UCAN CAN-DU: Canada-Netherlands Personalized Medicine Network in Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatic Disease

Launched by THE HOSPITAL FOR SICK CHILDREN · Aug 16, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The UCAN CAN-DU clinical trial is studying how to improve treatment for children with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA), a type of arthritis that causes joint pain and inflammation. Researchers want to find out which specific biologic therapies—new medications that target the underlying causes of inflammation—are the best for each child. Because these treatments can be very effective but also have serious side effects and can be expensive, the goal is to develop tests that help doctors understand each child's unique situation better. This way, they can make informed decisions about when to start or stop treatment.

To participate in the trial, children must be under 18 years old and have an active form of arthritis, or they may be eligible if they are already receiving biologic treatment and need to switch or stop their medications. The study is open to all genders and focuses on understanding the biology of each child’s condition. Participants can expect to undergo tests that will help tailor their treatment plans, and they will be closely monitored throughout the process. If you think your child might qualify or if you have questions about the trial, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor for more information.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Cohort 1: - Biologic Basis of JIA
• • ≤18 years\*
• • Active objective arthritis suspected to be JIA or diagnosed with JIA within 6 months of enrolment
• • Treatment naïve except for NSAIDs, allowed to have received NSAIDS within 6 months of diagnosis
• • Cohort 2 - Start Biologics
• • JIA diagnosis as per ILAR criteria (all subtypes)
• • ≤18 years\*
• • Active arthritis
• • For sJIA, active disease not necessarily with arthritis.
• • Time of start, restart or switch biologic therapy: e.g. failure, insufficient/partial response or intolerance
• • Cohort 3 - Stop Biologics
• • JIA diagnosis as per ILAR criteria (all subtypes)
• • ≤18 years\*
• • Inactive disease
• • Discontinuing/tapering biologics for inactive disease
• • Cohort 4: Extreme Phenotypes
• • Unexplained systemic inflammation with arthritis/arthralgia as a part of manifestations
• • High suspicion of genetic contribution
• • Severely affected patients with difficult to control disease (ie failure of multiple biologics)
• Exclusion Criteria:
• Cohort 1 :
• • Arthritis explained by another diagnosis
• • Joint injections as previous treatment less than 4 weeks prior to enrollment
• Cohort 2:
• • Arthritis explained by any other cause
• • Start on biologics as an indication for uveitis only
• Cohort 3:
• • - Tapering scheme \> 12 months to complete biologics stop
• Cohort 4:
• • - Arthritis explained by another diagnosis