Systemic Sclerosis (Scleroderma)

This Phase 1b, multicenter, open-label study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of a single infusion of autologous anti-CD20/BCMA chimeric antigen receptor T cells (C-CAR168) following lymphodepleting chemotherapy in participants with refractory Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) who are not responding to standard therapy. Approximately 6-12 participants will undergo leukapheresis, lymphodepletion with fludarabine and cyclophosphamide, and infusion of C-CAR168. Participants will be followed for 24 months (2 years) to evaluate safety, CAR T-cell persistence, pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics, biomarkers, and preliminary efficacy results. Long-term safety follow-up for gene therapy-related events will continue for up to 15 years following CAR T-cell infusion.

The Patient Self-Assessment of Skin Thickness in Upper Limb (PASTUL) questionnaire was developed to enable patients to assess skin thickness in systemic sclerosis (SSc) physically and has been validated for reliability and validity, as it correlates with the modified Rodnan Skin Score (mRSS), which rheumatologists assess. Thus, it has been demonstrated to be an applicable and easy approach for assessing skin thickness in SSc patients through patient-reported measurements. This study aimed to develop a Turkish version of the PASTUL questionnaire and to provide for its use in the Turkish population.