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NCT Number: NCT04261478

Endovascular Acute Stroke Intervention - Tandem OCclusion Trial

Patients with tandem occlusion or tandem lesion (TL), that is, stroke with an acute intracranial anterior circulation occlusion and an ipsilateral cervical ICA (c-ICA) high-grade stenosis or occlusion, constitute about 15-20% of patients undergoing endovascular thrombectomy (EVT).

However, the optimal treatment of acute stroke patients with TL remains uncertain, as relatively few patients with TL were included in the major randomized controlled trials of EVT and management of the c-ICA was generally not specified by protocol nor analyzed post-hoc.

Recent large multi-centre retrospective cases series suggest that acutely stented patients may have more favorable outcomes than patients treated with angioplasty alone or those with no acute ICA intervention, but high quality randomized trial data are lacking.

EASI-TOC, a phase 3, academic multi-centre, controlled trial (PROBE design) with embedded pilot phase, will seek to determine if in patients undergoing acute intracranial thrombectomy for anterior circulation stroke with concurrent ipsilateral symptomatic high-grade (≥70%) atherosclerotic stenosis or occlusion of the extracranial ICA, endovascular ICA revascularization with stenting is superior to intracranial thrombectomy alone with regards to functional outcome at 90 days. Patients will be randomized to Acute stenting or No acute stenting (1:1 allocation).

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Key information

Conditions

Stroke, Acute Arterial Occlusive Diseases Brain Diseases Cardiovascular Diseases Carotid Artery Diseases Carotid Stenosis Central Nervous System Diseases Cerebrovascular Disorders Nervous System Diseases Stroke Vascular Diseases

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

About this study

EASI-TOC is a phase III multi-centre, prospective, randomized, open-label, blinded endpoint (PROBE) controlled trial (1:1 allocation).

The trial will seek to determine if in patients undergoing acute intracranial thrombectomy for anterior circulation stroke with concurrent ipsilateral symptomatic high-grade (≥70%) atherosclerotic stenosis or occlusion of the extracranial ICA, endovascular ICA revascularization with stenting is superior to intracranial thrombectomy alone with regards to functional outcome at 90 days (measured using the Modified Rankin Scale).

EASI-TOC will be conducted at 10-12 high-volume comprehensive stroke centres in Canada.

458 male and female adult (aged ≥ 18 years) patients will be enrolled.

Patients will be randomized (1:1) to undergo acute ICA stenting during the thrombectomy procedure (either before or after intracranial thrombectomy, at the discretion of the treating physician) or to intracranial thrombectomy alone without ICA stenting. Deferred ICA intervention is allowed, if indicated. Randomization will be centralized and web-based. Stratification will be performed for use or not of IV alteplase and for enrolling site.

Patients will be treated acutely and followed up to one year.

Our primary hypothesis assumes a greater proportion of patients with 90-day mRS 0-2 in the stenting group versus the no stenting group (55% versus 40%). Assuming a minimal clinically important difference of 15 % between groups experiencing no crossover, a total of 173 patients per group would be sufficient to detect this difference, with a power of 80 % and a significance level of 5 %. Taking into account a cross-over rate of 10% (5% in either direction) and a loss to follow-up of 5 %, the total sample size will increase to 450 patients.

Primary analysis will be by Intention-to-treat. Pre-specified as-treated, sex-specific and subgroup analyses will also be performed.

Informed consent will be obtained from patients or their surrogate. Deferral of consent will be allowed if permitted by local ethics committees.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Acute ischemic anterior circulation stroke eligible for endovascular therapy according to local guidelines, with or without prior intravenous thrombolysis:
  • Occlusion of the carotid terminus, M1 or M2 segments of the middle cerebral artery (MCA)
  • A neurological deficit judged to be disabling by the patient and/or treating physician
  • Any acute imaging judged by the treating physician to demonstrate salvageable brain tissue possibly amenable to EVT
  • Groin puncture within 24-hours of onset or last known normal
  • Tandem ipsilateral high-grade (≥70%) cervical internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis or occlusion of presumed atherosclerotic etiology on initial non-invasive vascular imaging
  • Informed consent from patient or surrogate or deferral of consent, according to local ethics policies

Exclusion criteria

  • Pre-existing neurological impairment (modified Rankin score ≥3)
  • Any underlying disease or condition making protocol adherence and/or 3-month follow-up unlikely
  • Any known contra-indication to EVT, angioplasty/stenting, or antiplatelet therapy
  • Tandem ipsilateral high-grade (≥70%) cervical internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis or occlusion NOT confirmed on conventional angiography
  • Ipsilateral ICA stenosis or occlusion attributable to clinically or radiologically confirmed arterial dissection
  • Isolated cervical carotid occlusion without intracranial occlusion
  • Pregnancy

Treatment and study plan

Carotid artery stenting

Device

The type of stent should be one commonly used for ICA stenting. Balloon angioplasty before and/or after stent placement will be allowed as required. Stenting should be performed after intracranial thrombectomy unless specific technical circumstances suggest that access to the intracranial circulation requires anterograde stenting. Embolic protection devices should not be used routinely during ICA stent placement.

Other names: Stenting

Antiplatelet Agents

Drug

The following antiplatelet regimen should be used: For patients having received IV thrombolysis, immediate post-procedural oral or intrarectal single antiplatelet agents, (Aspirin 325mg PO or 650mg PR). A second agent (usually Clopidogrel 300mg PO) is added after follow-up brain imaging at 12-24 hours confirms absence of significant ICH. For patients having not been treated with IV thrombolysis, dual antiplatelet therapy (Aspirin 325mg PO or 650mg PR and Clopidogrel 300-600mg PO) is given immediately post-procedure. Routine use of GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors, periprocedural IV Heparin is discouraged.

Primary outcomes

  1. Clinical efficacy outcome: proportion of patients achieving a favorable modified Rankin scale score (mRS 0-2)

    Time frame: 90 days ± 14 days

    The proportion of patients achieving a favorable modified Rankin scale score (mRS 0-2) at 90 days (dichotomized) The Modified Rankin Score (mRS) is a 7 point disability scale with possible scores ranging from 0 to 6, with 0 indicating no disability and 6 indicating death.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Clinical efficacy outcome: Proportion of patients achieving a favorable modified Rankin scale score (mRS 0-2) at 90 days (dichotomized) according to sex

    Time frame: 90 days ± 14 days

    Proportion of patients achieving a favorable modified Rankin scale score (mRS 0-2) at 90 days (dichotomized) according to sex

  2. Clinical efficacy outcome: Ordinal logistic regression for functional improvement on the Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score (shift analysis)

    Time frame: 90 days ± 14 days

    Ordinal logistic regression for functional improvement by at least one mRS category at 90 days ("shift analysis") The Modified Rankin Score (mRS) is a 7 point disability scale with possible scores ranging from 0 to 6, with 0 indicating no disability and 6 indicating death.

  3. Clinical efficacy outcome: Median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score

    Time frame: 24 hours ± 8 hours

    Median NIHSS score at 24 hours after stroke The NIHSS is a 15 item neurologic examination that provides a quantitative measure of stroke-related neurologic deficit. (Scale from 0 to 42, with higher scores indicating a more severe neurologic deficit)

  4. Clinical efficacy outcome: Median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score

    Time frame: 90 days ± 14 days

    Median NIHSS score at 90 days after stroke The NIHSS is a 15 item neurologic examination that provides a quantitative measure of stroke-related neurologic deficit. (Scale from 0 to 42, with higher scores indicating a more severe neurologic deficit)

  5. Clinical efficacy outcome: Median Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score

    Time frame: 90 days ± 14 days

    Median mRS at 90 days after stroke The Modified Rankin Score (mRS) is a 7 point disability scale with possible scores ranging from 0 to 6, with 0 indicating no disability and 6 indicating death.

  6. Clinical efficacy outcome: Rate of clinically confirmed recurrent ipsilateral stroke or retinal ischemia

    Time frame: 90 days ± 14 days

    Rate of clinically confirmed recurrent ipsilateral stroke or retinal ischemia within 90 days (imaging as clinically indicated) A structured telephone questionnaire for verifying stroke-free status will be used and relevant imaging reviewed

  7. Radiological efficacy outcome: Proportion of patients with complete or near-complete recanalization

    Time frame: End of endovascular procedure

    Proportion of patients with complete or near-complete recanalization (mTICI 2b/3) at the end of the endovascular procedure.

    mTICI score (0,1,2,2a,2b,3) : Grade 0 : no perfusion Grade 1 : penetration with minimal perfusion Grade 2 : partial perfusion Grade 2a : partial filling of less than 1/2 of the vascular territory Grade 2b : partial filling 50-99% of the vascular territory Grade 3 : complete perfusion Independent imaging core laboratory

  8. Radiological efficacy outcome: Proportion of patients with ICA thrombosis (with or without stent)

    Time frame: 90 days ± 14 days

    Proportion of patients with ICA thrombosis (with or without stent) within 90 days after stroke stent patency be evaluated by angiography at the end of the EVT procedure. Furthermore, follow-up carotid vascular imaging will be required between 1 and 90 days following stent placement in the context of usual care. Any non-invasive imaging modality will be allowed, with carotid doppler or CTA strongly recommended.

  9. Clinical efficacy outcome: Median Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score

    Time frame: 90 days ± 14 days

    Median Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score at 90 days after stroke The MoCA is a 30-point screening tool for cognitive dysfunction (score from 0 to 30 with lower scores indicating greater cognitive impairment). The test assesses 8 domains of cognitive functioning: attention and concentration, executive functions, memory, language, visuoconstructional skills, conceptual thinking, calculations, and orientation.

  10. Clinical efficacy outcome: Rate of any recurrent stroke or retinal ischemia

    Time frame: 1 year ± 60 days

    Rate of any recurrent stroke or retinal ischemia at 12 months after stroke A structured telephone questionnaire for verifying stroke-free status will be used

  11. Clinical efficacy outcome: Proportion of patients achieving a favorable modified Rankin scale (mRS) score

    Time frame: 1 year ± 60 days

    Proportion of patients achieving a favorable modified Rankin scale score (mRS 0-2) at 12 months after stroke The Modified Rankin Score (mRS) is a 7 point disability scale with possible scores ranging from 0 to 6, with 0 indicating no disability and 6 indicating death.

Other outcomes

  1. Safety outcome: Proportion of patients with any intracranial hemorrhage (ICH)

    Time frame: 24 hours ± 8 hours

    Proportion of patients with any intracranial hemorrhage on follow-up imaging at 24 hours Independent imaging core laboratory

  2. Safety outcome: Proportion of patients with a symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH)

    Time frame: 24 hours ± 8 hours

    Proportion of patients with symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) within 72 hours of EVT ECASS-2 definition. Imaging core laboratory.

  3. Safety outcome: Proportion of patients with death of any cause

    Time frame: 90 days ± 14 days

    All-cause mortality at 90 days

  4. Safety outcome: Proportion of patients with procedural complications

    Time frame: End of endovascular procedure

    Procedural complications, including: vessel perforation, iatrogenic vessel dissection, embolization into a previously unaffected artery, access site complications

  5. Safety outcome: Type of procedural complications

    Time frame: End of endovascular procedure

    Procedural complications, including: vessel perforation, iatrogenic vessel dissection, embolization into a previously unaffected artery, access site complications

  6. Tertiary outcome: Proportion of patients with stenting performed after thrombectomy

    Time frame: End of endovascular procedure

    Timing of ICA stenting relative to intracranial thrombectomy (before/anterograde or after/retrograde)

  7. Tertiary outcome: Description of type and route of administration of antiplatelet agents used peri-interventionally

    Time frame: End of endovascular procedure

    Antiplatelet and/or anticoagulant regimens used peri-interventionally: aspirin, clopidogrel, GP2b3a inhibitors, Heparin, other and route of administration: oral, rectal, intravenous, intra-arterial

  8. Tertiary outcome: Proportion of patients for whom an embolic protection device was used

    Time frame: End of endovascular procedure

    Use of distal or proximal embolic protection among patients undergoing stenting

  9. Tertiary outcome: Proportion of patients with internal carotid artery pseudo-occlusions confirmed on angiography

    Time frame: End of endovascular procedure

    Proportion of patients with presumed internal carotid artery tandem occlusion on non-invasive imaging (CTA or MRA) having no tandem occlusion on conventional angiography (pseudo-occlusions) Patients with no confirmed tandem lesion on angiography will be included in the screening log but not randomized in the trial

  10. Tertiary outcome: Proportion of patients with delayed carotid revascularization

    Time frame: 1 year ± 60 days

    The proportion of patients in the no stent group undergoing deferred ICA revascularization and the type of revascularization (endarterectomy or stenting) used, within 12 months after stroke

  11. Tertiary outcome: Type of delayed carotid revascularization

    Time frame: 1 year ± 60 days

    T he type of revascularization (endarterectomy or stenting) used in patients in the no stent group undergoing deferred ICA revascularization, within 12 months after stroke

  12. Tertiary outcome: Minimum and maximum systolic and diastolic intraprocedural blood pressure (mmHg)

    Time frame: End of endovascular procedure

    Minimum and maximum blood pressure (systolic and diastolic, mmHg) during EVT procedure Derived from procedural vital sign records

  13. Tertiary outcome: Minimum and maximum intraprocedural heart rate (beats per minute)

    Time frame: End of endovascular procedure

    Minimum and maximum intraprocedural heart rate (beats per minute) during EVT procedure Derived from procedural vital sign records

Study contacts

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

Alexandre Y Poppe, MD CM

CONTACT

[email protected]

5148908000 ext. 26260

Nandy Simon, BSc

CONTACT

[email protected]

5148908000 ext. 26242

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM)

Other

Collaborators

  • Canadian Stroke Consortium (CSC)
  • Dalhousie University
  • Health Sciences North Research Institute
  • Laval University
  • McGill University
  • McMaster University
  • Queen's University
  • University of Alberta
  • University of British Columbia
  • University of Calgary
  • University of Ottawa
  • University of Toronto

Registry information

Official study title

A Multi-centre, Prospective, Randomized, Open-label, Blinded Endpoint (PROBE) Controlled Trial Comparing Cervical Internal Carotid Artery Stenting to no Stenting During Thrombectomy for Tandem Occlusion Stroke

Acronym: EASI-TOC

Important dates

Study start
2020
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2027
First posted
Feb 7, 2020
Registry last updated
Nov 18, 2023

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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