Rabbit Antithymocyte Globulin Versus Campath-1H for Treating Severe Aplastic Anemia

Aplastic Anemia Clinical Trial

Official title: A Randomized Trial of Immunosuppression in Aplastic Anemia Patients With Refractory Pancytopenia or Suboptimal Hematologic Response After h-ATG/CsA Treatment

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

Severe aplastic anemia, characterized by pancytopenia and a hypocellular bone marrow, is effectively treated by immunosuppressive therapy, usually a combination of antithymocyte globulin (ATG) and cyclosporine (CsA). Survival rates following this regimen are equivalent to those achieved with allogeneic stem cells transplantation. However, approximately 1/3 of patients will not show blood count improvement after ATG/CsA. General experience and small pilot studies have suggested that such patients may benefit from further immunosuppression. Furthermore, analysis of our own clinical data suggest that patients with poor blood count responses to a single course of ATG, even when transfusion-independence is achieved, have a markedly worse prognosis than patients with robust hematologic improvement. The management of such cases is uncertain. This study will enroll patients who are either refractory to h-ATG (continued severe pancytopenia) or who have only modest improvement in blood counts (weak hematologic responders) to receive a further immunosuppressive therapy, delivered either as rabbit ATG (Thymoglobulin, r-ATG) or a humanized monoclonal antibody to T-cells, alemtuzumab (Campath-1H ). Primary endpoint will be response rate at 3 months defined as no longer meeting criteria for severe aplastic anemia. Relapse, robustness of hematopoietic recovery at 3 months, survival and clonal evolution to paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), myelodysplasia and acute leukemia will be the secondary endpoints.

Clinical Trial Description

Severe aplastic anemia, characterized by pancytopenia and a hypocellular bone marrow, is effectively treated by immunosuppressive therapy, usually a combination of antithymocyte globulin (ATG) and cyclosporine (CsA). Survival rates following this regimen are equivalent to those achieved with allogeneic stem cells transplantation. However, approximately 1/3 of patients will not show blood count improvement after ATG/CsA. General experience and small pilot studies have suggested that such patients may benefit from further immunosuppression. Furthermore, analysis of our own clinical data suggest that patients with poor blood count responses to a single course of ATG, even when transfusion-independence is achieved, have a markedly worse prognosis than patients with robust hematologic improvement. The management of such cases is uncertain. This study will enroll patients who are either refractory to h-ATG (continued severe pancytopenia) or who have only modest improvement in blood counts (weak hematologic responders) to receive further immunosuppressive therapy, delivered either as rabbit ATG (Thymoglobulin , r-ATG) or a humanized monoclonal antibody to T-cells, alemtuzumab (Campath-1H ). Primary endpoint will be response rate at 6 months defined as no longer meeting criteria for severe aplastic anemia. Relapse, robustness of hematopoietic recovery at 6 months, survival and clonal evolution to paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), myelodysplasia and acute leukemia will be the secondary endpoints. ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Anemia
• Anemia, Aplastic
• Aplastic Anemia

• NCT number: NCT00065260
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)
• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 2
• Start date: November 6, 2003
• Completion date: February 5, 2016