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The Effect of Folinic Acid Rescue Following MTX GVHD Prophylaxis on Regimen Related Toxicity and Transplantation Outcome

Phase 2
Conditions
Mucositis
Graft vs Host Disease
Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation
Interventions
Drug: Placebo
Registration Number
NCT02506231
Lead Sponsor
Rabin Medical Center
Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of folinic acid (FA) -rescue following methotrexate (MTX) graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis on regimen related toxicity and transplantation outcomes after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT) in a double blind randomized controlled trial.

Detailed Description

A regimen consisted on a combination of a calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) with a short course of methotrexate (MTX) is the most widely used regimen for the prevention of GVHD after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT). While the CNI is given in an adjusted dose, based on blood levels, MTX is given at a fixed 3 or 4 doses (15 mg/m2 on day +1, 10 mg/m2 on days +3, +6 +/- day +11). However, its use may be associated with considerable toxicity, including delayed engraftment, hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity and particularly oral mucositis (OM). The basis for OM is integrated: conditioning regimen and MTX prophylaxis for acute GVHD. OM has been shown to be associated with increased mortality and morbidity (principally from infection), significant pain, dysgeusia, difficulty speaking, difficulty receiving nutrition, hydration and oral medications, prolonged hospitalization and increased costs of care.

Reducing and even omitting doses of MTX due to regimen related toxicities (mucositis, hepatic and renal toxicities) is common. However, dose reduction of MTX may be associated with increased risk of acute GVHD and early death. Several non-randomized studies have shown that folinic acid (FA, leucovorin) administration may reduce MTX toxicity. Nevertheless, the efficacy and safety of its administration remain controversial. Despite limited and uncontrolled data, the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) and the European LeukemiaNet working group recently recommended the use of FA-rescue and proposed a uniform policy of FA-rescue 24h after each MTX dose: 15mg every 8h after MTX administration on day 1, and every 6h on days 3, 6 and 11. Yet, according to several surveys (including by EBMT-ELN) only half of bone marrow transplantation (BMT) centers use to give post MTX FA-rescue.

The aim of this study is to assess the impact of FA-rescue following MTX GVHD prophylaxis on regimen related toxicity and transplantation outcomes after alloHCT in a double blind randomized controlled trial.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
160
Inclusion Criteria
  • Acute leukemia in complete remission (CR) or myelodysplastic syndrome;
  • First transplantation;
  • Peripheral blood graft;
  • Matched sibling or unrelated donor or one antigen or allelic mismatched sibling or unrelated donor (10/10 or 9/10 human leukocyte antigen match );
  • Myeloablative or reduced intensity preparative regimen;
  • Post-transplant GVHD prophylaxis consisting of a calcineurin inhibitor (CSA or tacrolimus) and methotrexate;
  • Glutamate Pyruvate Transaminase (GPT) < 3 times upper normal limit (UNL) and creatinine ≤ 1.4 mg%;
  • Written informed consent;
Exclusion Criteria
  • True non-myeloablative preparative regimen (TBI 200 +/- fludarabine);
  • Acute leukemia not in remission;
  • GPT > 3 times upper normal limit or creatinine > 1.4 mg%;
  • Bone marrow, haploidentical or cord blood grafts;

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
PlaceboPlaceboPatients will be randomly assigned by central randomization in a 1:1 ratio to receive folinic acid (FA) or placebo starting 24h after each MTX dose for 24h. Oral FA 15 mg/dose or placebo will be given every 8h after MTX administration on day 1 (3 doses), and every 6h (4 doses) on days 3 and 6.
Folinic acidFolinic acidPatients will be randomly assigned by central randomization in a 1:1 ratio to receive folinic acid (FA) or placebo starting 24h after each MTX dose for 24h. Oral FA 15 mg/dose or placebo will be given every 8h after MTX administration on day 1 (3 doses), and every 6h (4 doses) on days 3 and 6.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Incidence of severe (grade 3-4) oral mucositis according to the WHO scale30 days

According to the WHO (world health organization) oral mucositis grading scale

Duration (in days) of severe (grade 3-4) oral mucositis according to the WHO scale30 days

According to the WHO (world health organization) oral mucositis grading scale

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Incidence of relapse24 months
Non relapse mortality24 months
Disease free survival24 months
Overall survival24 months
Incidence of renal toxicity30 days

Creatinine \> 2 mg%

Incidence of oral mucositis30 days
Grade of oral mucositis30 days

According to the WHO (world health organization) oral mucositis grading scale

Time to neutrophil recovery30 days
Time to platelet recovery60 days
Adherence to methotrexate schedule14 days

Number of methotrexate doses that were actually given (out of 3 doses on days 1, 3 and 6)

Adherence to methotrexate doses14 days

Actual methotrexate doses given in mg/sqm divided by scheduled doses in mg/sqm X 100

Days of opiate use30 days
Days of total parenteral nutrition use100 days
Incidence of veno-occlusive disease of the liver (VOD)30 days
Severity of veno-occlusive disease of the liver (VOD)30 days

According to the Seattle criteria

Incidence of hepatic toxicity30 days

total bilirubin \> 2 mg%, unless mostly indirect

Incidence of febrile neutropenia30 days
Duration of febrile neutropenia30 days
Documented infections30 days
Time from transplantation to discharge60 days
Incidence of acute graft-versus-host disease100 days
Severity of acute graft-versus-host disease100 days

According to the consensus grading system

Incidence of chronic graft-versus-host disease24 months
Severity of chronic graft-versus-host disease24 months

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) consensus criteria

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