Can stem cells tame severe Crohn's? new trial aims to find out
NCT ID NCT00692939
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tests whether high-dose chemotherapy followed by a stem cell transplant can help people with severe Crohn's disease that hasn't responded to other treatments. It includes up to 20 children and adults aged 10 to 60. The goal is to see if the approach is safe and can reduce disease activity, though ongoing medication may still be needed.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 1/2
Runs two stages together: safety and dose first, then whether the treatment works.
- Participants
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About 20 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Jun 2012
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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10 to 60 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
5.1 Inclusion Criteria 1. Subject and/or guardian must be able to understand and provide informed consent. 2. Male or female, 10 through 60 years old, inclusive at time of informed consent. 3. Examples of subjects for whom stem cell transplant therapy would be appropriate include, but are not limited to: * Patients who have had prior surgery and subsequent severe recurrent disease in spite of aggressive maintenance therapy, necessitating consideration of further extensive surgical resections. * Patients who have diffuse small bowel and colonic disease and who are refractory to aggressive medical treatment, and not eligible for treatment using a surgical approach without the risk of precipitating short bowel syndrome and dependence of parenteral nutrition or who have other conditions that preclude surgery * Patients with a persistently high Harvey Bradshaw Index (HBI) (\>6), CDAI (\>250) or Pediatric CD Activity Index (PCDAI\>45) (44) score or those in the lower, moderate range (HBI ≤ 6), (CDAI \< 250), (PCDAI 30-45), but who are dependent on daily doses of corticosteroids, that are unable to be withdrawn, and aggressive medical treatment to maintain moderate disease status. * Patients who have resistant complications of CD unresponsive to medical management including multiple enteric fistulas, enterovesicular or enterovaginal fistulas, severe perianal disease, debilitating arthritis, severe skin lesions (pyoderma), and severe bony complications of the disease and therapy (aseptic necrosis, pathologic fractures). * Patients who developed severe complications to while receiving medical management such as pancreatitis following 6-Mercaptopurine, colitis following 5-ASA or those with severe hypersensitivity to TNFalpha inhibitors (infliximab, adalimumab, certolizumab pegol), anti-integrin agents (natalizumab, vedolizumab) or anti-IL12/23 agents (ustekinumab). * Patients with stomas are eligible. 4. No surgical therapeutic option secondary to risk of short bowel syndrome or patient refusal. 5. Harvey Bradshaw Index (HBI) or CD activity score \>5, CDAI \>250 or PCDAI \>30. 6. Platelet count greater than 100,000/mm3. 7. Absolute neutrophil count greater than 1500/mm3 (unless secondary to 6MP therapy). 8. Creatinine ≤ 2.0 mg/dL. 9. No history of coronary artery disease; resting LVEF ≥ 40% or shortening fraction ≥ 26%. 10. FEV1/FVC ≥ 60% predicted for age; DLCO ≥ 60% predicted value for age. 11. Negative pregnancy test for females ≥ 10 years old or who have reached menarche, unless surgically sterilized. 12. All females or childbearing potential and sexually active males must agree to use a FDA approved method of birth control for up to 24 months after PBSC transplant or for as long as they are taking any medication that may harm a pregnancy, an unborn child or may cause a birth defect. 5.2 Exclusion Criteria 1. Patients who have not been treated with adequate dosing of 6-MP, 5-ASA products and metronidazole. 2. Patients who achieved a sustained, corticosteroid free response to anti-TNF alpha therapy, anti-integrin therapy or anti-IL12/23 therapy after a 4 month course of treatment. 3. Toxic megacolon, intestinal perforation 4. Conjugated bilirubin \> 2.0 mg/dL. 5. Pregnancy or nursing mother 6. HIV/HTLV seropositive, HBsAg, or HCV RNA positive by PCR 7. Active infection, as determined by the appropriate confirmatory testing e.g. blood cultures, PCR testing, etc., within two weeks of mobilization and high dose chemotherapy. 8. Past or current medical problems or findings from physical examination or laboratory testing that are not listed above, which, in the opinion of the investigator, may pose additional risks from participation in the study, may interfere with the participant's ability to comply with study requirements or that may impact the quality or interpretation of the data obtained from the study.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
2 sites. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC-Bone Marrow Team
RECRUITINGPittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15224, United States
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UPMC Prebyterian- Adult Gastroenterology
RECRUITINGPittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15213, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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- Staph bacteria may hold clues to painful skin rashes in IBD patients on Anti-TNF therapy
- Swallow a camera pill to diagnose Crohn's? trial puts it to the test
- Can a drug plus surgery heal Crohn's fistulas for good?
- Do vegan yogurts and meat substitutes really boost your gut?
- AI reads scans to forecast Crohn's complications