A Phase II Study of Ibrutinib Plus FCR in Previously Untreated, Younger Patients With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Leukemia Clinical Trial

— iFCR  

Official title:

A Phase II Study of Ibrutinib in Combination With Fludarabine, Cyclophosphamide, and Rituximab (iFCR) in Previously Untreated, Younger Patients With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Active, not recruiting

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT02251548
• Other study ID #: 14-296
• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Phase: Phase 2
• Start date: October 2014
• Est. completion date: January 2026

Study information

• Verified date: January 2024
• Source: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

This research study is evaluating a new drug called ibrutinib in combination with the standard drugs fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab (FCR) as a possible treatment for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL).

Description:

Ibrutinib is a type of drug called a kinase inhibitor. It is believed to block a protein called Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) that helps CLL cells live and grow. By blocking this, it is possible that the study drug will kill cancer cells or stop them from growing. Ibrutinib has been FDA approved for the treatment of CLL patients who have received at least one prior treatment; however, the FDA has not yet approved ibrutinib as the first treatment for previously untreated CLL. Therefore, ibrutinib is still considered to be study drug, which means it is still being studied.

Fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab (FCR) are intravenous chemotherapy and antibody drugs that together are a standard chemotherapy regimen used for younger patients with CLL. Although FCR is highly effective, it does not typically lead to cure.

In this research study, the investigators are combining a new treatment for CLL, ibrutinib, with a standard chemotherapy regimen for CLL, FCR, to determine whether this combination (iFCR) is safe and effective for patients with previously untreated CLL.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Enrollment: 85
• Est. completion date: January 2026
• Est. primary completion date: January 2025
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years to 65 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Must have a confirmed diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma. as per IW-CLL 2008 criteria. Patients must also require therapy for that diagnosis, based on meeting at least one of the following criteria:

• evidence of progressive marrow failure as manifested by the development of, or worsening of, anemia (hemoglobin <11.0 g/L) and/or thrombocytopenia (platelets <100 x 10^9/L)

• massive (= 6 cm below the left costal margin), progressive, or symptomatic splenomegaly

• massive nodes (at least 10 cm longest diameter), progressive, or symptomatic lymphadenopathy

• progressive lymphocytosis with an increase of more than 50% over a 2-month period or LDT of <6 months. Lymphocyte doubling time may be obtained by linear regression extrapolation of absolute lymphocyte counts obtained at intervals of 2 weeks over an observation period of 2 to 3 months. In subjects with initial blood lymphocyte counts of <30 x 10^9/L, LDT should not be used as a single parameter to define indication for treatment. In addition, factors contributing to lymphocytosis or lymphadenopathy other than CLL (eg, infections) should be excluded

• autoimmune anemia and/or thrombocytopenia that is poorly responsive to corticosteroids or other standard therapy

• documented constitutional symptoms, defined as 1 or more of the following disease-related symptoms or signs:

• unintentional weight loss >10% within 6 months prior to screening

• significant fatigue (inability to work or perform usual activities)

• fevers >100.5° F or 38.0° C for 2 or more weeks prior to screening without evidence of infection

• night sweats for more than 1 month prior to screening without evidence of infection

• No prior CLL-directed therapy that was instituted due to patient previously meeting IW-CLL 2008 criteria for treatment

• Age greater than or equal to 18 years and less than or equal to 65. Because CLL is extremely rare in persons <18 years of age, children are excluded from this study. Because iFCR is an aggressive therapy that is likely to be less well-tolerated even in fit elderly subjects, persons > 65 years of age are excluded

• ECOG performance status = 1

• Adequate hematologic function independent of growth factor support for at least 7 days prior to screening and randomization, with the exception of pegylated G-CSF (pegfilgrastim) and darbepoetin which cannot be administered within 14 days of screening.

• Patients must meet the following hematologic criteria at screening:

• Absolute neutrophil count = 750 cells/mm3 (0.75 x 109/L).

• Platelet count = 50,000 cells/mm3 (50 x 109/L).

• Hemoglobin = 8 g/L - Adequate hepatic and renal function defined as:

• Serum aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) = 3.0 x upper limit of normal (ULN)

• Bilirubin = 1.5 x ULN (unless bilirubin rise is due to Gilbert's syndrome or of non-hepatic origin)

• Adequate renal function defined by serum creatinine >1.5 x ULN

• PT/INR <1.5 x ULN and PTT (aPTT) <1.5 x ULN.

• The effects of ibrutinib on the developing human fetus are unknown. For this reason and because similar agents are known to be teratogenic, women of child-bearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control; abstinence) prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Concurrent Conditions:

• History of other malignancies, except:

• Malignancy treated with curative intent and with no known active disease present for = 3 years before the first dose of study drug and felt to be at low risk for recurrence by treating physician.

• Adequately treated non-melanoma skin cancer or lentigo maligna without evidence of disease.

• Adequately treated carcinoma in situ without evidence of disease.

• Concurrent systemic immunosuppressant therapy (eg, cyclosporine A, tacrolimus, etc., or chronic administration of >20 mg/day of prednisone) within 28 days of the first dose of study drug.

• Vaccinated with live, attenuated vaccines within 4 weeks of first dose of study drug.

• Recent infection requiring systemic treatment that was completed = 14 days before the first dose of study drug.

• Known bleeding disorders (eg, von Willebrand's disease) or hemophilia.

• History of stroke or intracranial hemorrhage within 6 months prior to enrollment.

• Known history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or active with hepatitis C virus (HCV) or hepatitis B virus (HBV). Patients who are positive for hepatitis B core antibody or hepatitis B surface antigen must have a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) result before enrollment. Those who are PCR positive will be excluded.

• Any uncontrolled active systemic infection.

• Major surgery within 4 weeks of first dose of study drug.

• Any life-threatening illness, medical condition, or organ system dysfunction that, in the investigator's opinion, could compromise the subject's safety or put the study outcomes at undue risk.

• Currently active, clinically significant cardiovascular disease, such as uncontrolled arrhythmia or Class 3 or 4 congestive heart failure as defined by the New York Heart Association Functional Classification; or a history of myocardial infarction, unstable angina, or acute coronary syndrome within 6 months prior to randomization.

• Unable to swallow capsules or malabsorption syndrome, disease significantly affecting gastrointestinal function, or resection of the stomach or small bowel, symptomatic inflammatory bowel disease or ulcerative colitis, or partial or complete bowel obstruction.

• Lactating or pregnant.

• Patients receiving any other study agents

• Patients with known CNS involvement

• Baseline QTcF >480 ms. NOTE: This criterion does not apply to patients with a left bundle branch block.

• Patients who require warfarin or other vitamin K antagonists for anticoagulation (other anticoagulants are allowed after consultation with the Principal Investigator).

• Concurrent administration of medications or foods that are strong inhibitors or inducers of CYP3A

• Patients with ongoing use of prophylactic antibiotics are eligible as long as there is no evidence of active infection and the antibiotic is not included on the list of prohibited medications

• Significant co-morbid condition or disease which in the judgment of the Principal Investigator would place the patient at undue risk or interfere with the study

• Unable to receive prophylactic treatment for pneumocystis

• Patients with del(17p) confirmed by FISH in =20% of cells or on stimulated karyotype3.2.24 Patients with del(17p) confirmed by FISH in =20% of cells or on stimulated karyotype

• Patients with unmutated IGHV who also have a complex karyotype on a stimulated karyotype

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
• Leukemia
• Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell
• Leukemia, Lymphoid

Intervention

Drug:
• Ibrutinib
Oral BTK inhibitor
• Fludarabine
IV purine analogue chemotherapy agent
• Cyclophosphamide
IV alkylator chemotherapy agent
• Rituximab
IV anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center	Boston	Massachusetts
United States	Dana Farber Cancer Institute	Boston	Massachusetts
United States	Massachusetts General Hospital	Boston	Massachusetts
United States	University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center	Coral Gables	Florida
United States	University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center	Deerfield Beach	Florida
United States	Duke University Medical Center	Durham	North Carolina
United States	West Michigan Cancer Center	Kalamazoo	Michigan
United States	Unversity of Miami Sylvester Comprehensve Cancer Center	Miami	Florida
United States	University of Kansas Cancer Center	Westwood	Kansas

Sponsors (4)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute	Blood Cancer Research Partnership, Pharmacyclics LLC., The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Part I: Participants Who Achieve a Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) Negative Complete Response (CR) in the Bone Marrow at 2 Months Post FCR	To assess the number of participants who achieve an MRD negative complete response at the 2 months post last dose of FCR timepoint by 2008 IW-CLL criteria ( Hallek et. al). Participants will have a bone marrow biopsy procedure 2 months after completing combination therapy (Ibrutinib+ FCR) in tandem with a chest, neck, abdomen and pelvic PET CT scan. A central read of the PET CT scan will confirm a radiographic complete response, and the bone marrow pathology and morphology assessments will confirm morphological CR in the bone marrow, while MRD testing will be done by four-color flow cytometry on the bone marrow aspirate with a detection level of 10-4.	2 months after completing combination therapy
Primary	Part II: Participants Who Achieve a Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) Negative Complete Response (CR) in the Bone Marrow at 2 Years Post Discontinuation of Ibrutinib After Having Achieved MRD Negative CR at the 2 Months Post FCR Timepoint	Participants will have bone marrow biopsies in tandem with a chest, neck, abdomen and pelvic PET CT scan as clinically indicated after discontinuation of treatment. A central read of the PET CT scan will confirm the radiographic response, and the bone marrow pathology and morphology assessments will confirm morphological response in the bone marrow, while MRD testing will be done by four-color flow cytometry on the bone marrow aspirate with a detection level of 10-4. Response and progression will be evaluated in this study using the 2008 IW-CLL criteria for CLL (Hallek et al., 2008).	2 years post discontinuation of ibrutinib after 24 months of ibrutinib maintenance
Secondary	Overall Response Rate	The objective response rate (ORR) was defined as the proportion of participants achieving CR+CRi+PR, Complete Response with incomplete count recovery (CRi) or partial response (PR) based on 2008 IW-CLL criteria criteria (Hallek et al., 2008).	Response evaluated at 2 months post iFCR. Treatment up to 6 cycles (28 days each).
Secondary	Complete Response Rate (CRR)	CRR defined as the proportion of participants achieving complete response. Response and progression will be evaluated in this study using the 2008 IW-CLL criteria for CLL (Hallek et al., 2008).	Response evaluated at 2 months post iFCR. Treatment up to 6 cycles (28 days each).
Secondary	Partial Response Rate (PRR)	PRR defined as the proportion of participants achieving partial response. Response and progression will be evaluated in this study using the 2008 IW-CLL criteria for CLL (Hallek et al., 2008).	Response evaluated at 2 months post iFCR. Treatment up to 6 cycles (28 days each).
Secondary	Median Progression-Free Survival (PFS)	Progression-free survival based on the Kaplan-Meier method is defined as the duration between randomization and documented disease progression (PD) or death, or is censored at time of last dsease assessment.	Disease will be evaluated through imaging cycle 3-6 day 1, and In long-term follow-up, after removal or until participant withdrawal, death, or removal from study. Median follow-up is: 63.24 months (range: 6.83-95.8).
Secondary	Median Overall Survival (OS)	Overall Survival (OS) based on the Kaplan-Meier method is defined as the time from study entry to death or censored at date last known alive.	Median follow-up is: 63.24 months (range: 6.83-95.8).
Secondary	Rate of MRD Negative CR After 3 Cycles of iFCR	To determine the rate of minimal residual disease negative complete response (MRD negative CR) in the bone marrow after 3 cycles of ibrutinib + FCR. Participants will have a bone marrow biopsy procedure after completing 3 cycles in tandem with a chest, neck, abdomen and pelvic PET CT scan. A central read of the PET CT scan will confirm a radiographic complete response, and the bone marrow pathology and morphology assessments will confirm morphological CR in the bone marrow, while MRD testing will be done by four-color flow cytometry on the bone marrow aspirate with a detection level of 10-4. Response and progression will be evaluated in this study using the 2008 IW-CLL criteria for CLL (Hallek et al., 2008)	After 3 cycles of iFCR for each patient completing 3 cycles
Secondary	1-year Combined Response With MRD From Bone Marrow	Combined response with MRD from bone marrow reported as the MRD-negative CR. Response and progression will be evaluated in this study using the 2008 IW-CLL criteria for CLL (Hallek et al., 2008)	at 1 year
Secondary	Number of Participants Who Convert From Bone Marrow MRD Negative PR to Bone Marrow MRD Negative CR After 1 Year of Ibrutinib Maintenance	To determine the rate of minimal residual disease negative complete response (MRD negative CR) in the bone marrow at 12 months from start of therapy, participants will have a bone marrow biopsy procedure at the 1 year timepoint after completing combination therapy (ibrutinib + FCR) in tandem with a chest, neck, abdomen and pelvic PET CT scan. A central read of the PET CT scan will confirm a radiographic complete response, and the bone marrow pathology and morphology assessments will confirm morphological CR in the bone marrow, while MRD testing will be done by four-color flow cytometry on the bone marrow aspirate with a detection level of 10-4. Response and progression will be evaluated in this study using the 2008 IW-CLL criteria for CLL (Hallek et al., 2008)	12 months ( 1year) after starting therapy
Secondary	Number of Participants Who Convert From Bone Marrow MRD Negative PR to Bone Marrow MRD Negative CR After 2 Years on Treatment	MRD testing will be done by four-color flow cytometry on the bone marrow aspirate with a detection level of 10-4. Response and progression will be evaluated in this study using the 2008 IW-CLL criteria for CLL (Hallek et al., 2008)- Bone marrow biopsies will be performed at baseline, after cycle 3, 2 months post FCR, at 1 year and 2 years of ibrutinib maintenance, and as clinically indicated thereafter- Participants will have a bone marrow biopsy procedure 24 months after completing combination therapy (Ibrutinib+ FCR) in tandem with a chest, neck, abdomen and pelvic PET CT scan. A central read of the PET CT scan will confirm a radiographic complete response, and the bone marrow pathology and morphology assessments will confirm morphological CR in the bone marrow, while MRD testing will be done by four-color flow cytometry on the bone marrow aspirate with a detection level of 10-4.	2 years (24 months) from start of therapy
Secondary	Median Time to Bone Marrow MRD Negativity	MRD testing will be done by four-color flow cytometry on the bone marrow aspirate with a detection level of 10-4. Response and progression will be evaluated in this study using the 2008 IW-CLL criteria for CLL (Hallek et al., 2008)-	Bone marrow biopsies will be performed at baseline, after cycle 3, 2 months post FCR, at 1 year and 2 years of ibrutinib maintenance, and as clinically indicated thereafter
Secondary	Participants Who Convert From Bone Marrow MRD Negativity to MRD Positivity in Participants Who Discontinue Ibrutinib	.MRD testing will be done by four-color flow cytometry on the bone marrow aspirate with a detection level of 10-4. Response and progression will be evaluated in this study using the 2008 IW-CLL criteria for CLL (Hallek et al., 2008)	Response evaluated at 2 months post iFCR. Treatment up to 6 cycles (28 days each).