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Azacytidine and Lymphocytes in Relapse of AML or MDS After Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation.

Phase 2
Completed
Conditions
Acute Myelogenous Leukemia
Myelodysplastic Syndrome
Interventions
Biological: Donor lymphocyte infusion
Registration Number
NCT02017457
Lead Sponsor
Carlos Graux, MD, PhD
Brief Summary

The present project is a multicenter, phase II trial which aims at evaluating if the administration of azacytidine (Vidaza®) combined to donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) could improve the response rate to DLI in the population of patients with relapsed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Detailed Description

This is a prospective, multicenter, non-randomized phase II study. The aims at evaluating if the administration of azacytidine (Vidaza®) combined to donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) could improve the response rate to DLI in the population of patients with relapsed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Because the investigators focus our interest on relapsed MDS and low marrow blast count relapsed AML, the investigators postulate that one cycle at higher doses of azacytidine given at 100 mg/m² during 5 days is enough to induce temporary disease control, as suggested by the predictive value of the immediate response rate after the first cycle described in the study of Czibere et al. Starting with cycle 2, the investigators propose to administer DLI along with azacytidine to optimise the immunomodulatory effect. Because these immunomodulatory effects have been described at low dose, the investigators postulate that 35 mg/m² given during 5 days is enough to harness a graft-versus-leukemia effect and induce durable remissions without exacerbating GvHD. DLI will be given every other cycle following an escalated-dose regimen.

The investigators have estimated a sample size of 50 patients to be recruited during 4 years with a 2-year follow-up and a 3-year long-term follow-up. The whole study will be completed within 9 years.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
50
Inclusion Criteria
  1. Patients:

    • Age ≥ 18 years
    • Be able to understand and sign informed consent
    • Fertile patients must use a reliable contraception method
  2. Disease status at transplantation:

    • AML in first or subsequent complete remission (< 5% marrow blasts)
    • MDS with less than 10% marrow blasts at the time of transplantation
  3. Transplantation:

    • Allogeneic transplantation using a sibling or unrelated donor with matching in 10/10 alleles (HLA-A, B, C, DRB1, DQB1) or maximum of one allele or one antigen or 1 antigen + 1 allele or 1 antigen + 1 DQB1 antigen or 2 alleles mismatches.
    • Myeloablative or reduced-intensity conditioning
    • Second transplantation is allowed
    • Donor is willing to donate lymphocytes
  4. Clinical situation:

    • Cytological relapse after allo-SCT defined as the recurrence of more than 5% blasts on bone marrow aspiration (AML) or evidence of MDS
    • Immunophenotypic relapse defined as the recurrence of an abnormal phenotype on flow cytometry in bone marrow aspirate (only in case of a specific phenotype).
    • Cytogenetic or molecular relapse defined as the persistence or recurrence of a cytogenetic abnormality or molecular marker in bone marrow aspiration or peripheral blood. WT1 expression is not considered as reliable marker for relapse in this protocol but FLT3-ITD, NPM1, CEBPA, or translocation-specific markers (such as MLL-PTD, AML-ETO, CBFB-MYH11) are.
  5. Immunosuppressive therapy should have been stopped before inclusion.

Exclusion Criteria
  • More than 30% marrow blasts at the time of inclusion
  • Extramedullary relapse including CNS involvement
  • ECOG Performance status > 2
  • Active acute grade II-IV GvHD at the time of inclusion
  • Active chronic GvHD requiring systemic therapy at the time of inclusion
  • Uncontrolled infection
  • HIV positive
  • Acute or chronic heart failure (NYHA class III or IV) or symptomatic ischemic heart disease or ejection fraction < 35% or uncontrolled arrhythmia
  • Severe liver failure (total bilirubin > 3 mg/dL, SGPT > 4 X upper normal limit)
  • Severe pulmonary failure (corrected DLCo < 35%)
  • Terminal renal failure requiring dialysis
  • Severe neurological or psychiatric disorders
  • Concurrent investigational drug.
  • Other treatment for relapse, except for hydroxyurea but it should be stopped before inclusion in the study.
  • Female who is pregnant or breastfeeding

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SINGLE_GROUP
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Azacytidine + Donor lymphocyte infusionDonor lymphocyte infusionAzacytidine will be administered subcutaneously for 5 days. During the first cycle, a dose of 100mg/m2/day will be used and for the following cycles a dose of 35mg/m2/day will be administered. Each cycle will consist in 28 days. All patients will receive at least 6 cycles of Azacytidine and the total number of cycles will depend on the response to treatment. Donor lymphocyte infusion will be performed on day 1 of cycle 2, 4 and 6 of Azacytidine. The amount of cells infused will depend on donor origin.
Azacytidine + Donor lymphocyte infusionAzacytidineAzacytidine will be administered subcutaneously for 5 days. During the first cycle, a dose of 100mg/m2/day will be used and for the following cycles a dose of 35mg/m2/day will be administered. Each cycle will consist in 28 days. All patients will receive at least 6 cycles of Azacytidine and the total number of cycles will depend on the response to treatment. Donor lymphocyte infusion will be performed on day 1 of cycle 2, 4 and 6 of Azacytidine. The amount of cells infused will depend on donor origin.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Response rateWill be evaluated at day 24 of cycle 1, 3 and 5. Then every 3 months for a year after cycle 6 thereafter at 1.5 and 2 years after cycle 6

To assess the response rate to DLI by the combination with azacytidine in the population of patients with relapsed AML and MDS after allo-SCT.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Overall survival2 years after cycle 6

Overall survival of patients

Disease-free survival2 years after cycle 6

Disease-free survival of patients

Evaluation of the treatment ToxicityAt the beginning of each cycle and at the discretion of the investigator until cycle 6, then monthly for 6 months, thereafter every 3 months for 1.5 years

Evaluate haematological and non-haematological toxicities and safety of the planned therapy.

Incidence and severity of GvHDAt the beginning of each cycle and at the discretion of the investigator until cycle 6, then monthly for 6 months, thereafter every 3 months for 1.5 years

Incidence and severity of GvHD

Incidence and severity of infectionsAt the beginning of each cycle and at the discretion of the investigator until cycle 6, then monthly for 6 months, thereafter every 3 months for 1.5 years

Incidence and severity of infections

Trial Locations

Locations (12)

Universitair Ziekenhuis Gent

🇧🇪

Gent, Belgium

Universitair Ziekenhuis Antwerpen

🇧🇪

Edegem, Belgium

Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel

🇧🇪

Jette, Belgium

CHU Mont-Godinne

🇧🇪

Yvoir, Belgium

CHU Liège

🇧🇪

Liège, Belgium

Hartziekenhuis Roeselare Menen

🇧🇪

Roeselare, Belgium

Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc

🇧🇪

Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Belgium

AZ Sint-Jan Brugge

🇧🇪

Brugge, Belgium

Universitair Ziekenhuis Leuven

🇧🇪

Leuven, Belgium

Ziekenhuis Netwerk Antwerpen

🇧🇪

Antwerpen, Belgium

Institut Jules Bordet

🇧🇪

Brussels, Belgium

Hopital de Jolimont

🇧🇪

Haine-St-Paul, Belgium

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