NCT06040957

Brief Summary

The MAST-GR study is a randomized controlled interventional trial with parallel treatment arms and 1:1 allocation The primary objective of the study is to compare the safety and efficacy of a single intra-articular infiltration of Bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) with one of minimally manipulated adipose tissue (MM-AT) so as to determine the most effective cellular product in treating patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). The secondary objective is to demonstrate whether intra-articular infiltration of BMAC or MM-AT can induce disease-modifying effects in knee OA by imaging and biological assessments on peripheral blood. The tertiary objective of the study is to identify factors that influence the clinical response to treatment (baseline characteristics of patients, biological characteristics of the treated knee, characteristics of cellular products, BMAC and MM-AT).

Trial Health

77
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
204

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for not_applicable knee-osteoarthritis

Timeline
5mo left

Started Jan 2024

Longer than P75 for not_applicable knee-osteoarthritis

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
recruiting

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Progress86%
Jan 2024Jan 2027

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

August 9, 2023

Completed
1 month until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

September 18, 2023

Completed
4 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

January 8, 2024

Completed
3 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

January 1, 2027

Expected
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

January 1, 2027

Last Updated

February 20, 2026

Status Verified

February 1, 2026

Enrollment Period

3 years

First QC Date

August 9, 2023

Last Update Submit

February 19, 2026

Conditions

Keywords

bone marrow aspirate concentrateminimally manipulated adipose tissueBMACMM-ATintra-articular injectionknee injectionmesenchymal stromal cellsRandomized controlled trialcellular orthobiological products

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) - Pain subscale

    It is a pathology-specific questionnaire used for the assessment of referred pain at the knee joint level in patients with OA

    6 months follow-up

Secondary Outcomes (13)

  • Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC)

    baseline, 2 months, 6 months, 12 months follow-up

  • Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS)

    baseline, 2 months, 6 months, 12 months follow-up

  • Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)

    baseline, 2 months, 6 months, 12 months follow-up

  • EuroQol Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS)

    baseline, 2 months, 6 months, 12 months follow-up

  • Tegner Activity Level Scale

    baseline, 2 months, 6 months, 12 months follow-up

  • +8 more secondary outcomes

Study Arms (2)

single intra-articular injection of BMAC

EXPERIMENTAL

Patients randomized in this group will undergo single knee intra-articular injection of bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC)

Biological: Bone marrow aspirate concentrate injection

single intra-articular injection of MM-AT

EXPERIMENTAL

Patients randomized in this group will undergo single knee intra-articular injection of minimally manipulated adipose tissue (MM-AT)

Biological: intra-articular injection of Minimally manipulated adipose tissue

Interventions

single intra-articular injection of Minimally manipulated adipose tissue derived from the patient's abdominal adipose tissue

single intra-articular injection of MM-AT

single intra-articular injection of Bone Marrow aspirate concentrate derived from the patient's iliac crest

single intra-articular injection of BMAC

Eligibility Criteria

Age40 Years - 75 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Patients with symptomatic unilateral knee OA with:
  • Men or women aged 40 to 75 years;
  • Signs and symptoms of OA with a clinical history of gonalgia or swelling for at least 6 months;
  • Radiographic signs of OA (Kellgren-Lawrence grade 1-4);
  • No benefit after at least 4 months of conservative treatment;
  • Ability and consent of patients to actively participate in clinical and radiological (rx and MRI) follow-up;
  • Signing of informed consent.

You may not qualify if:

  • Patients unable to express consent;
  • Patients aged \< to 40 and \> to 75 years;
  • Patients with axial deviations \> 5°;
  • Patients who have suffered trauma or undergone intra-articular infiltration of other substance in the previous 6 months;
  • Patients who have undergone knee surgery in the previous 12 months;
  • Patients with concomitant knee injuries causing joint pain or swelling (-focal full-thickness osteochondral defects, acute meniscal injuries);
  • Patients with malignant neoplasms;
  • Patients with uncompensated systemic diseases (rheumatic diseases, metabolic disorders such as diabetes and thyroid diseases);
  • Patients with infectious diseases;
  • Patients with histories of alcohol or drug abuse;
  • Patients who are pregnant;
  • Patients with allergies to anesthetics used in the procedure.

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli

Bologna, 40136, Italy

RECRUITING

Related Publications (35)

  • Anz AW, Hubbard R, Rendos NK, Everts PA, Andrews JR, Hackel JG. Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate Is Equivalent to Platelet-Rich Plasma for the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis at 1 Year: A Prospective, Randomized Trial. Orthop J Sports Med. 2020 Feb 18;8(2):2325967119900958. doi: 10.1177/2325967119900958. eCollection 2020 Feb.

    PMID: 32118081BACKGROUND
  • Basile M, Rumi F, Palmeri M, Mattozzi I, Manzoli L, Mammucari M, Gigliotti S, Bernabei R, Cicchetti A. Il burden economico dell'inappropriatezza prescrittiva nella gestione dell'osteoartrite in Italia. Glob Reg Health Technol Assess. 2020 Dec 10;7:101-108. doi: 10.33393/grhta.2020.2130. eCollection 2020 Jan-Dec. Italian.

    PMID: 36627953BACKGROUND
  • Boffa A, Merli G, Andriolo L, Lattermann C, Salzmann GM, Filardo G. Synovial Fluid Biomarkers in Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Quantitative Evaluation Using BIPEDs Criteria. Cartilage. 2021 Dec;13(1_suppl):82S-103S. doi: 10.1177/1947603520942941. Epub 2020 Jul 25.

    PMID: 32713185BACKGROUND
  • Boffa A, Di Martino A, Andriolo L, De Filippis R, Poggi A, Kon E, Zaffagnini S, Filardo G. Bone marrow aspirate concentrate injections provide similar results versus viscosupplementation up to 24 months of follow-up in patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis. A randomized controlled trial. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2022 Dec;30(12):3958-3967. doi: 10.1007/s00167-021-06793-4. Epub 2021 Nov 12.

    PMID: 34767030BACKGROUND
  • Cai X, Yuan S, Zeng Y, Wang C, Yu N, Ding C. New Trends in Pharmacological Treatments for Osteoarthritis. Front Pharmacol. 2021 Apr 15;12:645842. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2021.645842. eCollection 2021.

    PMID: 33935742BACKGROUND
  • Caplan AI, Correa D. The MSC: an injury drugstore. Cell Stem Cell. 2011 Jul 8;9(1):11-5. doi: 10.1016/j.stem.2011.06.008.

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    PMID: 24806078BACKGROUND
  • Cavallo C, Boffa A, Andriolo L, Silva S, Grigolo B, Zaffagnini S, Filardo G. Bone marrow concentrate injections for the treatment of osteoarthritis: evidence from preclinical findings to the clinical application. Int Orthop. 2021 Feb;45(2):525-538. doi: 10.1007/s00264-020-04703-w. Epub 2020 Jul 13.

    PMID: 32661635BACKGROUND
  • Costa V, Carina V, Conigliaro A, Raimondi L, De Luca A, Bellavia D, Salamanna F, Setti S, Alessandro R, Fini M, Giavaresi G. miR-31-5p Is a LIPUS-Mechanosensitive MicroRNA that Targets HIF-1alpha Signaling and Cytoskeletal Proteins. Int J Mol Sci. 2019 Mar 28;20(7):1569. doi: 10.3390/ijms20071569.

    PMID: 30925808BACKGROUND
  • Costa V, Lo Dico A, Rizzo A, Rajata F, Tripodi M, Alessandro R, Conigliaro A. MiR-675-5p supports hypoxia induced epithelial to mesenchymal transition in colon cancer cells. Oncotarget. 2017 Apr 11;8(15):24292-24302. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.14464.

    PMID: 28061476BACKGROUND
  • Costa V, Carina V, Raimondi L, De Luca A, Bellavia D, Conigliaro A, Salamanna F, Alessandro R, Fini M, Giavaresi G. MiR-33a Controls hMSCS Osteoblast Commitment Modulating the Yap/Taz Expression Through EGFR Signaling Regulation. Cells. 2019 Nov 22;8(12):1495. doi: 10.3390/cells8121495.

    PMID: 31771093BACKGROUND
  • Costa V, Raimondi L, Conigliaro A, Salamanna F, Carina V, De Luca A, Bellavia D, Alessandro R, Fini M, Giavaresi G. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1Alpha may regulate the commitment of mesenchymal stromal cells toward angio-osteogenesis by mirna-675-5P. Cytotherapy. 2017 Dec;19(12):1412-1425. doi: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2017.09.007. Epub 2017 Oct 27.

    PMID: 29111380BACKGROUND
  • Costa V, De Fine M, Carina V, Conigliaro A, Raimondi L, De Luca A, Bellavia D, Salamanna F, Alessandro R, Pignatti G, Fini M, Giavaresi G. How miR-31-5p and miR-33a-5p Regulates SP1/CX43 Expression in Osteoarthritis Disease: Preliminary Insights. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Feb 28;22(5):2471. doi: 10.3390/ijms22052471.

    PMID: 33671114BACKGROUND
  • Durand M, Komarova SV, Bhargava A, Trebec-Reynolds DP, Li K, Fiorino C, Maria O, Nabavi N, Manolson MF, Harrison RE, Dixon SJ, Sims SM, Mizianty MJ, Kurgan L, Haroun S, Boire G, de Fatima Lucena-Fernandes M, de Brum-Fernandes AJ. Monocytes from patients with osteoarthritis display increased osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption: the In Vitro Osteoclast Differentiation in Arthritis study. Arthritis Rheum. 2013 Jan;65(1):148-58. doi: 10.1002/art.37722.

    PMID: 23044761BACKGROUND
  • Filardo G, Perdisa F, Roffi A, Marcacci M, Kon E. Stem cells in articular cartilage regeneration. J Orthop Surg Res. 2016 Apr 12;11:42. doi: 10.1186/s13018-016-0378-x.

    PMID: 27072345BACKGROUND
  • Filardo G, Tschon M, Perdisa F, Brogini S, Cavallo C, Desando G, Giavaresi G, Grigolo B, Martini L, Nicoli Aldini N, Roffi A, Fini M, Kon E. Micro-fragmentation is a valid alternative to cell expansion and enzymatic digestion of adipose tissue for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis: a comparative preclinical study. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2022 Mar;30(3):773-781. doi: 10.1007/s00167-020-06373-y. Epub 2021 Jan 19.

    PMID: 33464397BACKGROUND
  • Garza JR, Campbell RE, Tjoumakaris FP, Freedman KB, Miller LS, Santa Maria D, Tucker BS. Clinical Efficacy of Intra-articular Mesenchymal Stromal Cells for the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Double-Blinded Prospective Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial. Am J Sports Med. 2020 Mar;48(3):588-598. doi: 10.1177/0363546519899923.

    PMID: 32109160BACKGROUND
  • Giorgini A, Selleri F, Zambianchi F, Cataldo G, Francioni E, Catani F. Autologous micro-fragmented adipose tissue associated with arthroscopy in moderate-severe knee osteoarthritis: outcome at two year follow-up. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2022 Nov 8;23(1):963. doi: 10.1186/s12891-022-05921-6.

    PMID: 36348344BACKGROUND
  • Goldring SR, Goldring MB. Changes in the osteochondral unit during osteoarthritis: structure, function and cartilage-bone crosstalk. Nat Rev Rheumatol. 2016 Nov;12(11):632-644. doi: 10.1038/nrrheum.2016.148. Epub 2016 Sep 22.

    PMID: 27652499BACKGROUND
  • Hong Z, Chen J, Zhang S, Zhao C, Bi M, Chen X, Bi Q. Intra-articular injection of autologous adipose-derived stromal vascular fractions for knee osteoarthritis: a double-blind randomized self-controlled trial. Int Orthop. 2019 May;43(5):1123-1134. doi: 10.1007/s00264-018-4099-0. Epub 2018 Aug 14.

    PMID: 30109404BACKGROUND
  • Iyyanki T, Hubenak J, Liu J, Chang EI, Beahm EK, Zhang Q. Harvesting technique affects adipose-derived stem cell yield. Aesthet Surg J. 2015 May;35(4):467-76. doi: 10.1093/asj/sju055. Epub 2015 Mar 18.

    PMID: 25791999BACKGROUND
  • Jevsevar D, Donnelly P, Brown GA, Cummins DS. Viscosupplementation for Osteoarthritis of the Knee: A Systematic Review of the Evidence. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2015 Dec 16;97(24):2047-60. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.N.00743.

    PMID: 26677239BACKGROUND
  • Pagani S, Veronesi F, Giavaresi G, Filardo G, Papio T, Romandini I, Fini M. Autologous Protein Solution Effect on Chondrogenic Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Adipose Tissue and Bone Marrow in an Osteoarthritic Environment. Cartilage. 2021 Dec;13(2_suppl):225S-237S. doi: 10.1177/1947603521993217. Epub 2021 Feb 15.

    PMID: 33583216BACKGROUND
  • Pagani S, Borsari V, Veronesi F, Ferrari A, Cepollaro S, Torricelli P, Filardo G, Fini M. Increased Chondrogenic Potential of Mesenchymal Cells From Adipose Tissue Versus Bone Marrow-Derived Cells in Osteoarthritic In Vitro Models. J Cell Physiol. 2017 Jun;232(6):1478-1488. doi: 10.1002/jcp.25651. Epub 2016 Oct 26.

    PMID: 27739057BACKGROUND
  • Shanmugasundaram S, Vaish A, Chavada V, Murrell WD, Vaishya R. Assessment of safety and efficacy of intra-articular injection of stromal vascular fraction for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis-a systematic review. Int Orthop. 2021 Mar;45(3):615-625. doi: 10.1007/s00264-020-04926-x. Epub 2021 Jan 12.

    PMID: 33432400BACKGROUND
  • Ulivi M, Meroni V, Vigano M, Colombini A, Lombardo MDM, Rossi N, Orlandini L, Messina C, Sconfienza LM, Peretti GM, Mangiavini L, de Girolamo L. Micro-fragmented adipose tissue (mFAT) associated with arthroscopic debridement provides functional improvement in knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2023 Aug;31(8):3079-3090. doi: 10.1007/s00167-022-07101-4. Epub 2022 Aug 30.

    PMID: 36040510BACKGROUND
  • Anil U, Markus DH, Hurley ET, Manjunath AK, Alaia MJ, Campbell KA, Jazrawi LM, Strauss EJ. The efficacy of intra-articular injections in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis: A network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Knee. 2021 Oct;32:173-182. doi: 10.1016/j.knee.2021.08.008. Epub 2021 Sep 6.

    PMID: 34500430BACKGROUND
  • Veronesi F, Fini M, Martini L, Berardinelli P, Russo V, Filardo G, Di Matteo B, Marcacci M, Kon E. In Vivo Model of Osteoarthritis to Compare Allogenic Amniotic Epithelial Stem Cells and Autologous Adipose Derived Cells. Biology (Basel). 2022 Apr 28;11(5):681. doi: 10.3390/biology11050681.

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  • Veronesi F, Cadossi M, Giavaresi G, Martini L, Setti S, Buda R, Giannini S, Fini M. Pulsed electromagnetic fields combined with a collagenous scaffold and bone marrow concentrate enhance osteochondral regeneration: an in vivo study. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2015 Sep 2;16:233. doi: 10.1186/s12891-015-0683-2.

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    PMID: 32661637BACKGROUND
  • Veronesi F, Giavaresi G, Tschon M, Borsari V, Nicoli Aldini N, Fini M. Clinical use of bone marrow, bone marrow concentrate, and expanded bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in cartilage disease. Stem Cells Dev. 2013 Jan 15;22(2):181-92. doi: 10.1089/scd.2012.0373. Epub 2012 Nov 16.

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  • Veronesi F, Maglio M, Contartese D, Martini L, Muttini A, Fini M. Stromal Vascular Fraction and Amniotic Epithelial Cells: Preclinical and Clinical Relevance in Musculoskeletal Regenerative Medicine. Stem Cells Int. 2021 Feb 18;2021:6632052. doi: 10.1155/2021/6632052. eCollection 2021.

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  • Andriolo L, Veronesi F, Zanasi L, Costa V, Franceschini M, Miceli M, Spinnato P, Zaffagnini S, Giavaresi G, Filardo G. Adipose tissue-derived versus bone marrow-derived cell concentrates for the injective treatment of knee osteoarthritis: protocol of a prospective randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open. 2025 Apr 30;15(4):e092379. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-092379.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Osteoarthritis, Knee

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

OsteoarthritisArthritisJoint DiseasesMusculoskeletal DiseasesRheumatic Diseases

Study Officials

  • Luca Andriolo, MD

    Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli - II Clinica Ortopedica e Traumatologica

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Luca Andriolo, MD

CONTACT

Roberta Licciardi, MSc

CONTACT

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
SINGLE
Who Masked
OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Masking Details
To ensure the blinding of the health care personnel who will perform the checks (single-blind), follow-up visits will be performed by physicians not involved in the treatment procedures.
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Model Details: This is a randomized trial with 1:1 allocation.
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

August 9, 2023

First Posted

September 18, 2023

Study Start

January 8, 2024

Primary Completion (Estimated)

January 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

January 1, 2027

Last Updated

February 20, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

We will be able to share a subset of aggregated data, wich will not allow for the identification of participants

Locations