Targeting NUDT21 siRNA Drugs for Patients With Refractory Retinoblastoma

Study Purpose

Retinoblastoma (RB) is the most common intraocular malignancy in children, accounting for approximately 11% of all cancers diagnosed in children under the age of one. Although its incidence is relatively low-about 1 in 15,000 to 20,000 live births-RB has a high risk of intracranial metastasis via the optic nerve, often leading to poor prognosis in advanced cases. Recent advances in administration routes, such as intravitreal and intra-arterial chemotherapy, have significantly improved eye preservation rates. However, these strategies are limited by cumulative retinal toxicity and drug resistance. In refractory cases, enucleation remains the only definitive treatment to prevent extraocular spread and death. In light of these challenges, current research efforts are focused on developing novel targeted therapies that enhance anti-tumor efficacy while minimizing local toxicity. In this context, we introduce a first-in-class siRNA-based drug targeting NUDT21, which promotes tumor regression by modulating the 3'UTR tail of SMC1A, thereby suppressing tumor cell proliferation. Importantly, the siRNA drug selectively targets tumor cells, offering a favorable safety profile compared to conventional chemotherapeutic regimens. Given that both the target (NUDT21) and the mode of administration (intraocular siRNA injection) are novel in retinoblastoma treatment, there is an urgent need for early-phase investigator-initiated clinical research. This study is therefore designed to assess the short-term safety and preliminary efficacy of NUDT21 siRNA in patients with refractory retinoblastoma, and to provide an evidence base for future large-scale clinical trials.

Recruitment Criteria

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Healthy volunteers are participants who do not have a disease or condition, or related conditions or symptoms

No
Study Type

An interventional clinical study is where participants are assigned to receive one or more interventions (or no intervention) so that researchers can evaluate the effects of the interventions on biomedical or health-related outcomes.


An observational clinical study is where participants identified as belonging to study groups are assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.


Searching Both is inclusive of interventional and observational studies.

Interventional
Eligible Ages 6 Months and Over
Gender All
More Inclusion & Exclusion Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Patients with retinoblastoma with a somatic mutation of the gene RB1 and active tumor in a single eye, or germinal mutation of RB1 with active tumor/s in an eye and the contralateral eye unaffected, enucleated or without tumor activity. In both cases, relapsed or refractory with the use of systemic, intraarterial or intravitreal chemotherapy or radiotherapy, in accordance with the availability at his/her referral site, in whom enucleation is the only recommended treatment under opinion of the medical team treating the case at the originating referral site. But the patient has a strong desire to preserve the eye. 2. Normal renal function: serum creatinine: < 45 μmol/L (0-2 years); < 57 μmol/L (3-6 years); < 60 μmol/L (7-10 years); < 80 μmol/L (11-13 years). 3. Normal Hepatic function: serum ALT: < 0,52 μkat/L (de 9 months -12 years); serum AST: 61-80 g/L (8 months
  • - 5 years); 63-83 g/L (5-9 years); 63-82 g/L (9-12 years).
4. Age greater than 6 months at the time of inclusion in the study. 5. Sign the informed consent form and be willing to follow up at the specified time.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Presence of factors that require immediate enucleation of the affected eye such as glaucoma, rubeosis iridis, anterior chamber involvement. 2. Comorbidities: Uncontrolled epilepsy with anticonvulsant treatment, cardiac disease not compensated by treatment. 3. Active Infections. 4. Other chronic or active acute diseases that under the criterion of the researcher were an exclusion criterion. 5. History of having received attenuated or live vaccines in the 30 days prior to inclusion in the study. 6. Any cause of Immunosuppression. 7. Trilateral Retinoblastoma. 8. Extraocular spread. 9. History of having received treatment for retinoblastoma with chemotherapy or radiation therapy by any means within 30 days prior to inclusion in the study. 10. Patients who can not complete the study procedures.

Trial Details

Trial ID:

This trial id was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, providing information on publicly and privately supported clinical studies of human participants with locations in all 50 States and in 196 countries.

NCT06424301
Phase

Phase 1: Studies that emphasize safety and how the drug is metabolized and excreted in humans.

Phase 2: Studies that gather preliminary data on effectiveness (whether the drug works in people who have a certain disease or condition) and additional safety data.

Phase 3: Studies that gather more information about safety and effectiveness by studying different populations and different dosages and by using the drug in combination with other drugs.

Phase 4: Studies occurring after FDA has approved a drug for marketing, efficacy, or optimal use.

Early Phase 1
Lead Sponsor

The sponsor is the organization or person who oversees the clinical study and is responsible for analyzing the study data.

Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University
Principal Investigator

The person who is responsible for the scientific and technical direction of the entire clinical study.

Chen Zhao, MDKang Xue, MDKang Zhang, MDJiang Qian, MD
Principal Investigator Affiliation Fudan Eye & ENT HospitalFudan Eye & ENT HospitalThe Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityFudan Eye & ENT Hospital
Agency Class

Category of organization(s) involved as sponsor (and collaborator) supporting the trial.

Other
Overall Status Recruiting
Countries China
Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied.

Retinoblastoma, Refractory
Arms & Interventions

Arms

Experimental: Intravitreal chemotherapy in patients with refractory retinoblastoma

Prior to the first administration of the targeted drug, enrolled patients underwent peripheral blood sampling and comprehensive clinical evaluation. Intravitreal injections of the targeted drug were administered at a dosage of 100-200 μg (100 μg for patients under 2 years of age; 200 μg for patients aged 2 years and above) on Day 1 of Weeks 1, 3, and 7. Aqueous humor samples were collected at the time of injection during Weeks 1, 3, and 7. Clinical assessments were conducted monthly, with continuous follow-up extending through Week 24.

Interventions

Drug: - Targeting NUDT21 siRNA drugs

It is performed for intravitreal chemotherapy.

Contact a Trial Team

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International Sites

Fudan Eye & ENT Hospital, Shanghai, China

Status

Recruiting

Address

Fudan Eye & ENT Hospital

Shanghai, ,

Site Contact

Ruiqi Ma

[email protected]

+86 (021) 64377134

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