MEK Inhibitor MEK162, Idarubicin, and Cytarabine in Treating Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Phase 1

Terminated

• Conditions: Adult Acute Monoblastic Leukemia (M5a); Adult Acute Monocytic Leukemia (M5b); Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With Del(5q); Adult Acute Minimally Differentiated Myeloid Leukemia (M0); Adult Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia Without Maturation (M1); Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With Inv(16)(p13;q22); Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With t(15;17)(q22;q12); Adult Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia With Maturation (M2); Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With t(16;16)(p13;q22); Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With t(8;21)(q22;q22)
• Interventions: Drug: MEK inhibitor MEK162; Drug: idarubicin; Drug: cytarabine; Other: pharmacological study; Other: laboratory biomarker analysis

• Registration Number: NCT02049801
• Lead Sponsor: Bruno C. Medeiros

Brief Summary

This phase I trial studies the MEK inhibitor MEK162 to see if it is safe in patients when combined with idarubicin and cytarabine. MEK inhibitor MEK162 may stop the growth of cancer cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as idarubicin and cytarabine, work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Giving MEK inhibitor MEK162, cytarabine, and idarubicin may be an effective treatment for acute myeloid leukemia.

Detailed Description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. Determine maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of MEK162 (MEK inhibitor MEK162) in patients with RAS-mutated acute myeloid leukemia (AML) when combined with sequential induction chemotherapy (3+4) as measured by development of grade 3-4 dose-limiting toxicities (DLT).

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. Analyze downstream inhibition of RAS signaling following therapy with single-agent MEK162 with exploratory pharmacodynamics (PD) studies.

II. Perform preliminary efficacy analysis of combination of MEK162 and induction chemotherapy (3+4) in patients with RAS-mutated AML by measuring complete remission rate, 2-year overall survival, and duration of response.

OUTLINE:

INDUCTION THERAPY: Patients receive MEK inhibitor MEK162 orally (PO) twice daily (BID) on days -4 to -1 and days 5-18, cytarabine intravenously (IV) continuously over 24 hours on days 1-4, and idarubicin IV over 1 hour on days 1-3. Patients may receive a second course of induction at the discretion of the principal investigator.

POST-REMISSION THERAPY: Patients receive cytarabine IV continuously over 24 hours on days 1-3, idarubicin IV over 1 hour on days 1 and 2, and MEK inhibitor MEK 162 PO BID on days 4-17. Treatment repeats every 28 days for up to 4 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up for 30 days.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2014-01-28
• Study First Submitted QC: 2014-01-29
• Study First Posted: 2014-01-30
• Study Start: 2014-12
• Primary Completion: 2015-02-04
• Study Completion: 2017-11-01
• Status Verified: 2017-12
• Last Update Submitted: 2017-12-04
• Last Update Posted: 2017-12-06

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: TERMINATED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 1

Inclusion Criteria

• Prior morphological diagnosis of AML other than acute promyelocytic leukemia according to the 2001 World Health Organization (WHO) diagnostic criteria; patients with biphenotypic, RAS-mutated acute leukemia are also eligible
• Requiring salvage chemotherapy for persistent/refractory or relapsed disease after at least one course of conventional chemotherapy, e.g. with "7+3", as defined by persistence of >= 20% myeloid blasts on bone marrow aspirate or peripheral blood smear; a bone marrow biopsy is not routinely required, but should be obtained if the aspirate is dilute, hypocellular, or inaspirable; outside bone marrow examinations performed within the stipulated time period are acceptable for screening as long as the slides are reviewed at the study institution; flow cytometric analysis of the bone marrow aspirate should be performed according to institutional practice guidelines
• Confirmed RAS mutation (NRAS or KRAS) or confirmed PTPN11 mutation, measured on peripheral blood or bone marrow aspirate as part of screening prior to study enrollment; mutation status must be confirmed within 45 days of initiation of therapy
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status =< 1
• Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) =< 2.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Serum bilirubin =< 2 times ULN
• Serum creatinine =< 1.5 mg/dl and/or creatinine clearance >= 50 mL/min
• Ejection fraction >= 50% by echocardiogram
• Corrected QT (QTc) interval =< 480 ms
• Ability to take oral medications
• Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document
• Ability to undergo standard induction chemotherapy
• Ability to adhere to the study visit schedule and other protocol requirements
• Life expectancy of greater than 2 months
• Negative serum beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) test (female patient of childbearing potential only) performed locally within 72 hrs prior to first dose

Exclusion Criteria

• Concomitant treatment with other anti-neoplastic agents, with the exception of hydroxyurea

• Anti-neoplastic treatment less than 14 days prior to enrollment, with the exceptions of hydroxyurea or, in the case of a patient with primary refractory AML, prior induction chemotherapy

• Prior therapy with a MEK inhibitor

• Uncontrolled opportunistic infection or treatment for opportunistic infection within 4 weeks of first day of study drug dosing

• Other medical or psychiatric illness or organ dysfunction or laboratory abnormality which in the opinion of the investigator would compromise the patient's safety or interfere with data interpretation, e.g., infection/inflammation, intestinal obstruction, unable to swallow medication, social/ psychological issues, etc.

• History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to MEK162, anthracycline, or cytarabine

• Known impairment of gastrointestinal (GI) function or GI disease that may significantly alter the absorption of MEK162 (e.g., ulcerative disease, uncontrolled nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, malabsorption syndrome, small bowel resection)

• Previous or concurrent malignancy with the following exceptions:

  • Carcinoma in situ
  • Adequately treated skin basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma (adequate wound healing is required prior to study entry)
  • In situ carcinoma of the cervix, treated curatively and without evidence of recurrence for at least 3 years prior to the study
  • A primary malignancy which has been completely resected and in complete remission for >= 5 years

• Impaired cardiovascular function or clinically significant cardiovascular diseases, including any of the following:

  • History of acute coronary syndromes (including myocardial infarction, unstable angina, coronary artery bypass grafting [CABG], coronary angioplasty, or stenting) < 6 months prior to screening
  • Symptomatic chronic heart failure
  • Evidence of clinically significant cardiac arrhythmias and/or conduction abnormalities < 6 months prior to screening except atrial fibrillation and paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia

• Uncontrolled arterial hypertension despite appropriate medical therapy

• Patients who have neuromuscular disorders that are associated with elevated creatine kinase (CK) (e.g., inflammatory myopathies, muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, spinal muscular atrophy)

• Known confirmed diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection or active viral hepatitis (hepatitis B or hepatitis C)

• Any surgical procedure, excluding central venous catheter placement, bone marrow biopsy, lumbar puncture, or other minor procedures (e.g., skin biopsy) within 14 days of day 1; patients who have undergone major surgery =< 21 days prior to starting study drug or who have not recovered from side effects of such procedure are ineligible for the study

• Pregnant or nursing (lactating) women confirmed by a positive hCG laboratory test

  • Women of child-bearing potential unless they are using highly effective methods of contraception throughout the study and for 30 days after study drug discontinuation

• Sexually active males unless they use a condom during intercourse while taking the drug and for 30 days after stopping treatment and should not father a child in this period; a condom is required to be used also by vasectomized men in order to prevent delivery of the drug via seminal fluid

• Unwillingness or inability to comply with the protocol

• Known active leukemia of the central nervous system

• Known history of Gilbert's syndrome

• History or current evidence of retinal pigment epithelial detachment (RPED), retinal vein occlusion (RVO), or predisposing factors to RPED or RVO (e.g. uncontrolled glaucoma or ocular hypertension, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, hyperviscosity or hypercoagulability syndromes)

• History of retinal degenerative disease

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Treatment (MEK inhibitor, MEK162, idarubicin, cytarabine)	MEK inhibitor MEK162	INDUCTION THERAPY: Patients receive MEK inhibitor MEK162 PO BID on days -4 to -1 and days 5-18, cytarabine IV continuously over 24 hours on days 1-4, and idarubicin IV over 1 hour on days 1-3. Patients may receive a second course of induction at the discretion of the principal investigator. POST-REMISSION THERAPY: Patients receive cytarabine IV continuously over 24 hours on days 1-3, idarubicin IV over 1 hour on days 1 and 2, and MEK inhibitor MEK 162 PO BID on days 4-17. Treatment repeats every 28 days for up to 4 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
Treatment (MEK inhibitor, MEK162, idarubicin, cytarabine)	laboratory biomarker analysis	INDUCTION THERAPY: Patients receive MEK inhibitor MEK162 PO BID on days -4 to -1 and days 5-18, cytarabine IV continuously over 24 hours on days 1-4, and idarubicin IV over 1 hour on days 1-3. Patients may receive a second course of induction at the discretion of the principal investigator. POST-REMISSION THERAPY: Patients receive cytarabine IV continuously over 24 hours on days 1-3, idarubicin IV over 1 hour on days 1 and 2, and MEK inhibitor MEK 162 PO BID on days 4-17. Treatment repeats every 28 days for up to 4 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
Treatment (MEK inhibitor, MEK162, idarubicin, cytarabine)	pharmacological study	INDUCTION THERAPY: Patients receive MEK inhibitor MEK162 PO BID on days -4 to -1 and days 5-18, cytarabine IV continuously over 24 hours on days 1-4, and idarubicin IV over 1 hour on days 1-3. Patients may receive a second course of induction at the discretion of the principal investigator. POST-REMISSION THERAPY: Patients receive cytarabine IV continuously over 24 hours on days 1-3, idarubicin IV over 1 hour on days 1 and 2, and MEK inhibitor MEK 162 PO BID on days 4-17. Treatment repeats every 28 days for up to 4 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
Treatment (MEK inhibitor, MEK162, idarubicin, cytarabine)	idarubicin	INDUCTION THERAPY: Patients receive MEK inhibitor MEK162 PO BID on days -4 to -1 and days 5-18, cytarabine IV continuously over 24 hours on days 1-4, and idarubicin IV over 1 hour on days 1-3. Patients may receive a second course of induction at the discretion of the principal investigator. POST-REMISSION THERAPY: Patients receive cytarabine IV continuously over 24 hours on days 1-3, idarubicin IV over 1 hour on days 1 and 2, and MEK inhibitor MEK 162 PO BID on days 4-17. Treatment repeats every 28 days for up to 4 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
Treatment (MEK inhibitor, MEK162, idarubicin, cytarabine)	cytarabine	INDUCTION THERAPY: Patients receive MEK inhibitor MEK162 PO BID on days -4 to -1 and days 5-18, cytarabine IV continuously over 24 hours on days 1-4, and idarubicin IV over 1 hour on days 1-3. Patients may receive a second course of induction at the discretion of the principal investigator. POST-REMISSION THERAPY: Patients receive cytarabine IV continuously over 24 hours on days 1-3, idarubicin IV over 1 hour on days 1 and 2, and MEK inhibitor MEK 162 PO BID on days 4-17. Treatment repeats every 28 days for up to 4 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
MTD of MEK inhibitor MEK162 in combination with chemotherapy, defined as the dose associated with a dose-limiting toxicity rate of 35% assessed by National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.03	28 days	Dose limiting toxicities will be tabulated by dose, severity and major organ system.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Duration of response	Time of complete response to biopsy-documented recurrence of disease, assessed up to 4 years
Overall survival	Time of study entry to the time of death from any cause, assessed at 2 years	The proportion of patients who achieve 2-year overall survival will be estimated overall with an exact 95% confidence interval; for descriptive purpose the same proportion at each dose will similarly described.
Pharmacodynamic analysis of downstream inhibition of RAS signaling following therapy with single-agent MEK inhibitor MEK162	Day -4, -1, and 18	Pharmacodynamic correlative data will be summarized with medians and ranges for each dose group. If there are a sufficient number of patients assigned to both doses, the medians will be compared with a Wilcoxon Rank Sum test.
Complete remission rate, defined as bone marrow biopsy demonstrating < 5% blasts and recovery of peripheral blood counts after induction chemotherapy	Up to day 19	The proportion of patients who achieve complete remission will be estimated overall with an exact 95% confidence interval; for descriptive purpose the same proportion at each dose will similarly described.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Stanford University, School of Medicine; 🇺🇸 Stanford, California, United States