a zero indicates no change.

    Measured: Baseline to Year 1

  16. Change in Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) Z-score Total Problems From Baseline to Year 1

    Two versions of the CBCL exist for children ages 1.5 to 5 years and ages 6-18 years. The CBCL evaluates internalizing and externalizing behaviors and total problems using 99-item assessments that are scored on an ordinal scale as 0 for "not true of the child," 1 for "somewhat or sometimes true of the child," and 2 for "very true or often true of the child" based on behavior in the preceding two months. Scores are expressed on a standard normal distribution with mean 50 and standard deviation 10. Z scores were created for analysis. A Z-score represents the distance from the population mean in terms of the number of standard deviations. The change in Z-score from Baseline to Year 1 was calculated for each patient. A positive number indicates an increase in the behavior, a negative number indicates a decrease in the behavior, and a zero indicates no change.

    Measured: Baseline to Year 1

  17. Change in Parental Distress From Baseline to Year 1

    Parent stress was evaluated with the Parenting Stress Index - Short Form for children aged 0-12 years, which measures stress in three domains: Parental Distress, Parent-Child Dysfunctional Interaction, and Difficult Child. Results in each domain are expressed as percentiles. Scores from the 15th-80th percentile are considered to be within the normal range.

    Scores at or above the 85th percentile considered high distress. Scores greater than the 89th percentile indicate clinically significant levels of distress. Analysis focused on changes in percentile scores between Baseline and Year 1. Positive numbers represent an increase in distress, negative numbers represent a decrease in distress, and zero indicates no change.

    Measured: Baseline to Year 1

  18. Change in Parent-Child Dysfunctional Interaction From Baseline to Year 1

    Parent stress was evaluated with the Parenting Stress Index - Short Form for children aged 0-12 years, which measures stress in three domains: Parental Distress, Parent-Child Dysfunctional Interaction, and Difficult Child. Results in each domain are expressed as percentiles. Scores from the 15th-80th percentile are considered to be within the normal range. Scores at or above the 85th percentile considered high distress. Scores greater than the 89th percentile indicate clinically significant levels of distress. Analysis focused on changes in percentile scores between Baseline and Year 1. Positive numbers represent an increase in distress, negative numbers represent a decrease in distress, and zero indicates no change.

    Measured: Baseline to Year 1

  19. Change in Difficult Child Score From Baseline to Year 1

    Parent stress was evaluated with the Parenting Stress Index - Short Form for children aged 0-12 years, which measures stress in three domains: Parental Distress, Parent-Child Dysfunctional Interaction, and Difficult Child. Results in each domain are expressed as percentiles. Scores from the 15th-80th percentile are considered to be within the normal range. Scores at or above the 85th percentile considered high distress. Scores greater than the 89th percentile indicate clinically significant levels of distress. Analysis focused on changes in percentile scores between Baseline and Year 1. Positive numbers represent an increase in distress, negative numbers represent a decrease in distress, and zero indicates no change.

    Measured: Baseline to Year 1

  20. Modified Ashworth Scale at Baseline

    The Modified Ashworth Scale uses a 6 point scale (range 0, 1, 1+, 2, 3, or 4) to measure spasticity in 5 body regions (central, right upper extremity, left upper extremity, right lower extremity, and left lower extremity). Scores of 0 indicate no increase in muscle tone whereas a score of 4 indicates rigidity in flexion or extension.

    Measured: Baseline

  21. Modified Ashworth Scale at Year 1

    The Modified Ashworth Scale uses a 6 point scale (range 0, 1, 1+, 2, 3, or 4) to measure spasticity in 5 body regions (central, right upper extremity, left upper extremity, right lower extremity, and left lower extremity). Scores of 0 indicate no increase in muscle tone whereas a score of 4 indicates rigidity in flexion or extension.

    Measured: Year 1

  22. Change in Bruininks-Oseretsky-2 Total Motor Composite From Baseline to Year 1

    The Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, Second Edition, (BOT-2) evaluates motor function in four areas: stability, mobility, strength, coordination, and object manipulation. A Total Motor Composite is then calculated and expressed on a normal distribution with mean 50 and standard deviation of 10. Higher scores indicate better motor function. The BOT-2 Total Motor Composite was used to measure motor function in children at age 6 in this study. The study intended to evaluate change in the BOT-2 Total Motor Composite from Baseline to Year 1, where positive change indicates improvement in motor function, negative change indicates decrease in motor function, and zero indicates no change.

    Measured: Baseline to Year 1

  23. Parent Experience of Child Illness (PECI)

    The PECI is a 25-item measure designed to examine parental adjustment related to caring for a chronically ill child.

    Measured: Baseline to Year 1

  24. Correlation Between Clinical Response and RNA Expression of Neural, Endothelial and Inflammatory Cytokines Measured by RNA Arrays in Cord Blood Cells Given to These Patients.

    Various pre-selected neural, angiogenic, and anti-inflammatory markers expressed by UCB cells and clinical response will be evaluated.

    Measured: 2 years

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted22 Jun 2010 (estimated)
  2. Study startJun 2010
  3. Primary completionMar 2016
  4. Study completionMar 2016

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Crossover
Masking
Quadruple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
63 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT01147653
Sponsor's protocol ID
Pro00017801
Status last verified
Dec 2022
First submitted
17 Jun 2010
Last updated
6 May 2026
Data monitoring committee
No

Publications

  • Sun JM, Song AW, Case LE, Mikati MA, Gustafson KE, Simmons R, Goldstein R, Petry J, McLaughlin C, Waters-Pick B, Chen LW, Wease S, Blackwell B, Worley G, Troy J, Kurtzberg J. Effect of Autologous Cord Blood Infusion on Motor Function and Brain Connectivity in Young Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Stem Cells Transl Med. 2017 Dec;6(12):2071-2078. doi: 10.1002/sctm.17-0102. Epub 2017 Oct 28.

    PubMed 29080265

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 2 study testing Autologous UCB Reinfusion in people with Cerebral Palsy and CP, run by Joanne Kurtzberg, MD at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 20 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 6 May 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 12 Jun 2017). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Change in Gross Motor Function Measure 66 (GMFM-66) Score (time frame: Baseline to Year 1). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT01147653, which also lists 1 linked publication.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 6 May 2026.

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