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RecruitingNCT05984628Updated Sep 3, 2026

Umbilical Cord Stem Cells for Skin Grafts in Donor Site Wounds

An interventional study of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells and blank solvent in Skin Wound and Scar, Hypertrophic, sponsored by Fujian Medical University Union Hospital. Recruiting at 1 site in China. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 60 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-03.

Sponsored by Fujian Medical University Union Hospital · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

From the registry’s dates

  • Registered 1 year 8 months after the study started (first participant enrolled Oct 2021, registered Jul 2023).
  • Started Oct 2021; still recruiting 5 years later.
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
88
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 60 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell (hUCMSC) therapy in patients undergoing medium-thickness skin grafts for donor site wounds. The study aims to answer the following main questions:

  • Question 1: Does hUCMSC therapy improve the healing quality and speed of donor site wounds in comparison to standard treatment?
  • Question 2: Does hUCMSC therapy reduce scar formation in the donor site wounds?

Participants in this study will undergo medium-thickness skin grafts, and those in the treatment group will receive hUCMSC therapy. The main tasks for participants will involve regular follow-up visits, monitoring of wound healing progress, and assessment of any potential side effects or complications associated with the therapy.

In order to evaluate the effectiveness of hUCMSC therapy, researchers will compare the treatment group receiving hUCMSC therapy with a control group that receives standard treatment alone. The aim is to determine if the use of hUCMSC therapy leads to improved healing outcomes and reduced scar formation compared to the standard treatment group.

Read the detailed description

The donor site of the medium-thickness skin graft procedure usually forms scars or even hypertrophic scars, which significantly differ from normal skin physiology and cause discomfort to patients such as itching and burning sensations. Currently, the pathological mechanism of scar formation is not fully understood. There is a pressing clinical need for new methods to improve the healing quality and speed of donor site wounds in patients undergoing medium-thickness skin grafts and to reduce scar formation.

It is well known that various types of stem cells from different sources are involved in the process of wound repair. Under the regulation of various signaling molecules and chemotactic factors, they migrate to the wound, proliferate, and differentiate into various cellular components of the skin, thus constructing new tissue structures and achieving wound healing. Stem cells possess powerful self-renewal and multi-directional differentiation abilities. Some stem cells have been successfully applied in the treatment of severe burn wounds and non-healing wounds, yielding promising results.

Furthermore, in recent years, tissue engineering techniques have been used to combine stem cells with appropriate scaffolds to create tissue-engineered skin, utilizing the potential of stem cells for multi-directional differentiation and rapid expansion. This approach allows for rapid coverage and functional reconstruction of large-area wounds. Therefore, we also hope to enhance the healing quality of donor site wounds in patients undergoing medium-thickness skin grafts and inhibit excessive scar formation by utilizing stem cell technology.

Among the various options, the use of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UCMSC) is highly feasible for treating donor site wounds in medium-thickness skin graft procedures. UCMSC has abundant sources, easy collection, easy expansion, no harm to donors, no ethical controversies, potential for industrialization and standardized clinical treatment, and excellent biological characteristics.

This study aims to investigate the safety and efficacy of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell (hUCMSC) therapy for donor site wounds in medium-thickness skin grafts, as well as its effect in reducing scar formation.

02

Conditions studied

  • Skin Wound
  • Scar, Hypertrophic

Keywords

  • hUCMSC
  • Skin Wound
  • Scar, Hypertrophic
  • Stem cell
03

In context

Cicatrix, Hypertrophic

129 studies on the registry are indexed under Cicatrix, Hypertrophic; 31 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 88 is above the median of 36 across 106 interventional studies indexed under Cicatrix, Hypertrophic.

Browse Cicatrix, Hypertrophic studies →

Lead sponsor

Fujian Medical University Union Hospital is the lead sponsor of 109 studies on the registry; 79 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 60 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  1. Patients between 18 and 60 years old with extensive scars, large benign tumors, or fresh wounds on the body surface.
  2. Patients who undergo medium-thickness skin graft surgery (donor site can be from the thigh, abdomen, or back).
  3. Participants who have a thorough understanding of the study objectives, significance, implementation plan, potential benefits, risks involved, measures to address risks, and the rights and obligations of the subjects (including privacy protection and the right to withdraw), and are willing to participate in this clinical study and can cooperate effectively.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

Participants who meet any of the following criteria are not suitable for inclusion:

  1. Hypertension, hypotension, heart disease (including history of myocardial ischemia, coronary heart disease, myocarditis).
  2. Liver or kidney dysfunction.
  3. Infectious diseases (including viral hepatitis, syphilis, /AIDS, etc.).
  4. Venous thrombosis, thoracic or abdominal aortic aneurysm, aortic dissection.
  5. Blood disorders (abnormal coagulation function, anemia, leukemia, polycythemia vera, aplastic anemia, etc.).
  6. Allergic conditions (urticaria, bronchial asthma, history of allergic reactions to two or more drugs or foods).
  7. Respiratory system diseases (chronic bronchitis, emphysema, bronchiectasis, respiratory failure, , interstitial pneumonia).
  8. Digestive system diseases (severe gastric or duodenal ulcers, chronic gastritis, chronic pancreatitis).
  9. Urinary system diseases (chronic urinary tract infections, nephritis, nephrotic syndrome).
  10. Endocrine system diseases (hyperthyroidism, diabetes, acromegaly, pituitary diseases, adrenal diseases, diabetes insipidus).
  11. Organic neurological disorders or psychiatric illnesses (encephalitis, sequelae of traumatic brain injury, epilepsy, schizophrenia, hysteria, depression, severe insomnia, neurasthenia).
  12. Chronic skin diseases (especially infectious, allergic, and inflammatory systemic skin diseases, such as extensive eczema, pemphigus, pemphigoid).
  13. diseases and collagen diseases (such as systemic lupus erythematosus, dermatomyositis, scleroderma).
  14. History of long-term smoking, alcohol abuse, or drug addiction.
  15. History of major surgeries (such as gastric, lung, splenic, renal, or liver resection).
  16. History of other significant malignant tumors.
  17. Blood donation or organ transplantation within the past 5 years.
  18. Pregnancy, lactation, menstrual period, or within 1 year after termination of pregnancy.
  19. Previous circumstances of being rejected for voluntary blood donation.
  20. Other situations deemed unsuitable for participation in this study by the investigators.
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(3)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

HIV

The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.

Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.

COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: long-term lung disease that makes it hard to breathe out, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

Autoimmune disease

A condition in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, type 1 diabetes or inflammatory bowel disease.

Immunotherapy studies often leave out active autoimmune disease, and some name exceptions, such as thyroid disease on replacement hormone. Check the exceptions this study lists.

05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Single (Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
88 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells

    Injection of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSC) into the donor site. 1. Dosage of stem cell preparation: Calculated based on the area of the donor site, with a cell count of 1X10\^5cells/cm2. 2. Administration method: The cells are prepared as an injectable suspension using a blank solvent for stem cells at a concentration of 1X10\^6 cells/ml (0.1 ml/cm2). 3. Timing of administration: Administered immediately after completion of the donor site harvesting procedure. 4. Treatment duration: The stem cell administration is a single dose, administered at the specified timing as described above

    Procedure: human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells

  • Placebo comparator
    blank solvent

    Injection of an equal volume of blank solvent for suspension of stem cells into the donor site. 1. Dosage of Control group preparation: Calculated based on the area of the donor site. 2. Administration method: Injection of an equal volume of blank solvent for suspension of stem cells into the donor site. 3. Timing of administration: Administered immediately after completion of the donor site harvesting procedure. 4. Treatment duration: The Control group administration is a single dose, administered at the specified timing as described above

    Procedure: blank solvent

Interventions

  • Procedurehuman umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells

    After the completion of the donor site harvesting in the experimental group, allogeneic umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells are injected into the deep layer of the de-epithelialized area and the surrounding 0.5cm subcutaneous region. After the injection, the wound is covered and dressed with conventional dressings.

  • Procedureblank solvent

    After the completion of the donor site harvesting in the experimental group, the de-epithelialized area and the surrounding 0.5cm subcutaneous region is injected an equal volume of blank solvent for stem cell suspension in the control group. After the injection, the wound is covered and dressed with conventional dressings.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Time to epithelialization of the skin wound

    Record the size of the donor site wound at each follow-up time point and document it with photographs.

    Time frame: 12 months

  2. Observation of scar formation

    Record the height and erythema of the donor site scar at each follow-up time point and document them with photographs. It will be assessed using, Vancouver scar scale at time of presentation and at 12 months after the intervention. Pre and post intervention ratings will be compared and percentage increase or decrease in the rating will be documented. Vancouver Scar Scale is a 13 points scale and includes four parameters, pigmentation, vascularity pliability and height of scar.13 It is an objective scale and examining doctor will assess and record score out of 13. Lesser the score better is the scar

    Time frame: 12 months

Secondary outcomes

  1. Itching at wound site

    It will be assessed at the time of presentation and at 12 months after the intervention using severity of pruritus scale. It is 4 point rating scale from 0 (no itch) to 3(severe itch disturbing the sleep) assessing severity of pruritus within 24-hours recall period. Pre and post intervention ratings will be compared and percentage increase or decrease in the rating will be documented.

    Time frame: 12 months

  2. Pain At scar Site

    Patient will be asked to rate his/her current, best and worst pain level over past 24 hours on scale of 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain imaginable). Pain at scar site will be assessed at time of presentation and then at 12 months after start of the treatment. Pre and post intervention ratings will be compared and percentage increase or decrease in the rating will be documented. This scale is chosen due to its high feasibility and good compliance.

    Time frame: 12 months

07

Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting
  • Chenxiaosong
    Fujian, Fuzhou 350001, China
    Recruiting
08

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reachedSimilar studies: half by the dot; the band is the middle halfHalf of similar studies reached it by the dot; the band is the middle half, from a quarter to three quarters

Started Oct 2021 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Dec 2027, 74 months after the start.

Of 33 interventional studies with no phase under Cicatrix, Hypertrophic, half reached primary completion within 18 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 12 and three quarters within 30. This study's planned 74 months is above that.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Jul 14, 2023
First posted
Aug 9, 2023
StartActual
Oct 20, 2021
Primary completionEst.
Dec 31, 2027
CompletionEst.
Dec 31, 2027
Last update
Sep 3, 2026
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Sep 3, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT05984628
Responsible party
ChenXiaosong (Director of Plastic Surgery and Regenerative Medicine, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital) — Principal investigator
First posted
Aug 9, 2023
Start date
Oct 20, 2021
Primary completion
Dec 31, 2027 (estimated)
Completion
Dec 31, 2027 (estimated)
Last update
Sep 3, 2026

Study contacts

xiaosong - chen, director
Contact
chenxiaosong74@163.com
13365910035
xiaosong - xiaosong, director
Contact
chenxiaosong74@163.com
13365910035
xiaosong xiaosong, xiaosong
study chair · Affiliated Union Hospital of Fujian Medical University

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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