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Fludarabine and Darbepoetin Alfa in Treating Older Patients With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Phase 3
Completed
Conditions
Anemia
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Interventions
Biological: Fludarabine plus Darbopoetin
Registration Number
NCT00281892
Lead Sponsor
German CLL Study Group
Brief Summary

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as fludarabine, work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Darbepoetin alfa may cause the body to make more red blood cells. It is not yet known whether fludarabine is more effective with or without darbepoetin alfa in treating chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

PURPOSE: This phase III trial is studying fludarabine to see how well it works when given together with or without darbepoetin alfa in treating older patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Detailed Description

OBJECTIVES:

* Compare the efficacy of fludarabine with or without darbepoetin alfa in geriatric patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and relevant comorbidities.

* Determine the effect of these regimens in reducing anemia, lowering the requirements of transfusion, and reducing the duration and frequency of hospitalization in these patients.

* Determine the quality of life of patients treated with these regimens.

* Determine event-free, progression-free, and overall survival of patients treated with these regimens.

* Evaluate the medical-economical aspects of these regimens in these patients

OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study. Patients are stratified according to hemoglobin value (\< 12 g/dL \[stratum 1\] vs \> 12 g/dL \[stratum 2\]). Patients are assigned to 1 of 2 treatment strata.

* Stratum 1: Patients receive fludarabine IV on days 1, 3, and 5. Treatment repeats every 28 days for up to 6 courses. Patients also receive darbepoetin alfa subcutaneously once weekly for up to 6 weeks.

* Stratum 2: Patients receive fludarabine as in stratum 1. Quality of life is evaluated periodically.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 348 patients will be accrued for this study.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
97
Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
fludarabine monoFludarabine monoGroup 1 - Patients with an initial Hb-value of less than 12 g/dl receive fludarabine (30 mg/m² intravenously on day 1, 3, 5; repeated every 28 days for 6 cycles with no additional growth factor support. Group 2 - Patients with an initial Hb-value more than 12 g/dl start to receive fludarabine (30 mg/m² intravenously on day 1, 3, 5; repeated every 28 days for 6 cycles . Patients of group 2 will be eventually randomized at later timepoints, if the Hb-value drops below 12 g/dl. Randomized patients will receive either 500 mcg darbepoetin alfa subcutaneously every 3 weeks or continue therapy with fludarabine without additional administration of darbepoetin alfa.
Fludarabine plus DarbopoetinFludarabine plus DarbopoetinGroup 1 - Patients with an initial Hb-value of less than 12 g/dl receive fludarabine (30 mg/m² intravenously on day 1, 3, 5; repeated every 28 days for 6 cycles and 500 mcg of darbepoetin alfa subcutaneously every 3 weeks
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Event-free survivalup to 24 months after the last dose of study medication

defined as the time from initial randomization/stratification to the time-point of progressive disease, new therapy, or death)

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Response Rate2 months after the end of the last cycle

Restaging after the end of treatment included evaluation of the peripheral blood and physical examination; use of imaging techniques (ultrasound and conventional radiography or computertomography) and evaluation of the bone marrow were mandatory to assign a complete remission

toxicity28 days after the end of the last cycle

adverse events were reported according to the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria (NCI-CTC version 2.0).

Trial Locations

Locations (45)

Hamatologische/Onkologische Gemeinschaftspraxis - Augsburg

🇩🇪

Augsburg, Germany

Onkologische Schwerpunktpraxis und Tagesklinik Dres

🇩🇪

Bad Soden, Germany

Internistische Gemeinschaftspraxis - Berlin

🇩🇪

Berlin, Germany

Charite - Campus Charite Mitte

🇩🇪

Berlin, Germany

Augusta-Kranken-Anstalt gGmbH

🇩🇪

Bochum, Germany

Medizinische Universitaetsklinik I at the University of Cologne

🇩🇪

Cologne, Germany

Internistische Praxis - Dusseldorf

🇩🇪

Dusseldorf, Germany

Hans - Susemihl - Krankenhaus

🇩🇪

Emden, Germany

Universitaetsklinikum Essen

🇩🇪

Essen, Germany

Klinikum Frankfurt (Oder) GmbH

🇩🇪

Frankfurt (Oder), Germany

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Hamatologische/Onkologische Gemeinschaftspraxis - Augsburg
🇩🇪Augsburg, Germany

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