Pre-clinical safety testing supporting clinical use of allogeneic multipotent adult progenitor cells

M Kovacsovics-Bankowski1, K Mauch, A Raber

  • 1Center for Hematologic Malignancies, OHSU Cancer Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland,Oregon, USA.

Cytotherapy
|November 6, 2008
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Allogeneic multipotent adult progenitor cells (MultiStem) showed no significant toxicity in a rat hematopoietic stem cell transplantation model. These findings support the safety of MultiStem for cellular therapeutics development.

Area of Science:

  • Stem cell therapy
  • Pre-clinical safety evaluation
  • Cellular therapeutics development

Background:

  • Clinical development of novel cellular therapeutics necessitates evaluation of acute toxicity endpoints for dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) and maximum-tolerated dose (MTD).
  • Pre-clinical safety testing often omits comprehensive evaluation of clinical pathology parameters.
  • Allogeneic multipotent adult progenitor cells (MultiStem), a type of stromal stem cell, have therapeutic potential requiring thorough safety assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the acute toxicity of single and multiple doses of allogeneic multipotent adult progenitor cells (MultiStem).
  • To establish pre-clinical safety testing standards for allogeneic adherent adult stem cells in cellular therapeutics.

Main Methods:

  • MultiStem was administered as an adjunct treatment in a rat myeloablative hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) model.
  • Animals received either a single dose (12.5 million cells/kg) or five doses of MultiStem on specific days post-HSCT.
  • Comprehensive evaluation included clinical parameters, chemistry, hematology, immunology, and histopathology. Controls received phosphate-buffered saline.

Main Results:

  • No significant differences were observed between MultiStem-treated and control groups in respiratory distress, clinical assessment, hematology, or clinical chemistry.
  • Gross necropsy and histopathology revealed no organ profile alterations.
  • No significant allogeneic antibody production or T-cell sensitization was detected upon MultiStem infusion.

Conclusions:

  • Administration of allogeneic stromal stem cells, including MultiStem, is safe in repeat dosing regimens within bone marrow transplant settings.
  • These studies define relevant pre-clinical safety testing standards for cellular therapeutics utilizing allogeneic adherent adult stem cells.