Unilateral intraputamenal glial cell line–derived neurotrophic factor in patients with Parkinson disease: response to 1 year of treatment and 1 year of withdrawal

2007 ◽  
Vol 106 (4) ◽  
pp. 614-620 ◽  
Author(s):  
John T. Slevin ◽  
Don M. Gash ◽  
Charles D. Smith ◽  
Greg A. Gerhardt ◽  
Richard Kryscio ◽  
...  

Object Glial cell line–derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) infused unilaterally into the putamen for 6 months has been previously shown to improve significantly motor functions and quality of life measures in 10 patients with Parkinson disease (PD) in a Phase I trial. In the present study the authors report the safety and efficacy of continuous treatment for a minimum of 1 year. After the trial was halted by the drug sponsor, the patients were monitored for an additional 1 year during which the effects of drug withdrawal were evaluated. Methods During the extended study period, patients received a 30-μg/day unilateral intraputamenal infusion of GDNF at a basal infusion rate supplemented with pulsed boluses every 6 hours at a convection-enhanced delivery rate to increase tissue penetration of the protein. When the study was stopped, the delivery system was reprogrammed to deliver sterile saline at the basal infusion rate of 2 μl/hour. The Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) total scores after 1 year of therapy were improved by 42 and 38% in the off- and on-medication states; the motor UPDRS scores were also improved 45 and 39%, respectively. Benefits from treatment were lost by 9 to 12 months after the cessation of GDNF infusion. The UPDRS scores returned to their baseline and the patients required higher levels of conventional antiparkinsonian drugs to treat symptoms. After 11 months of treatment, the delivery system had to be removed in one patient because of risk of infection. Seven patients developed antibodies to GDNF but without evident clinical sequelae. There was no evidence for GDNF-induced cerebellar toxicity, as evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging and clinical testing. Conclusions The unilateral administration of GDNF results in significant, sustained bilateral benefits in patients with PD. These improvements are lost within 9 months of drug withdrawal. Safety concerns with GDNF therapy can be closely monitored and managed.

2006 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
John T. Slevin ◽  
Don M. Gash ◽  
Charles D. Smith ◽  
Greg A. Gerhardt ◽  
Richard Kryscio ◽  
...  

Object Glial cell line–derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) infused unilaterally into the putamen for 6 months was previously shown to improve motor functions and quality of life measures significantly in 10 patients with Parkinson disease (PD) in a Phase I trial. In this study the authors report the safety and efficacy of continuous treatment for 1 year or more. After the trial was halted by the sponsor, the patients were monitored for an additional year to evaluate the effects of drug withdrawal. Methods During the extended study, patients received unilateral intraputaminal infusion of 30 μg/day GDNF at a basal infusion rate supplemented with pulsed boluses every 6 hours at a convection-enhanced delivery rate to increase tissue penetration of the protein. When the study was stopped, the delivery system was reprogrammed to deliver sterile saline at the basal infusion rate of 2 μl/hour. The Unified PD Rating Scale (UPDRS) total scores after 1 year of therapy were improved by 42 and 38%, respectively, in the “off” and “on” states. Motor UPDRS scores were also improved: 45 and 39% in the off and on conditions, respectively. Benefits from treatment were lost by 9 to 12 months after GDNF infusion was halted. At that time, the patients had returned to their baseline UPDRS scores and required higher levels of conventional antiparkinsonian drugs to treat symptoms. After 11 months of treatment, the delivery system had to be removed in one patient because of the risk of infection. In seven patients antibodies to GDNF developed, with no evidence of clinical sequelae. There was also no evidence of GDNF-induced cerebellar toxicity, as evaluated using magnetic resonance imaging analysis and clinical testing. Conclusions Unilateral administration of GDNF results in significant, sustained bilateral benefits. These improvements are lost within 9 months after drug withdrawal. Safety concerns with GDNF therapy can be closely monitored and managed.


2005 ◽  
Vol 102 (2) ◽  
pp. 216-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
John T. Slevin ◽  
Greg A. Gerhardt ◽  
Charles D. Smith ◽  
Don M. Gash ◽  
Richard Kryscio ◽  
...  

Object. Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) has demonstrated significant antiparkinsonian actions in several animal models and in a recent pilot study in England in which four of five patients received bilateral putaminal delivery. In the present study the authors report on a 6-month unilateral intraputaminal GDNF infusion in 10 patients with advanced Parkinson disease (PD). Methods. Patients with PD in a functionally defined on and off state were evaluated 1 week before and 1 and 4 weeks after intraputaminal catheter implantation in the side contralateral to the most affected side. Each patient was placed on a dose-escalation regimen of GDNF: 3, 10, and 30 µg/day at successive 8-week intervals, followed by a 1-month wash-out period. The Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) total scores in the on and off states significantly improved 34 and 33%, respectively, at 24 weeks compared with baseline scores (95% confidence interval [CI] 18–47% for off scores and 16–51% for on scores). In addition, UPDRS motor scores in both the on and off states significantly improved by 30% at 24 weeks compared with baseline scores (95% CI 15–48% for off scores and 5–61% for on scores). Improvements occurred bilaterally, as measured by balance and gait and increased speed of hand movements. All significant improvements of motor function continued through the wash-out period. The only observed side effects were transient Lhermitte symptoms in two patients. Conclusions. Analysis of the data in this open-label study demonstrates the safety and potential efficacy of unilateral intraputaminal GDNF infusion. Unilateral administration of the protein resulted in significant, sustained bilateral effects.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthias Luz ◽  
Alan Whone ◽  
Niccolò Bassani ◽  
Richard K Wyse ◽  
Glenn T Stebbins ◽  
...  

Abstract There is an increasing need for improved endpoints to assess clinical trial effects in Parkinson’s disease. We propose the Parkinson’s Disease Comprehensive Response as a novel weighted composite endpoint integrating changes measured in three established Parkinson’s outcomes, including: OFF state Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale Motor Examination scores; Motor Experiences of Daily Living scores; and total good-quality ON time per day. The data source for the initial development of the composite described herein was a recent Phase II trial of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor. A wide range of clinically derived relative weights was assessed to normalize for differentially scoring base rates with each endpoint component. The Parkinson’s disease comprehensive response, in contrast to examining practically defined OFF state Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale Motor Examination scores alone, showed stability over 40 weeks in placebo patients, and all 432 analyses in this permutation exercise yielded significant differences in favour of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor. The findings were consistent with results obtained employing three different global statistical test methodologies and with patterns of intra-patient change. Based on our detailed analyses, we conclude it worth prospectively evaluating the clinical utility, validity and regulatory feasibility of using clinically supported final Parkinson’s disease comprehensive response formulas (for both the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale-based and Movement Disorders Society-Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale-based versions) in future disease-modifying Parkinson’s trials. Whilst the data source employed in the initial development of this weighted composite score is from a recent Phase II trial of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor, we wish to stress that the results are not described to provide post hoc evidence of the efficacy of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor but rather are presented to further the debate of how current regulatory approved rating scales may be combined to address some of the recognized limitations of using individual scales in isolation.


10.1038/nm850 ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 589-595 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven S. Gill ◽  
Nikunj K. Patel ◽  
Gary R. Hotton ◽  
Karen O'Sullivan ◽  
Renée McCarter ◽  
...  

2002 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam O. Hebb ◽  
Kari Hebb ◽  
Arun C. Ramachandran ◽  
Ivar Mendez

Object Investigation of fetal dopaminergic tissue transplantation is being conducted in animal models and clinical trials as a potential treatment for advanced Parkinson disease (PD). Because the availability of fetal tissue is limited, however, the duration of its storage prior to transplantation is a key practical issue. Longer storage times may enable fetal tissue obtained over several days to be pooled together for transplantation in a recipient. Glial cell line–derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) has been shown to improve survival of stored human dopaminergic tissue prior to transplantation. The objective of this study was to evaluate GDNF-supplemented hibernation of fetal dopaminergic tissue for extended periods of 6 to 15 days. Methods A total of 27 rat ventral mesencephalons (VMs) were obtained in gestation Day 14 rat fetuses, and three were cultured immediately (fresh-culture control group). The remaining 24 VMs were divided sagittally along the mid-line to form 48 equal pieces of hemimesencephalons. Twenty-four pieces were stored with GDNF-supplemented hibernation medium for 6, 9, 12, or 15 days, and the 24 “partner” hemimesencephalons were stored in control hibernation medium for the same periods of time. Tissue was cultured for 48 hours and processed for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunoreactivity and cresyl violet. Cell counts for all cultures and percentage of TH-immunoreactive cells were obtained. The percentage of TH-positive cells for the fresh control group was 6.3 ± 0.5%; that measured in cultures derived from tissue hibernated in GDNF-supplemented medium was significantly increased at 6 and 9 days posthiber-nation compared with the fresh-culture control group and the partner groups stored in hibernation medium only. No significant increase in percentage of TH-immunoreactive cells was observed in the 12- and 15-day hibernation groups. Conclusions In summary the authors found that fetal dopaminergic tissue can safely be stored up to 9 days in GDNF-supplemented hibernation medium. Furthermore the percentage of TH-immunoreactive cells is significantly increased after 6 and 9 days of storage in this medium, improving the yield of TH-positive cells prior to transplantation. These observations may have important clinical implications for collecting fetal dopaminergic cells and improving their survival after transplantation.


2003 ◽  
Vol 98 (5) ◽  
pp. 1078-1083 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam O. Hebb ◽  
Kari Hebb ◽  
Arun C. Ramachandran ◽  
Ivar Mendez

Object. Transplantation of fetal dopaminergic tissue is being investigated in animal models and clinical trials for its potential as a treatment for advanced Parkinson disease. At the same time, the availability of fetal tissue is limited, making its storage time prior to transplantation a key practical issue. Although it results in a smaller percentage of surviving cells, a longer storage time enables fetal tissue obtained over several days to be pooled for transplantation in a recipient. Glial cell line—derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) has been shown to improve survival of human dopaminergic tissue that has been stored prior to transplantation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects on fetal dopaminergic tissue of GDNF-supplemented hibernation for extended periods of 6 to 15 days. Methods. The ventral mesencephalon (VM) was harvested in a total of 27 14-day-old rat fetuses, and three VMs were cultured immediately (fresh control group). The remaining 24 VMs were divided sagittally along the midline to yield 48 equal pieces of hemimesencephalon. Twenty-four pieces were stored with GDNF-supplemented hibernation medium for 6, 9, 12, or 15 days, and the 24 “partner” hemimesencephalon pieces were stored in control hibernation medium for the same periods of time. Tissue was cultured for 48 hours and processed for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunoreactivity and double-stained with cresyl violet. Cell counts for all cultures and the percentage of TH-immunoreactive cells were obtained. The percentage of TH-immunoreactive cells for the fresh control group was 6.3 ± 0.5%. The percentage of TH-immunoreactive cells in cultures derived from tissue stored in GDNF-supplemented medium was significantly increased at 6 and 9 days posthibernation compared with the fresh control group and the “partner” groups stored in hibernation medium only. No significant increase in the percentage of TH-immunoreactive cells was observed in the 12- and 15-day groups. Conclusions. In this study the authors have demonstrated that fetal dopaminergic tissue can be safely stored for up to 9 days in GDNF-supplemented hibernation medium. Furthermore, the percentage of TH-immunoreactive cells is significantly increased after 6 and 9 days of storage in this medium, improving the yield of TH-immunoreactive cells prior to transplantation. These observations have practical clinical implications for collecting fetal dopaminergic cells and improving their survival after transplantation.


2005 ◽  
Vol 102 (1) ◽  
pp. 80-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takao Yasuhara ◽  
Tetsuro Shingo ◽  
Kenichiro Muraoka ◽  
Kazuki Kobayashi ◽  
Akira Takeuchi ◽  
...  

Object. Glial cell line—derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) has been shown to confer neuroprotective effects on dopaminergic neurons. The authors investigated the effects of GDNF on 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)—treated dopaminergic neurons in vitro and in vivo. Methods. First, the authors examined how 1, 10, or 100 ng/ml of GDNF, administered to cells 24 hours before, simultaneously with, or 2 or 4 hours after 6-OHDA was added, affected dopaminergic neurons. In a primary culture of E14 murine ventral mesencephalic neurons, earlier treatment with the higher dosage of GDNF suppressed 6-OHDA—induced loss of dopaminergic neurons better than later treatment. Next, the authors examined whether continuous infusion of GDNF at earlier time points would demonstrate a greater neuroprotective effect in a rat model of Parkinson disease (PD). They established a human GDNF-secreting cell line, called BHK-GDNF, and encapsulated the cells into hollow fibers. The encapsulated cells were unilaterally implanted into the striatum of adult rats 1 week before; simultaneously with; or 1, 2, or 4 weeks after 6-OHDA was given to induce lesions of the same striatum. With the earlier transplantation of a BHK-GDNF capsule, there was a significant reduction in the number of amphetamine-induced rotations displayed by the animals. Rats that had received earlier implantation of BHK-GDNF capsules displayed more tyrosine hydroxylase—positive neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta and a tendency for glial proliferation in the striatum. Conclusions. These neuroprotective effects may be related to glial proliferation and signaling via the GDNF receptor α1. The results of this study support a role for this grafting technique in the treatment of PD.


2010 ◽  
Vol 285 (24) ◽  
pp. 18565-18574 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rossana Foti ◽  
Silvia Zucchelli ◽  
Marta Biagioli ◽  
Paola Roncaglia ◽  
Sandra Vilotti ◽  
...  

2006 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 459-466 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony E. Lang ◽  
Steven Gill ◽  
Nik K. Patel ◽  
Andres Lozano ◽  
John G. Nutt ◽  
...  

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