Keloid Pathways and Fibroblast Activation
Official title: Mechanisms Of Keloid Fibroblast Activation And Potential Therapeutic Targets: A Tissue-Based Translational Study
Run by The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine · NCT07682636 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study tests tissue from keloid scars and nearby normal skin to see how fibroblasts and related molecules behave differently in keloids.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 20 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine Academic / other |
| Drugs / interventions | chemotherapy |
| Locations | 1 site (Jinhua) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | May 10, 2025 |
| Main results expected | May 10, 2028 |
| Study ends | May 30, 2028 |
| Registry record updated | July 6, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07682636 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults aged 18 or older with a diagnosed keloid who are scheduled for surgical excision at the participating hospital.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients for whom no meaningful molecular differences are detected between keloid and adjacent skin may not see a therapeutic benefit from the study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This is a prospective, single-center, observational study at The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine. Researchers will compare surgically removed keloid tissue with adjacent normal skin from the same patients using histology, gene expression, and protein analyses to identify pathways involved in abnormal fibroblast activation. By examining differences in signaling pathways such as TGF-β and related regulators, the study aims to uncover potential targets for future therapy. No additional procedures are required beyond standard surgical care, and samples will be de-identified before laboratory analysis. Primary outcomes focus on differential expression patterns between keloid and normal skin tissue.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Findings could highlight molecular targets that guide the development of future treatments for keloids.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown altered signaling and gene/protein expression in keloids, supporting the relevance of this approach, though direct translational targets remain to be validated.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Clinically diagnosed with keloid. * Age 18 years or older. * Scheduled to undergo surgical treatment at the study hospital. * Able and willing to provide written informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * Severe systemic disease. * History of neurologic disease, alcoholism, postherpetic neuralgia, HIV infection, hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, or prior cancer chemotherapy. * Other skin diseases within 5 cm of the keloid lesion, such as eczema. * Systemic treatment within 7 days before enrollment or keloid-specific treatment within 6 weeks before enrollment, including intralesional corticosteroid injection, cryotherapy, topical medication, or silicone gel sheeting. * Hormone or immunosuppressive therapy within 3 months before enrollment. * Pregnancy or breastfeeding. * Considered unsuitable for participation by the investigator. * Refusal to participate in the study.
Where it's running
-
The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine
Jinhua, China Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Wang
- Email: wangshoujie@zju.edu.cn
- Phone: +86 18867961137
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.