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Completed

NCT Number: NCT03972592

Topical Sirolimus in Cutaneous Lymphatic Malformations

Cutaneous microcystic lymphatic malformations (CMLMs) are rare conditions of children and adults resulting from abnormal embryologic development of lymphatic vessels. They present as clusters of vesicles full of lymph and blood of various extent. They ooze and bleed, inducing maceration, esthetic impairment, scars, pain, bacterial infections and impaired quality of life. Currently, treatments for CMLMs are disappointing, and their management is challenging. Sirolimus is an inhibitor of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), a serine/threonine protein kinase involved in cell growth and proliferation, cellular metabolism, autophagy and angio-lymphangiogenesis. Topical sirolimus, known to be efficient and well tolerated in cutaneous angiofibromas linked to tuberous sclerosis, has recently been reported effective in few reports of patients with CMLMs. The objective of this trial is to compare the efficacy and safety of a 12-week application of 0.1% topical sirolimus versus topical vehicle in CMLMs in children and adults.

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Key information

Conditions

Vascular Malformations Cardiovascular Abnormalities Cardiovascular Diseases Congenital Abnormalities Congenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities Hemic and Lymphatic Diseases Lymphatic Abnormalities Lymphatic Diseases Lymphatic Malformation

Age range

6 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 2

Primary location

ANGERS, Angers, France

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About this study

This blinded multicentre split body randomized controlled phase 2 trial aims to include 50 patients ≥ 6 years old who have a primary CMLM without an underlying malformation.

The CMLM will be divided into 2 equal areas of the same severity that will be randomly allocated to 0.1% topical sirolimus or topical vehicle for 12 weeks. During the double-blind 12-week period, both topical products will be applied by a nurse to avoid inter-group contamination and for better compliance.

At the end of the 12-week period, the patient/parent will treat the whole area of CMLM with 0.1% topical sirolimus on remaining lesions, for 8 more weeks. Patients will also be seen at week 20 (treatment will be stopped) and at month 12 to evaluate long-term efficacy.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Patients ≥ 6 years
  • Updated immunization schedule
  • Diagnosis of primary cutaneous microcystic lymphatic malformation (CMLM) confirmed by histopathological or dermoscopic examination, with or without an underlying malformation or a syndromic malformation (Protée syndrome for instance), responsible for impairment (oozing, bleeding and/or pain)
  • CMLM ≥ 20 cm2, that can be divided into 2 parts of similar severity
  • Informed, written consent of the subject and his/her parents if < 18 years
  • Rights to French social security (including CMU)

Exclusion criteria

  • Patients with lymphatic malformation requiring a continued background therapy (involving deep organs)
  • Secondary lymphatic malformations (lymphangiectasia post-radiotherapy, etc)
  • Previous treatment with oral or topical mTOR inhibitors within 12 months before inclusion
  • Previous treatment with oral or topical steroids within 10 days before inclusion
  • Immunosuppression (immunosuppressive disease or immunosuppressive treatment)
  • Ongoing neoplasia
  • Active chronic infectious disease (Hepatitis B Virus, Hepatitis C Virus, Human Immunodeficiency Virus, etc)
  • Local fungal, viral (Herpes Simplex Virus, Varicella Zoster Virus, etc) or bacterial infection on the site of the CMLM (based on clinical examination)
  • Skin necrosis
  • Known allergy to one of the components of the topical sirolimus preparation or vehicle
  • Women of child-bearing potential (including teenagers) not using a reliable contraceptive method until the end of the study
  • Pregnant or breastfeeding women
  • Subject already involved in another therapeutic trial

Treatment and study plan

Topical 0.1% Sirolimus

Drug

The formulation is 0.03 g rapamycin, 1.5 g Transcutol, Quantum Satis (QS) 30g Excipial® hydrocream, corresponding to a concentration at 0.1%. The cream will be packaged in 30 ml aluminium tubes.

Other names: Verum

Topical Vehicle

Drug

The same vehicle than the one used in the topical 0.1% sirolimus preparation will be used for the other half area of CMLM, i.e. Excipial® hydrocream. It will be packaged to maintain the double blind way of this trial and will be undistinguishable from the sirolimus cream.

Other names: Placebo

Primary outcomes

  1. Efficacy of a 12-week application period of 0.1% topical sirolimus in cutaneous microcystic lymphatic malformation versus topical vehicle

    Time frame: Week 12

    PGA (Physician Global Assessment) score assessed by the investigator physician (blinded from the treatment). PGA score ranges from 0 (clear) to 5 (severe lesions), and is commonly used in several dermatologic conditions. For each patient, PGA of the area treated with the intervention (0.1% topical sirolimus) will be compared to PGA of the area treated with topical vehicle (inactive comparator)

Secondary outcomes

  1. Efficacy of 0.1% topical sirolimus in cutaneous microcystic lymphatic malformation versus topical vehicle

    Time frame: Day 1, Week 6, Week 20, Month 12

    PGA (Physician Global Assessment) score assessed by the investigator physician (blinded from the treatment). PGA score ranges from 0 (clear) to 5 (severe lesions), and is commonly used in several dermatologic conditions. For each patient, PGA of the area treated with the intervention (0.1% topical sirolimus) will be compared to PGA of the area treated with topical vehicle (inactive comparator)

  2. Efficacy of 0.1% topical sirolimus vs vehicle regarding each of the following complications of the CMLM: oozing, bleeding, erythema, and thickness

    Time frame: Day 1, Week 12, Week 20, Month 12

    Assessment by the investigator blinded to treatment with a visual analog scale (VAS) from 0 to 10 (0: no improvement, 10: recovery)

  3. Number of independent experts who correctly identify which area among both received the active treatment for each patient on the basis of standardised photographs

    Time frame: Day1, Week 12

    Standardized photographs will be performed at baseline and week 12: the experts will have to identify, at the end of the study, which area among both received the active treatment. In case of disagreement, a consensus will be reached between both experts; if consensus is not reached, a third expert will be sought for final decision. Interpretation by dermatologic experts (i.e correct identification of intervention/vehicle treated area) will be considered as correct or false, and the proportion of correct interpretation will be estimated. The proportion of correct interpretation will be compared to the theoretical 50% value, corresponding to a random assessment. Five photographs will be taken: 1) one of the patient including the malformation 2) one of the malformation (distance of 50 cm), 3) one of the malformation (distance of 15 cm), 4) profile photography and finally 5) three quarter view.

  4. Global self-reported efficacy of topical sirolimus vs vehicle (with help of parents in case of children under 16 years)

    Time frame: Week 12, Week 20, Month 12

    Self-assessment of the global improvement of CMLM in both areas using a VAS (Visual Analog Scale) from 0 to 10 (0 no improvement and 10 recovery)

  5. Functional and esthetic impairments (self-reported with help of parents in case of children under 16 years)

    Time frame: Day1, Week 20, Month 12

    Using a VAS (Visual Analog Scale) from 0 to 10 (0 no improvement and 10 recovery)

  6. Pain linked to the CMLM (with help of parents in case of children under 16 years)

    Time frame: Day1, Week 20, Month 12

    Using a VAS (Visual Analog Scale) from 0 to 10 (0 no pain and 10 worst imaginable pain)

  7. Effect on quality of life

    Time frame: Day 1, Week 20, Month 12

    Self-assessment of quality of life using the validated DLQI (Dermatology Life Quality Index) scale, or Child-DLQI for children (equal ou under 16 years old) from 0 to 30 (0 no impact on quality of life and 30 maximum impact on quality of life)

  8. Evaluation of systemic passage of sirolimus by dosage of serum level of sirolimus

    Time frame: Week 6, Week 12, Week 20, +/- Week 16 (if CMLM ≥ 30*30 cm and/or ≥900 cm2)

    Dosage of serum level of sirolimus

  9. Number of patients with biological adverse events and total number of biological adverse events (to assess the biological tolerance of topical sirolimus)

    Time frame: Baseline, Week 12, Week 20

    Number of patients with biological adverse events and total number of biological adverse events (blood samples at baseline, week 12 and week 20)

  10. Number of patients with clinical adverse events and total number of clinical adverse events (to assess the clinical tolerance of topical sirolimus)

    Time frame: Week 6, Week 12, Week 20

    Number of patients with clinical adverse events and total number of clinical adverse events (record of local and general adverse events)

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University Hospital, Tours

Other

Collaborators

  • University Hospital, Angers

Registry information

Official study title

0.1% Topical Sirolimus in the Treatment of Cutaneous Microcystic Lymphatic Malformations in Children and Adults: Phase II, Split-body Randomized, Double-blind, Vehicle-controlled Clinical Trial

Acronym: TOPICAL

Important dates

Study start
2019
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2024
First posted
Jun 3, 2019
Registry last updated
Feb 13, 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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