Oral Chronic Graft vs Host DiseasePhase 2NCT01557517
Clobetasol for Oral Graft-Versus-Host Disease
A Phase 2 study testing Clobetasol Oral Rinse in people with Oral Chronic Graft vs Host Disease, run by National Cancer Institute (NCI) at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
Background: Oral graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a possible complication of bone marrow transplants. It is the result of the donor cells trying to attack the recipients body. Symptoms include dry mouth, sensitivity and pain when tasting certain spices and flavors, and painful swallowing. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 12 to 99 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Oral Chronic Graft vs Host Disease
- What is being tested?
- Clobetasol Oral Rinse
- Type of treatment
- Pill or oral medicine
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 40 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 28 Mar 2012to 24 Aug 2017
- Phase
- Phase 2
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 to 99 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Age: 12 years 99 years.
- Diagnosis: clinically significant oral chronic graft versus host disease (cGVHD) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) with severity score of at least 2 on erythema subset and/or at least 1 on ulceration subset and a composite score greater than or equal to 20 of the Oral Mucositis Rating Scale (OMRS) scale confirmed by the principal investigator (PI), clinical study chair (CSC), or lead associate investigator (LAI).
- Hematologic Function: Patients must have a platelet count greater than or equal to 20,000/microL at the time of the initial evaluation.
- Informed Consent: All patients or their legal representative (for patients <18 years old) must sign an institutional review board (IRB) approved informed consent document (cGVHD natural history protocol 04-C-0281 or any National Cancer Institute (NCI) protocol allowing for screening procedures) prior to performing studies to determine patient eligibility. After confirmation of patient eligibility all patients or their legal representative must sign the protocol specific informed consent. For pediatric patients age appropriate assent will be obtained in accordance with National Institutes of Health (NIH) guidelines.
- Patients must be able to rinse and expectorate study medication rather than swallow it. Female patients must be willing to practice birth control (including abstinence) during and for two months after treatment, if of childbearing potential.
- Patients must have the ability and willingness to come to Clinical Center for bi-weekly follow-up appointments.
- No change in systemic immunosuppressive therapy (type or intensity level) within 2 weeks prior to enrollment.
- A 7-day washout period is required if patients are currently using another oral topical treatment for mouth lesions. Patients currently using clobetasol oral topical treatment are not eligible for this study.
Who cannot join
- Documented hypersensitivity to clobetasol.
- Use of clobetasol ointment intra-orally at any time during the last 6-month period.
- Pregnant or breast-feeding females due to possible toxicity to the fetus or infant.
- Inability to understand the investigational nature of the study to provide informed consent.
- Patients who, for medical or other reasons, are unable to comply with the study procedures.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, 9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, Maryland, 20892
About this study
Official title: A Randomized Double-Blind Pilot Study of Topical Clobetasol 0.05% Oral Rinse for Oral Chronic Graft-Versus-Host-Disease
Background:
- Oral graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a possible complication of bone marrow transplants. It is the result of the donor cells trying to attack the recipients body. Symptoms include dry mouth, sensitivity and pain when tasting certain spices and flavors, and painful swallowing. Steroids are a possible effective treatment for GHVD, but they can cause side effects when given as pills or injections. Steroids given in a cream or rinse form, applied directly to the site of the symptoms, can have fewer side effects. However, their effectiveness as a rinse has not been tested in the mouth. Researchers want to see if a steroid called clobetasol can be used as a mouth rinse to treat oral GHVD.
Read more
Objectives:
- To see if a clobetasol rinse is a safe and effective treatment for oral graft-versus-host disease.
Eligibility:
- Individuals at least 12 years of age who have oral GHVD and are not allergic to clobetasol.
Design:
- Participants will be screened with a physical exam and medical history. Blood and urine samples will be collected. They will also have an oral exam, a mouth tissue biopsy, and other tests before starting the study drug.
- Participants will be separated into two groups. One group will receive clobetasol; the other will have a placebo liquid.
- Participants will rinse their mouths with the study liquid three times a day after meals for 2 weeks.
- After 2 weeks, participants will have another study visit with blood tests and other exams.
- After the study visit, all participants will start to use the clobetasol rinse. Those who originally had clobetasol will use the rinse for another 2 weeks. Those who originally had a placebo will use the rinse for 4 weeks.
- Participants will have a follow-up exam after the end of treatment....
Read the detailed description
BACKGROUND:
- Chronic Graft versus Host Disease (cGVHD) is a major late complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
- The oral cavity is the second most commonly affected area in cGVHD and is a major cause of morbidity.
- Clobetasol is a high-potency topical corticosteroid widely used for a variety of inflammatory disorders of the skin and oral mucosa.
- Treatment of oral cGVHD by topical agents is an attractive strategy to potentially avoid adverse effects associated with systemic immunosuppression.
OBJECTIVES:
- To investigate efficacy of topical clobetasol 0.05% oral rinse for oral chronic graft versus-host disease (cGVHD)
ELIGIBILITY:
- Patients age 12-99 years with clinically significant oral cGVHD.
DESIGN:
- This is a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled, pilot study of clobetasol 0.05% topical oral rinse with an open label extension period.
- Patients will rinse oral cavity with 10cc of clobetasol 0.05% or placebo oral rinse for 2 minutes 3 times a day.
- Treatment duration will be for 2 weeks in the randomized phase and 2-4 weeks in the open label phase.
- Up to 40 patients will be enrolled on this pilot trial until 34 evaluable patients are assessed.
- Conditions
- Oral Chronic Graft vs Host Disease
- Being tested
- Clobetasol Oral Rinse, Placebo oral rinse
- Keywords
- cGVHD, Oral cGVHD, Topical, Oral Rinse, Clobetasol, Oral Graft-Versus-Host Disease, GVHD
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Clobetasol Oral RinseDrug
Cycle= up to 4 weeks Patients will rinse oral cavity with 10cc of clobetasol 0.05% oral rinse for 2 minutes 3 times a day.
Placebo oral rinseDrug
Patients will rinse oral cavity with 10cc of placebo oral rinse for 2 minutes 3 times a day.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Clobetasol | Experimental | Patients will rinse oral cavity with 10cc of clobetasol 0.05% for 2 minutes 3 times a day. Receives: Drug: Clobetasol Oral Rinse |
| Placebo | Placebo comparator | Patients will rinse oral cavity with 10cc of placebo oral rinse for 2 minutes 3 times a day. Receives: Drug: Placebo oral rinse |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Percentage of Participants With a Response as Assessed by the 273-point Oral Mucositis Rating Scale (OMRS) Who Received Topical Clobetasol 0.05% Oral Rinse for Oral Chronic Graft-versus-host-disease (cGVHD) During a Four-week Treatment Period
Mucosal changes were assessed by the Oral Mucositis Rating Scale. The primary endpoint was evaluated using the OMRS. Oral tissue changes are rated on a scale of 0-3 compared with normal oral tissue (0-normal/no change, 1-mild change, 2-moderate change, and 3-severe change). Total score is the sum of all OMRS items with a possible range of 0. Total score is the sum of all OMRS items with a possible range of 0-273. Lower score=more normal oral mucosa. There is no standard definition of response in this field. Definitions we used in this pilot study to grade the response to study intervention are: Progress of 25% of initial score (rounded to the closest number) on the OMRS scale. Completion (PD) is defined as an increase of 25% of initial score (rounded to the closest number). Partial Response (PR) is defined as a decrease Response (CR) is defined as a PR plus a score of 0 on the erythema and ulceration components. Stable Disease (SD) does not meet criteria for progression or response.
Measured: At 4 weeks on active treatment
Secondary outcomes (8)
Percent Change in Participants' Raw Score of Oral cGVHD Related Pain on a 0-10 Rating Scale
Oral cavity pain was assessed by an oral cavity specific quality of life questionnaire. Pain was rated based on a 0-10 rating scale on which subjects selected a single integer. 0 = no pain and 10 = worst pain. A negative value indicates an increase in oral pain. A positive value indicates an improvement in patient-perceived oral pain.
Measured: Baseline to Day 14 and baseline to Day 28
Percent Change in Participants' Raw Score of Oral cGVHD Related Sensitivity on a 0-10 Rating Scale
Oral cavity sensitivity was assessed by an oral cavity specific quality of life questionnaire. Sensitivity was rated based on a 0-10 rating scale on which subjects selected a single integer. 0 = no sensitivity and 10 = worst sensitivity. A negative value indicates an increase in oral sensitivity. A positive value indicates an improvement in patient-perceived oral sensitivity.
Measured: Baseline and 4 weeks on active treatment
Percent Change in Participants' Raw Score of Oral cGVHD Related Dryness on a 0-10 Rating Scale
Oral cavity dryness was assessed by an oral cavity specific quality of life questionnaire. Dryness was rated based on a 0-10 rating scale on which subjects selected a single integer. 0 = no dryness and 10 = worst dryness. A negative value indicates an increase in patient-perceived oral dryness. A positive value indicates an improvement in patient-perceived oral dryness.
Measured: Baseline and 4 weeks on active treatment
Maximum Plasma Concentration (Cmax) of Clobetasol During Pharmacokinetic Testing
Steady-state pharmacokinetics of systemic clobetasol were assessed following a single 2 min oral rinse of 0.05% clobetasol on day 14 (1 patient collected on day 12). A noncompartmental pharmacokinetic assessment was performed using WinNonlin v5 (Pharsight Corp, Mountain View, CA) from three sampling times (pre-rinse, 15-45 min post-rinse, and 90-120 min post-rinse). Plasma concentrations of clobetasol were measured using a newly designed and validated LC-MS/MS assay, with a lower limit of quantification of 0.05 ng/mL. The maximum plasma concentrations (CMAX) were recorded as observed values and the area under the plasma-concentration time curve using all three sampling time points (AUCALL) was calculated using the Linear Trapezoidal rule.
Measured: pre-rinse, 15-45 min post-rinse, and 90-120 min post-rinse
Plasma Concentrations of Clobetasol Mouth Rinse in cGVHD Patients at Baseline (Day 0) and Day 28
Peripheral blood was drawn at baseline and day 28 of clobetasol rinse use, and clobetasol levels were measured in the blood sample. Plasma concentrations of clobetasol were measured using a validated LC-MS/MS assay with a lower limit of quantification of 0.05 ng/mL. Any values below detectable limit or with no peak were adjusted to 0.
Measured: Baseline Day 0 and Day 28
Count of Participants With Serious and Non-serious Adverse Events Assessed by the Common Terminology Criteria in Adverse Events (CTCAE v4.0)
Here is the count of participants with serious and non-serious adverse events assessed by the Common Terminology Criteria in Adverse Events (CTCAE v4.0). A non-serious adverse event is any untoward medical occurrence. A serious adverse event is an adverse event or suspected adverse reaction that results in death, a life threatening adverse drug experience, hospitalization, disruption of the ability to conduct normal life functions, congenital anomaly/birth defect or important medical events that jeopardize the patient or subject and may require medical or surgical intervention to prevent one of the previous outcomes mentioned.
Measured: Date treatment consent signed to date off study, approximately 62 months and 12 days.
Time to Maximum Plasma Concentration (Cmax) of Clobetasol
Steady-state pharmacokinetics of systemic clobetasol were assessed following a single 2 min oral rinse of 0.05% clobetasol on day 14 (1 patient collected on day 12). A noncompartmental pharmacokinetic assessment was performed using WinNonlin v5 (Pharsight Corp, Mountain View, CA) from three sampling times (pre-rinse, 15-45 min post-rinse, and 90-120 min post-rinse). Plasma concentrations of clobetasol were measured using a newly designed and validated LC-MS/MS assay, with a lower limit of quantification of 0.05 ng/mL. The maximum plasma concentrations (CMAX) were recorded as observed values and the area under the plasma-concentration time curve using all three sampling time points (AUCALL) was calculated using the Linear Trapezoidal rule.
Measured: pre-rinse, 15-45 min post-rinse, and 90-120 min post-rinse
Area Under the Plasma Concentration vs Time Curve for All Time Points
Steady-state pharmacokinetics of systemic clobetasol were assessed following a single 2 min oral rinse of 0.05% clobetasol on day 14 (1 patient collected on day 12). A noncompartmental pharmacokinetic assessment was performed using WinNonlin v5 (Pharsight Corp, Mountain View, CA) from three sampling times (pre-rinse, 15-45 min post-rinse, and 90-120 min post-rinse). Plasma concentrations of clobetasol were measured using a newly designed and validated LC-MS/MS assay, with a lower limit of quantification of 0.05 ng/mL. The maximum plasma concentrations (CMAX) were recorded as observed values and the area under the plasma-concentration time curve using all three sampling time points (AUCALL) was calculated using the Linear Trapezoidal rule.
Measured: pre-rinse, 15-45 min post-rinse, and 90-120 min post-rinse
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted19 Mar 2012 (estimated)
- Study start28 Mar 2012
- Primary completion9 Jun 2017
- Study completion24 Aug 2017
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
- Publications (4)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Oral Chronic Graft vs Host DiseaseStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by National Cancer Institute (NCI)The sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
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
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- National Cancer Institute (NCI)
- Sponsor type
- US National Institutes of Health
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Najla El Jurdi, National Cancer Institute (NCI)
- Investigators
- Najla El Jurdi, M.D., Principal investigator, National Cancer Institute (NCI)
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT01557517
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 120068
- Other IDs
- 12-C-0068
- Status last verified
- Jun 2025
- First submitted
- 16 Mar 2012
- Last updated
- 15 Jun 2025
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- Yes
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Imanguli MM, Pavletic SZ, Guadagnini JP, Brahim JS, Atkinson JC. Chronic graft versus host disease of oral mucosa: review of available therapies. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod. 2006 Feb;101(2):175-83. doi: 10.1016/j.tripleo.2005.08.028.
PubMed 16448918Pavletic SZ, Lee SJ, Socie G, Vogelsang G. Chronic graft-versus-host disease: implications of the National Institutes of Health consensus development project on criteria for clinical trials. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2006 Nov;38(10):645-51. doi: 10.1038/sj.bmt.1705490. Epub 2006 Sep 18.
PubMed 16980994Flowers ME, Parker PM, Johnston LJ, Matos AV, Storer B, Bensinger WI, Storb R, Appelbaum FR, Forman SJ, Blume KG, Martin PJ. Comparison of chronic graft-versus-host disease after transplantation of peripheral blood stem cells versus bone marrow in allogeneic recipients: long-term follow-up of a randomized trial. Blood. 2002 Jul 15;100(2):415-9. doi: 10.1182/blood-2002-01-0011.
PubMed 12091330El Jurdi N, Leinbach LI, Curtis LM, Dodge JT, Schmidt KT, Yanovski JA, Costa-da-Silva AC, Peer CJ, Sharma R, Rose JJ, Cho MM, Jin H, Starling J, Avila DN, Masuch LR, Figg WD, Bassim CW, Kanakry CG, Hakim FT, Pavletic SZ, Mays JW. A randomized phase 2 placebo-controlled trial of clobetasol solution for oral chronic graft-versus-host disease therapy. Blood Adv. 2026 Sep 25:bloodadvances.2026020880. doi: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2026020880. Online ahead of print.
PubMed 42790417