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NCT Number: NCT07567235

Clinical Study of CFH Protein Via Ice Microneedles for Radiation-Induced Skin Fibrosis

This phase I, open-label, single-arm, non-randomized clinical trial uses a "3+3" dose-escalation design to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy of intradermal delivery of complement factor H (CFH) fragment (human, 860-1231aa) via ice microneedles for the prevention of radiation-induced skin fibrosis in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (excluding nasopharyngeal carcinoma) receiving postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy. The main questions are: 1. The safety profile, including dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) within 28 days after the first dose, adverse events, and tolerability. 2.Preliminary efficacy, assessed by changes in irradiated skin thickness, palpation of fibrotic area, CTCAE grade ≤2 fibrosis rate, and quality of life. Participants receive CFH ice microneedle patches twice weekly for a total of 8 doses (starting at 0.5 mg, escalating to 1.0 mg and 2.0 mg), applied to the skin area to be irradiated.

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Key information

Age range

18 year–75 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 1

Primary location

West China Hospital, Sichuan University

Chengdu, Sichuan, 610000, China

Location status: Recruiting

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Male or female patients aged 18 to 75 years (inclusive) at screening.
  • Histologically confirmed head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (excluding nasopharyngeal carcinoma) scheduled to receive postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy.
  • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status score of 0-2.
  • Adequate major organ function within 7 days before treatment, meeting the following criteria:

Hemoglobin ≥ 80 g/L; neutrophil count > 1.5 × 10⁹/L; platelet count ≥ 80 × 10⁹/L; Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 × upper limit of normal (ULN); ALT or AST ≤ 2.5 × ULN (or ≤ 5 × ULN in the presence of liver metastases); Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 × ULN or creatinine clearance (CrCl) ≥ 60 mL/min (Cockcroft-Gault formula); Prothrombin time (PT) and international normalized ratio (INR) ≤ 1.5 × ULN (unless on warfarin anticoagulation); Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥ 50%.

  • Ability to understand and voluntarily sign a written informed consent form prior to any study procedures.

Exclusion criteria

  • Presence of ulceration or open wound in the treatment area, or any contraindication to cutaneous administration including: Inflammation, trauma, or skin breakdown at the administration site; Severe bleeding or coagulation tendency (e.g., markedly low platelet or clotting factors); Any abnormality or permanent body art (e.g., tattoo) at the administration site that would interfere with observation of local reactions;
  • Presence of connective tissue disease or other systemic dermatologic conditions (e.g., systemic lupus erythematosus, dermatomyositis, polymyositis, systemic sclerosis, scleroderma, toxic epidermal necrolysis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, etc.).
  • Known allergy to the investigational drug (including any excipients) or history of severe allergic reactions to any drug, food, or vaccine, such as anaphylactic shock, laryngeal edema, anaphylactic dyspnea, Henoch-Schönlein purpura, thrombocytopenic purpura, or Arthus reaction.
  • Any uncontrolled clinical disease (e.g., respiratory, circulatory, digestive, nervous, hematologic, genitourinary, or endocrine system disease) or psychiatric disorder (e.g., depression, schizophrenia) that, in the investigator's judgment, would interfere with providing informed consent, interpretation of study results, pose additional risk to the patient, or otherwise compromise study objectives.
  • Participation in another clinical trial of a drug or device within 3 months prior to screening.
  • History of drug abuse or known medical, psychological, or social conditions (e.g., alcoholism or drug addiction).
  • Pregnant or breastfeeding women, or women/partners planning pregnancy during the period from screening through 12 months after the last dose.
  • Any other condition that, in the investigator's opinion, makes the patient unsuitable for participation in this trial.

Treatment and study plan

CFH Protein-loaded Ice Microneedles (0.5 mg)

Biological

Recombinant human CFH protein delivered intradermally via ice microneedle patches at a total dose of 0.5 mg per administration, twice weekly for a total of 8 doses, starting on the first day of radiotherapy.

CFH Protein-loaded Ice Microneedles (1.0 mg)

Biological

Recombinant human CFH protein delivered intradermally via ice microneedle patches at a total dose of 1.0 mg per administration, twice weekly for a total of 8 doses, starting on the first day of radiotherapy.

CFH Protein-loaded Ice Microneedles (2.0 mg)

Biological

Recombinant human CFH protein delivered intradermally via ice microneedle patches at a total dose of 2.0 mg per administration, twice weekly for a total of 8 doses, starting on the first day of radiotherapy.

Primary outcomes

  1. Incidence of Dose-Limiting Toxicities (DLTs)

    Time frame: First 28 days after the first study drug administration

    Number of participants experiencing DLT within 28 days after the first dose of CFH protein delivered via ice microneedles.

  2. Incidence and Severity of Adverse Events (AEs)

    Time frame: Total study period up to approximately 6 months post-radiotherapy

    Number of participants with adverse events, graded according to NCI CTCAE v5.0.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in Irradiated Skin Thickness

    Time frame: Baseline (pre-radiotherapy) to within 6 months after completion of radiotherapy

    Change in skin thickness of the irradiated area measured by ultrasound.

  2. Change in Palpable Fibrotic Area (Surface Area and Volume)

    Time frame: Baseline (pre-radiotherapy) to within 6 months after completion of radiotherapy

    Change in surface area (length × width) and volume (surface area × thickness) of palpable skin fibrosis in the irradiated area.

  3. Number of Participants with CTCAE Grade ≤2 Fibrosis

    Time frame: Within 6 months after completion of radiotherapy

    Number of participants who develop radiation-induced skin fibrosis of grade ≤2 according to NCI CTCAE v5.0.

  4. Change in Skindex Life Quality Index (SQLI) score-16

    Time frame: Baseline (pre-radiotherapy) to within 6 months after completion of radiotherapy

    Change in QoL scores assessed by SQLI-16 questionnaires. Minimum Value:0 Maximum Value:100 Higher Score Means:Worse outcome (higher score indicates greater impairment of quality of life)

  5. Change in European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) score

    Time frame: Baseline (pre-radiotherapy) to within 6 months after completion of radiotherapy

    Change in QoL scores assessed by QLQ-C30 questionnaires. Minimum Value:0 Maximum Value:100 Higher Score Means:For Global Health Status / QoL scale:Better outcome

  6. Change in European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Head and Neck Cancer Module (EORTC QLQ-H&N35) score

    Time frame: Baseline (pre-radiotherapy) to within 6 months after completion of radiotherapy

    Change in QoL scores assessed by QLQ-H&N35 questionnaires. Minimum Value:0 Maximum Value:100 Higher Score Means:Worse outcome (higher score indicates more severe symptoms/problems)

  7. Change in Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) score

    Time frame: Baseline (pre-radiotherapy) to within 6 months after completion of radiotherapy

    Change in QoL scores assessed by DLQl questionnaires. Minimum Value:0 Maximum Value:30 Higher Score Means:Worse outcome (higher score indicates greater impairment of skin-related quality of life)

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Xingchen Peng, MD, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

+8618980606753

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

West China Hospital

Other

Registry information

Official study title

A Clinical Study to Evaluate the Safety and Tolerability of Intradermal Delivery of CFH Protein Via Ice Microneedles for the Prevention of Radiation-Induced Skin Fibrosis

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2027
First posted
May 5, 2026
Registry last updated
Jul 8, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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