Alain CHAPEL

Institute of Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety, France

Title: Stem cell therapy in radiotherapy from bench to Clinical Trial Evaluating the Efficacy of Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Injections for the Treatment of Chronic Pelvic Complications Induced by Radiation Therapy

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Biography

Alain Chapel, PhD, scientific investigator at IRSN, Laboratory of Radiopathology and Experimental Therapies. For 20 years, he has been developing gene and cell therapy using non-human primates and immune-tolerant mice and rats to protect against the side effects of radiation. He has developed representative experimental models of SAI to investigate the effect of radiation on both radiosensitive hematopoietic cells and their bone marrow microenvironment. He collaborates with clinicians to develop new strategies for treatment of patients after radiation accidents or radiotherapy overexposures. In compassional trials, he has participated in the first establishment of proof of concept of the therapeutic efficacy of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for the treatment of hematopoietic deficit, radiodermatitis and over dosages of radiotherapy. In collaboration with Saint-Antoine Hospital (Paris, France), he has contributed to the first reported correction of deficient hematopoiesis in patients (graft failure and aplastic anemia) thanks to intravenous injection of MSCs restoring the bone marrow microenvironment, mandatory to sustain hematopoiesis after total body irradiation. Currently his work focuses on the development of radio-induced bone marrow aplasia using human hematopoietic stem cells derived from human IPS. He is a member of various learned national and international societies: European Bone Marrow Transplantation Group (EBMT), American Society for Hematology, International Society of Stem Cell Research, Société Francaise de Greffe moelle et de thérapie cellulaire. He is an associate editor of five international journals: World Journal of Stem Cells, World Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery, World Journal of Radiology, The Open Gene Therapy Journal and Journal of Clinical Rehabilitative Tissue Engineering Research. He has participated in the scientific organization of international conferences

Abstract

The late adverse effects of pelvic radiotherapy concern 5 to 10% of patients, which could be life threatening. However, a clear medical consensus concerning the clinical management of such healthy tissue sequelae does not exist. Our group has demonstrated in preclinical animal models that systemic mesenchymal stromal stem cells (MSCs) injection is a promising approach for the medical management of gastrointestinal disorder after irradiation. 

In a phase 1 clinical trial, we have shown that the clinical status of four first patients suffering from severe pelvic side effects (Epinal accident) was improved following MSC injection (figure). Two patients revealed a substantiated clinical response for pain and hemorrhage after MSC therapy. The frequency of painful diarrhea diminished from 6/d to 3/d after the first and 2/d after the 2nd MSC injection in one patient. A beginning fistulization process could be stopped in one patient resulting in a stable remission for more than 3 years of follow-up. A modulation of the lymphocyte subsets towards a regulatory pattern and diminution of activated T cells accompanies the clinical response. MSC therapy was effective on pain, diarrhea, hemorrhage, inflammation, fibrosis and limited fistulization. No toxicity was observed. 

We are now starting a clinical research protocol for patients with post-radiation abdominal and pelvic complications who have not seen their symptoms improve after conventional treatments (NCT02814864, Trial evaluating the efficacy of systemic MSC injections for the treatment of severe and chronic radiotherapy-induced abdomino-pelvic complications refractory to standard therapy (PRISME). It involves the participation of 6 radiotherapy services for the recruitment of 12 patients. They will all be treated and followed up in the hematology department of Saint Antoine Hospital. The cells will be prepared in two production centers (EFS Mondor and CTSA). Treatment is a suspension of allogeneic MSCs. Eligible patients must have a grade greater than 2 for rectoragy or hematuria at inclusion and absence of active cancer. Each patient receives 3 injections of MSCs at 7-day intervals. Patients will be followed up over a 12-month period. The main objective is a decrease of one grade on the LENT SOMA scale for rectorrhagia or hematuria. The secondary objective is to reduce the frequency of diarrhea; analgesic consumption, pain and improved quality of life.