Combination therapy with Venetoclax and Decitabine for relapsed or refractory AML

Phase II Study of (Early) Combination Salvage Therapy With Venetoclax and Intensified Decitabine in Relapsed/Refractory AML

This study is testing a new combination treatment of Venetoclax and Decitabine to see if it can help people with newly diagnosed or returning acute myeloid leukemia feel better and achieve remission.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 27 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: University Hospital Tuebingen (Academic / other)
• Drugs / interventions: Quizartinib, chemotherapy
• Locations: 1 site (Tübingen, Baden-Wurttemberg)
• Trial ID: NCT06156579 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This phase II clinical trial aims to evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of a combination salvage therapy using Venetoclax and intensified Decitabine in patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and those with relapsed or refractory AML/myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) after chemotherapy. Participants will receive Decitabine for ten days and Venetoclax for twenty-eight days, with the possibility of a second treatment cycle if hematologic remission is not achieved after the first. The primary endpoint is to assess hematologic remission following treatment, with follow-up extending for 100 days post-treatment. The trial seeks to shift treatment modalities from traditional chemotherapy to a combination of epigenetic and anti-BCL2 therapies.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates include patients with newly diagnosed AML who have failed initial chemotherapy or those with relapsed AML/MDS IB2.

Not a fit: Patients with AML or MDS who are not refractory to initial chemotherapy or those with other underlying health conditions may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could provide a new effective option for patients with relapsed or refractory AML and MDS.

How similar studies have performed: While this approach is innovative, similar studies have shown promise in using targeted therapies for AML, indicating potential for success.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria

1\. Diagnosis of AML according to WHO criteria regardless of subtype, including de novo and transformed MPN and transformed MDS 2. A. Refractory to induction chemotherapy consisting of Daunorubicin+Cytarabin ("3+7") based chemotherapy, including CPX351, including combinations with GemtuzumabOzogamicin or with the FLT3-inhibitors Midostaurin or Quizartinib. This trial defines refractory disease as one of the following: i. ≥20% bone marrow blasts\*\* at day 15\*\*\* first cycle of intensive induction chemotherapy ii. ≥5-20% bone marrow blasts\*\* at day 15\*\*\* of first cycle of intensive induction chemotherapy in patients, in whom relative blast count reduction as compared to initial diagnosis is ≤50% iii. c) ≥5% bone marrow blasts\*\* at day 28\*\*\*\* of first cycle of induction chemotherapy, or at any point during a second cycle of induction chemotherapy OR 2. B. Relapse of AML/MDS IB2 after chemotherapy (≥5% medullary blasts in bone marrow assessment\*\*) 3. Must be ≥ 18 years at the time of signing the informed consent. 4. Understand and voluntarily sign an informed consent document prior to any study related assessments/procedures. 5. Able to adhere to the study visit schedule and other protocol requirements. 6. Patient is fit for aggressive induction chemotherapy and transplantation by assessment of an experienced hematologist 7. No known history of chronic pulmonary disease and absence of dyspnea. Otherwise, documented diffusion lung capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) \>40% (adjusted for hemoglobin, if available) and FEV1/FVC \>50% 8. Subject (male or female (FCBP))1 is willing to use highly effective birth control methods during treatment and for 3 months (male) and 6 months (female) after the end of treatment (adequate: combined hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation, progestogen-only hormonal contraception associated with inhibition ofvulation, intrauterine device, intrauterine hormone-releasing system bilateral tubal occlusion, vasectomized partner2 sexual abstinence3). Female subjects who use hormonal contraceptives should also use a barrier method.

1. A FCBP is defined as any female who does not meet the criteria of non-childbearing potential. These are as follows:

   * documented hysterectomy, bilateral oophorectomy (ovarectomy), or bilateral tubal ligation
   * post-menopausal (a practical definition accepts menopause ≥ 1 year without menses with an appropriate clinical profile, e.g. age \> 45 years in the absence of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). In questionable cases, the subject must have a follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) value \> 40 mIU/ml and an estradiol value \< 40pg/ml.
2. Vasectomized partner is a highly effective birth control method provided that partner is the sole sexual partner of the trial participant and that the vasectomized partner has received medical assessment of the surgical success
3. In the context of this guidance sexual abstinence is considered a highly effective method only if defined as refraining from heterosexual intercourse during the entire period of risk associated with the study treatments. The reliability of sexual abstinence needs to be evaluated in relation to the duration of the clinical trial and the preferred and usual lifestyle of the subject. 9. All subjects must agree to refrain from donating blood while on study drug and for 28 days after discontinuation from this study treatment. 10. All subjects must agree not to share medication.

   * in bone marrow aspiration cytomorphology, or bone marrow pathology, if aspiration morphology not available or not representative \*\*\* time frame of tolerance from day 13 to day 20 \*\*\*\*time frame of tolerance from day 21 to day 42

Exclusion Criteria

1. APL (AML with t (15;17))
2. Not consenting to chemotherapy in general
3. Previous Treatment with allogeneic stem cell transplantation
4. ECOG \>3
5. Medical History of hypersensitivity to to the active substances of Venetoclax and Decitabin or to any of the excipients listed in the respective SmPCs
6. Relapsed FLT3-ITD- or FLT3-TKD-mutated patients, who previously responded (CR, CRi, CRh or MLFS) to a regimen containing a FLT3-inhibitor.
7. Women during pregnancy and lactation.
8. Significant active cardiac disease within 6 months prior to the start of study treatment, including:

   * New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III or IV congestive heart failure;
   * Myocardial infarction;
   * Unstable angina and/or stroke;
   * Severe cardiac arrhythmias
   * Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) \<40% by ultrasound obtained within 28 days prior to the start of study treatment.
9. Severe obstructive or restrictive ventilation disorder
10. Clinical symptoms suggestive of active central nervous system (CNS) leukemia or known CNS leukemia. (Note: Evaluation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) during screening is only required if there is a clinical suspicion of CNS involvement by leukemia during screening)
11. Active infection, including hepatitis B or hepatitis C antibody or Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection, that is uncontrolled prior to first dose of study treatment and may interfere with the study objectives or which could expose the patient to undue risk through the participation in the clinical trial; an infection controlled with an approved antibiotic/ antiviral/ antifungal treatment that is not a strong or moderate CYP3A4 inducer is allowed.
12. Immediate life-threatening, severe complications of leukemia such as uncontrolled bleeding and/or disseminated intravascular coagulation
13. Conditions that limit the ingestion or gastrointestinal absorption of orally administered drugs.
14. Patients with a currently active second malignancy. Patients are not considered to have a currently active malignancy if they have completed therapy and are considered by their physician to be at \<30% risk of relapse within one year. However, patients with the following history/concurrent conditions are allowed:

    * Basal or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin;
    * Carcinoma in situ of the cervix;
    * Carcinoma in situ of the breast;
    * Incidental histologic finding of prostate cancer.
15. Receipt of live, attenuated vaccine within 30 days prior to the study inclusion (NOTE: patients, if enrolled, should not receive live vaccine during the study and until 6 months after the therapy).

Where this trial is running

Tübingen, Baden-Wurttemberg

• University Hospital — Tübingen, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Claudia Lengerke, Prof. — University Hospital Tuebingen
• Study coordinator: Lucas Mix, Dr.

Conditions AML; MDS; Venetoclax; Decitabine; salvage therapy