Research
Scientists are fascinated by Dupuytren’s, and many of them are trying to unravel the mystery of why patients develop these problems. Here is a list of some of the research projects going on at the moment, it is unlikely to mention all research because we may not have permission to mention ongoing projects or we may not know about them. The order in which they are presented is arbitrary and does not in any way indicate our support or success in the field.
For trials and studies that patients may join in, please go to the Trials page.
To see our webinar on research being done in the UK, click this link
United Kingdom
At the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology of the Oxford University, UK, a team led by Professor Jagdeep Nanchahal BSc, PhD, MBBS, FRCS, FRSC(plast) has done clinical trials for a revolutionary type of treatment.
The results of the RIDD trial havenow been published, and the trial was succesful. The nodules that were injected got softer, and progression stopped. This is major, it means a better understanding of the disease and maybe this injection (adalimumab) can become a treatment for early Dupuytren’s in the (near?) future.
To see the results:
A video that explains the trail and the results:
The press release is here: https://www.ndorms.ox.ac.uk/news/breakthrough-in-treatment-for-dupuytren2019s-disease
The RIDD page with updated links and information: https://www.ndorms.ox.ac.uk/research/clinical-trials/completed-trials/ridd
And the complete article (open access) can be found here: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanrhe/article/PIIS2665-9913(22)00093-5/fulltext
Read, enjoy, and the community of worldwide researchers and hand surgeons are already starting to comment and discuss this.
(updated 2022)
At the University of Liverpool a team led by Dr Elizabeth Laird is studying the development of fibrosis (excessive collagen production) in Dupuytren’s Disease. The work is supported by the Clinical Research Network (North West Coast), by surgical teams at Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Trust, the Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, and by donations of tissue from patients undergoing hand surgery, without whom this research would not be possible. Research funding has been provided by Versus Arthritis, the Dowager Countess Eleanor Peel Trust and the Medical Research Council.
The group is studying collagen production in Dupuytren’s Disease, specifically an abnormal form of collagen that cannot be degraded. This particularly noxious abnormal collagen persists in the thickened tissue preventing the disease from resolving naturally. The group are investigating cell types and molecules responsible for abnormal collagen production. Dupuytren’s tissue has been shown to be home to several biologically active molecules including cytokines and microRNAs. The team are using molecular activation and inhibition strategies to determine which molecules drive abnormal collagen production. The aim of this work is to determine if existing therapies could be adapted to treat Dupuytren’s Disease, prevent recurrence and to develop new strategies to target fibrosis.
The group have also worked on deciphering the protein ‘fingerprint’ in Dupuytren’s Disease using proteomics technology. The aim of the study was to profile the proteins present and being newly synthesized in fibrotic Dupuytren’s tissue, which is important to completely understand the molecular differences between proteins in Dupuytren’s tissue and those in normal non-pathologic tissue. The hypothesis of the study is that the continual production of an altered profile of proteins in Dupuytren’s tissue may be the underlying cause of recurrence of Dupuytren’s contracture following surgical treatment.
View an explanation of this research on our webinar
Research results can be viewed at https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.07.13.195107v1.abstract
A presentation and discussion can be found in Session 1. Talk 4. “New synthesis of homotrimeric collagen (I), matrix metalloproteinase-3 and TIMP2 in Dupuytren’s disease tissue” at:
https://dupuytrensymposium.org/scientific-program/
More information on the Department doing the research can be found on the university website
(updated Nov 2021)
In Oxford University Professor D Furniss does research into the molecular genetics of Dupuytren’s. His team works closely with other groups such as the team of Prof Werker in Groningen. They do whole genome studies to determine the inheritance of Dupuytren. To date 26 genes have been found that play a role, and 80% of the disease is said to be due to genetics.
He explains more about the research in our webinar.
In 2023, Professor Furniss spoke on a Pulvertaft webinar about his research, with the Dupuytren research being mentioned from the 29th minute. The video can be seen here.
As of 2018 Mr Rodrigues continues the research he started with the aid of an NIRH post-doctorate at NDORMS, Oxford.
This will be a five year program of training and research to further refine outcome measurement in Dupuytren Disease, and to better harness UK national outcome data in the UK National Hand Registry delivered by the BSSH.
(updated January 2018)
In East Anglia Ms Rosemary Davidson and Mr Ian Clark are researching the potential value of MMP-14 inhibitors as a treatment for Dupuytren’s. The study is due to last two years (2021-2023)
The Netherlands
The Team working under Prof Paul Werker in the University of Groningen, the Netherlands has provided us this information about their research. We received this description of their research from Dr Dieuwke Broekstra:
Since 2006, the Department of Plastic Surgery of the University Medical Centre Groningen has a research line on the genetics of Dupuytren’s disease. Currently, we have one PhD-candidate (Sophie Riesmeijer) working on this topic. She studies the known genetic variants for DD on their function and clinical impact, and missing heritability of Dupuytren’s disease. She collaborates with Prof. Ophoff from the University of California Los Angeles (USA) and Prof. Furniss from the Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences (UK).
Our department has also been involved in many epidemiologic studies about Dupuytren’s disease, currently with 2 PhD-candidates under daily supervision of Paul Werker and Dieuwke Broekstra. The PhD-project of Bente van den Berge is primarily focused on disease course from onset to symptoms, from symptoms to treatment, from treatment to recurrence and from disease course to life course. She makes use of data derived from our prospective cohort study about disease course of Dupuytren’s disease. Dieuwke Broekstra is also collaborating with Prof. Furniss from the Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences (UK) in a project on lifetime risk of surgery for Dupuytren’s disease, and predictors for surgery. Recently, Roel van Straalen has started his PhD-project about Dupuytren’s disease in primary care, using data from the AHON database containing GP data of the Northern part of the Netherlands, and about patient preferences and expectations in primary care. He also focuses on the value of ultrasound imaging in predicting Dupuytren’s surgery.
In 2021, Sanne Molenkamp received a PhD-degree for her thesis about ultrasound of Dupuytren’s disease. She focused on the value of ultrasound for the assessment of disease activity and prediction of progression, and about the clinical relevance in clinical practice for patients undergoing minimally invasive treatment.
Apart from these projects that we initiated ourselves, we will also participate in a multicentre trial led by Prof. Jarad Martin of Genesis Care, Newcastle (Australia) on the effectiveness of radiotherapy for limiting progression in early Dupuytren’s disease (DEPART study).
(updated August 2021)
Belgium
Dupuytren-Fonds, Leuven University Hospitals, Belgium. Text submitted by Prof Dr Ilse Degreef.
On November 17th 2016, we celebrated the inauguration of the Dupuytren funding organisation, an initiative of Prof Dr Ilse Degreef and Prof Dr Luc Smet at Leuven University.
With this foundation, both clinical researchers and patient organisations will work together to improve treatment outcome and patient satisfaction in Dupuytren disease. Clinical hand practice at the academic centre is focussed on Dupuytren treatment and the improvement of it. With a multi-disciplinary approach, we aim to inform the patient correctly and completely and offer all available treatment, so the patient can make his or her own decision if interventions are considered in the disease management.
Inspired by the PhD work of Ilse Degreef, presented in 2009, the work and research on Dupuytren disease continued ever since. The PhD was titled ‘Therapy resisting Dupuytren disease: new perspectives in adjuvant treatment’. Epidemiological research was done to estimate the prevalence and identify patients at risk of progression to severe disability. This disability in Dupuytren disease and the influence of the extend of the disease was studied. basic research was focused on myofibroblast activation and its relation to recurrent contractures. The influence of surgical techniques on outcome and recurrence was evaluated and we concluded that recurrence was independent of the technique: ‘the surgeon can cut out the cords but not the disease itself’. Finally, innovative treatment options were introduced in therapy-resisting disease: the use of cellulose implants to isolate the skin and augment the firebreak effect of segmental fasciectomy appeared to improve outcome. The first Level 1 trial on neo-adjuvant pharmacotherapy demonstrated a role for possible disease control in the future.
Today, this work is continued. At the university, 2 PhD student, a clinical fellow, 3 residents and many medicine, physiotherapy and orthopaedic technician students work together in our team in a multi-disciplinary clinical and lab research project. We focus on translational research: putting bench into practice.
At Leuven University, today we focus on:
– The genetic background of Dupuytren disease in collaboration with the Laboratory of Complex Genetics
– The development of a lab animal model and research on the cellular function of the myofibroblast, in collaboration with both The research centre for Skeletal Biology & Engineering, and Molecular Digestive Oncology
– The influence of stem cells in collaboration with the Peyronie Research Group
– Radiotherapy in therapy-resisting Dupuytren in collaboration with the Centre for Experimental Radiotherapy
– Clinical research on orthesiology, splinting and external fixation in collaboration with the Faculty of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Sciences, IORT and the VIGO group
– Clinical outcome translational research on surgery and collagenase treatment in the Hand Unit at Leuven University Hospitals, Orthopedic Department.
Official inauguration of the Dupuytren Fonds at leuven University with Rector Rik Torfs (left) and Prof Dr Luc De Smet and Prof Dr Ilse Degreef (right)
(left to right) Prof Dr Luc De Smet, Prof Dr Ilse Degreef, Francois Mathys of the Belgian Patient Society and Rector Rik Torfs of Leuven University
United States
Dr Charles Eaton provided us with this summary of their goals and activities.
The Dupuytren Research Group is conducting research to develop a blood test for Dupuytren disease. A blood test is the missing piece of the puzzle needed to develop and test medical treatments for Dupuytren disease and related conditions. Right now, the ruler, protractor and camera are the only non surgical tools to measure a persons Dupuytren/Ledderhose disease. These only show what has already happened, not what is happening right now. A blood test could show what is happening right now, including the biologic response to medical treatment or to changes in diet, physical activity, or other lifestyle changes – before any changes in lumps or angles. A blood test could be used to test medical treatments for Dupuytren disease more quickly and accurately than has ever been possible.
The first goal of the Dupuytren Research Group’s International Dupuytren Data Bank (IDDB) is to develop a Dupuytren blood test. This research is organised in three stages. Stage one is a large online survey of people with Dupuytren/Ledderhose disease – severity, how it impacts their life, and how other medical factors relate to their disease. Stage two is collecting blood samples from stage one participants and analysing these samples for genetic, immune, inflammation, dietary and other factors. Stage three is comparing blood test finding with the severity of Dupuytren disease. Stage one launched in 2015 and is growing daily. Stage two and three will be repeated in competitive cycles. Each cycle will select groups based on disease severity, collect their blood samples, and identify the best blood tests to repeat in the next cycle. Following cycles will do the same with more people and fewer tests until the best tests are confirmed. This strategy is designed to reduce overall costs. This strategy of repeated testing is also the fastest way to confirm the accuracy and reliability of a test available to all researchers to develop a cure for Dupuytren disease and related conditions. IDDB online enrolment is http://Dupstudy.com. Testing has started in 2020.
In California, USA, research is being done to find a way of influencing the disease process in an early stage.
The company doing this research is Ventoux Biosciences, their CEO Kurt Harrington is a Dupuytren patient himself with a strong family history.
He explains his goals in a newspaper interview here
In Pittsburgh, USA a team led by Dr Latha Satish MSc, PhD and Dr Sanjeep Kathju MD,
PhD are working towards developing an animal model for studying the behaviour of Dupuytren’s tissue and understanding the differences between Dupuytren’s and non-Dupuytren’s cells, especially the expressions of genes and how the process could be influenced by medication.
Dr Satish kindly provided us with this explanation of the research:
Drs Latha Satish MSc, PhD and Dr Sandeep Kathju MD, PhD at the Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, USA have been collaborating for many years now to understand the pathophysiology and the gene expression changes that contribute to the progression and/or recurrence of Dupuytren’s contracture. Our previous data examining the global gene expression patterns of DD-derived fibroblasts versus control carpal tunnel (CT)-derived fibroblasts confirms that there are numerous differences in their transcriptomes (mRNA expression) even in in vitro culture, indicating a stable intrinsically distinct disease pathology for DD-cells. Recently, for the first time, we have described an animal model for Dupuytren’s disease at the physiologically relevant orthotopic location. We also showed that gene expression differences seen between CT- and DD-derived fibroblasts persisted even in in-vivo. Using the animal model that we have developed which shows increased evidence of fibrosis in the forepaw that received the DD cells compared to CT cells we are currently pursuing with novel therapeutic interventions to diminish the DD-dependent fibrosis. We are also in the process of refining the animal model to recapitulate the disease completely. Our research is being funded by Private Donor Donation, Department of Plastic Surgery and the Pittsburgh Foundation.
In December 2018 the team registered a patent for the idea of using a transdermal cream with Pirfenidone (a drug used orally for patients with pulmonary fibrosis). In tests on rats skin this penetrated through the skin into deeper areas, and the drug can change the extra cellular environment thus slowing or stopping fibrosis. Even if it is still far away from clinical use, the possibilities this invention raises are exciting.
(updated January 2019)