NCT07304856

Role of Extracellular Vesicles as Biomarkers of Pulmonary Involvement in Patients With Lymphangioleiomyomatosis and Tuberous Sclerosis Complex

Prospective Observational Study of the Role of Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) as Biomarkers of Pulmonary Involvement in Patients With Sporadic Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (S-LAM) and Tuberous Sclerosis Complex-Associated LAM (TSC-LAM)

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: —
• Study type: Observational
• Enrollment: 80 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of Milan · Academic / Other
• Sex: Female
• Age: 18 Years – 80 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare lung disease, linked to Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) or occurring sporadically, and involves abnormal mTORC1 activation. LAM cells are neoplastic, and recent focus has turned to extracellular vesicles (EVs), which mediate tumor progression and may serve as biomarkers. This study, conducted at the Pulmonology Unit of ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo and the Pharmacology Laboratory of the University of Milan, will analyze the characteristics of serum EVs in patients with LAM and TSC. During scheduled outpatient visits, clinical and functional data and blood samples will be collected. Plasma will be separated, and EVs will be isolated via centrifugation. EVs will be analyzed for size, concentration, and molecular content (proteins, lipids, nucleic acids). The results obtained will be collected and correlated with the clinical and functional data.

Conditions

• Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM)
• Extracellular Vesicles; Generation and Function

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DIAGNOSTIC_TEST	Pulmonary Function Test	Spirometry, Plethysmography, Diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (DLCO), and Six-minute walk test (6MWT).
DIAGNOSTIC_TEST	Analysis of Extracellular Vesicles	From the venous blood sample, plasma will be separated, and extracellular vesicles (EVs) will be isolated through serial centrifugation steps. The EVs will be analyzed to assess their concentration (particles/mL) and size (nanometers, nm). Additionally, omics analyses will be performed to study the molecular content of the EVs, including nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-04-16
• Primary completion: 2026-01-16
• Completion: 2026-08-20
• First posted: 2025-12-26
• Last updated: 2025-12-26

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Italy