Combining acalabrutinib with R-CHOP for untreated mantle cell lymphoma

A Phase II Study of Acalabrutinib in Combination With R-CHOP Chemotherapy in Previously Untreated Mantle Cell Lymphoma

This study is testing if adding a new drug called acalabrutinib to standard chemotherapy can help people with untreated mantle cell lymphoma achieve better remission rates.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 105 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: University Health Network, Toronto (Academic / other)
• Drugs / interventions: rituximab, acalabrutinib, chemotherapy, cyclophosphamide, prednisone
• Locations: 5 sites (Vancouver, British Columbia and 4 other locations)
• Trial ID: NCT04566887 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This multicenter, open-label, non-randomized phase II clinical trial aims to evaluate the remission rate of acalabrutinib in combination with R-CHOP chemotherapy in patients with previously untreated mantle cell lymphoma. Participants will receive six cycles of R-CHOP along with continuous acalabrutinib taken orally. After treatment, patients will undergo various assessments to determine their response, and those who respond will proceed to autologous stem cell transplantation. The study includes two cohorts, with Cohort A already completed for enrollment.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 and older with a histologically confirmed diagnosis of previously untreated mantle cell lymphoma.

Not a fit: Patients who have received prior treatment for mantle cell lymphoma or those with contraindications to R-CHOP or acalabrutinib may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could improve remission rates and treatment outcomes for patients with mantle cell lymphoma.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promising results with similar combinations of targeted therapies and chemotherapy in treating mantle cell lymphoma.

Eligibility criteria

Cohort A:

Inclusion Criteria Eligible subjects will be considered for inclusion in Cohort A of this study if they meet all of the following criteria:

1. Men and women greater than or equal to 18 years of age deemed eligible for treatment with Full dose RCHOP and ASCT by the qualified investigator.
2. Histologic diagnosis of MCL according to the World Health Organization classification \[Swerdlow, Blood 2016\].
3. Previously untreated MCL with the following exceptions: (a) prior radiotherapy for localized disease, (b) up to 7 days of corticosteroids (prednisone 100mg/day equivalent), (c) up to one dose of single-agent chemotherapy (for example, cyclophosphamide), (d) up to one cycle of R-CHOP if last R-CHOP is between 21 days and 2 months from start of RCHOP+acalabrutinib or up to one cycle ofbendamustine-rituximab (BR) if BR is between 28 days and 2 months from start of RCHOP+acalabrutinib. Patients with exceptions (c) and (d) are eligible as long as all other eligibility criteria are met AND at least a CT scan and bone marrow biopsy were performed prior to chemotherapy.
4. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0, 1, or 2.
5. Presence of at least one radiologically measurable nodal or extranodal mass. A measurable nodal mass must have a longest diameter ≥1.5 cm. A measurable extranodal mass should have a longest diameter ≥1.0 cm.\[Cheson, JCO 2014\]
6. Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) who are sexually active must use highly effective methods of contraception during treatment and up to 12 months after the last dose of rituximab or R-CHOP, or 2 days after the last dose of acalabrutinib, whichever is last administered. Examples of highly effective contraceptive methods include an agreement to remain abstinent (ie, refrain from heterosexual intercourse), bilateral tubal ligation, male sterilization, established proper use of hormonal contraceptives that inhibit ovulation, hormone-releasing intrauterine devices, and copper intrauterine devices. Men who are sexually active must use highly effective methods of contraception during treatment and up to 6 months after the last dose of rituximab or R-CHOP, or 2 days after the last dose of acalabrutinib, whichever is last administered. Men require an agreement to remain abstinent (ie, refrain from heterosexual intercourse) or use a condom, and an agreement to refrain from donating sperm. Periodic abstinence and withdrawal are not acceptable methods of contraception. Fertility preservation options should be discussed.
7. Willing and able to participate in all required evaluations and procedures in this study protocol including swallowing capsules without difficulty.
8. Ability to understand the purpose and risks of the study and provide signed and dated informed consent and authorization to use protected health information.

Exclusion Criteria:

Subjects will be ineligible for Cohort A of this study if they meet any of the following criteria:

1. Secondary central nervous system involvement.
2. Prior exposure to a BCR inhibitor (eg, BTK inhibitors, phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K), or Syk inhibitors) or BCL-2 inhibitor.
3. Prior malignancy (or any other malignancy requiring active treatment), except for adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, in situ cervical or prostate cancer, or other cancer from which the subject has been disease free for ≥ 3 years or which will not limit survival to \< 5 years. Subjects receiving adjuvant hormonal therapy for early breast or prostate cancer are eligible.
4. Clinically significant cardiovascular disease such as uncontrolled or symptomatic arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, or myocardial infarction within 6 months of screening, or any Class 3 or 4 cardiac disease as defined by the New York Heart Association Functional Classification. Subjects with controlled, asymptomatic atrial fibrillation during screening can enroll on study.
5. Difficulty with or unable to swallow oral medication, or conditions significantly affecting gastrointestinal function that would limit absorption of oral medication.
6. Known history of infection with HIV or any significant active infection (eg, bacterial, viral or fungal), including suspected or confirmed progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy.
7. Known history of drug-specific hypersensitivity or anaphylaxis to study drugs (acalabrutinib and individual components of R-CHOP), including active product or excipient components.
8. Active bleeding or history of bleeding diathesis (eg, hemophilia or von Willebrand disease).
9. Uncontrolled AIHA (autoimmune hemolytic anemia) or ITP (idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura).
10. Requires treatment with a strong cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) inhibitor/inducer which cannot be modified as described in Sections 3.8.2 and 3.9.2, and/or the dose of acalabrutinib cannot be modified as described in these sections.
11. Requires or receiving anticoagulation with warfarin or equivalent vitamin K antagonists (eg, warfarin).
12. Requires treatment with proton pump inhibitors (eg, omeprazole, esomeprazole, lansoprazole, dexlansoprazole, rabeprazole, or pantoprazole). Subjects receiving proton pump inhibitors who switch to H2-receptor antagonists or antacids are eligible for enrollment to this study.
13. History of significant cerebrovascular disease/event, including stroke or intracranial hemorrhage, within 6 months before the first dose of study drug.
14. Major surgical procedure within 4 weeks of first dose of study drug. Note: If a subject had major surgery, they must have recovered adequately from any toxicity and/or complications from the intervention before the first dose of study drug.
15. Received a live virus vaccination within 28 days of first dose of R-CHOP + acalabrutinib.
16. Hepatitis B or C serologic status: subjects who are hepatitis B core antibody (antiHBc) positive and who are surface antigen negative will need to have a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) result before enrolment and must be willing to undergo PCR testing during the study. Those who are hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg) positive or hepatitis B PCR positive will be excluded.Subjects who are hepatitis C antibody positive will need to have a negative PCR result. Those who are hepatitis C PCR positive will be excluded. Subjects with a history of Hepatitis C who received antiviral treatment are eligible as long as PCR is negative.
17. ANC \<1.0 x109/L (subjects with bone marrow involvement by lymphoma are eligible regardless of ANC)
18. Platelets \<50 x109/L (subjects with bone marrow involvement by lymphoma are eligible regardless of platelet count)
19. Total serum bilirubin ≥1.5 times the upper limit of normal, unless directly attributable to Gilbert's syndrome (or \>3 times for documented hepatic involvement by lymphoma), AST and ALT \>3 times the upper limit of normal (or \>5 times for documented hepatic involvement by lymphoma)
20. Creatinine clearance \<30 mL/min.
21. PT/INR \>2 times the upper limit of normal in the absence of anticoagulants and/or PTT \>2 times the upper limit of normal in the absence of anticoagulants.
22. Breastfeeding or pregnant. WOCBP must have a serum and/or urine pregnancy test done a maximum of 7 days prior to treatment initiation and a negative result must be documented prior to recruitment.
23. Concurrent participation in another therapeutic clinical trial.
24. Evidence of disease (such as severe or uncontrolled systemic diseases, including uncontrolled hypertension and renal transplant) that, in the investigator's opinion, make it undesirable for the patient to participate in the study or that would jeopardize compliance with the protocol.
25. Received any investigational drug within 30 days or 5 half-lives (whichever is shorter) before first dose of study drug.
26. Current life-threatening illness, medical condition, or organ system dysfunction which, in the Investigator's opinion, could compromise the subject's safety or put the study at risk.

Cohort B:

Inclusion Criteria:

Eligible subjects will be considered for inclusion in Cohort B of this study if they meet all of the following criteria:

1. Men and women 18-70 years of age deemed eligible for treatment with full dose RCHOP by the qualified investigator.
2. Histologic diagnosis of MCL according to the World Health Organization classification \[Swerdlow, Blood 2016\].
3. Previously untreated MCL with the following exceptions: (a) prior radiotherapy for localized disease, (b) up to 7 days of corticosteroids (prednisone 100mg/day equivalent), (c) up to one dose of single-agent chemotherapy (for example, cyclophosphamide), (d) up to one cycle of R-CHOP if last R-CHOP is between 21 days and 2 months from start of R-CHOP+acalabrutinib. Other chemotherapy regimens (for example, bendamustine and rituximab) are not allowed. Patients with exceptions (c) and (d) are eligible as long as all other eligibility criteria are met AND at least a CT scan and bone marrow biopsy were performed prior to chemotherapy.
4. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0, 1, or 2.
5. Presence of at least one radiologically measurable nodal or extranodal mass. A measurable nodal mass must have a longest diameter ≥1.5 cm. A measurable extranodal mass should have a longest diameter ≥1.0 cm.\[Cheson, JCO 2014\]
6. Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) who are sexually active must use highly effective methods of contraception during treatment and up to 12 months after the last dose of rituximab or R-CHOP, or 2 days after the last dose of acalabrutinib, whichever is last administered. Examples of highly effective contraceptive methods include an agreement to remain abstinent (ie, refrain from heterosexual intercourse), bilateral tubal ligation, male sterilization, established proper use of hormonal contraceptives that inhibit ovulation, hormone-releasing intrauterine devices, and copper intrauterine devices. Men who are sexually active must use highly effective methods of contraception during treatment and up to 6 months after the last dose of rituximab or R-CHOP, or 2 days after the last dose of acalabrutinib, whichever is last administered. Men require an agreement to remain abstinent (ie, refrain from heterosexual intercourse) or use a condom, and an agreement to refrain from donating sperm. Periodic abstinence and withdrawal are not acceptable methods of contraception. Fertility preservation options should be discussed.
7. Willing and able to participate in all required evaluations and procedures in this study protocol including swallowing capsules or tablets without difficulty.
8. Ability to understand the purpose and risks of the study and provide signed and dated informed consent and authorization to use protected health information

Exclusion Criteria:

Subjects will be ineligible for Cohort B of this study if they meet any of the following criteria:

1. Secondary central nervous system involvement.
2. Prior exposure to a BCR inhibitor (eg, BTK inhibitors, phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K), or Syk inhibitors) or BCL-2 inhibitor.
3. Prior malignancy (or any other malignancy requiring active treatment), except for adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, in situ cervical or prostate cancer, or other cancer from which the subject has been disease free for ≥ 3 years or which will not limit survival to \< 5 years. Subjects receiving adjuvant hormonal therapy for early breast or prostate cancer are eligible.
4. Clinically significant cardiovascular disease such as uncontrolled or symptomatic arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, or myocardial infarction within 6 months of screening, or any Class 3 or 4 cardiac disease as defined by the New York Heart Association Functional Classification. Subjects with controlled, asymptomatic atrial fibrillation during screening can enroll on study.
5. Difficulty with or unable to swallow oral medication, or conditions significantly affecting gastrointestinal function that would limit absorption of oral medication.
6. Known history of infection with HIV or any significant active infection (eg, bacterial, viral or fungal), including suspected or confirmed progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy.
7. Known history of drug-specific hypersensitivity or anaphylaxis to study drugs (acalabrutinib and individual components of R-CHOP), including active product or excipient components.
8. Active bleeding or history of bleeding diathesis (eg, hemophilia or von Willebrand disease).
9. Uncontrolled AIHA (autoimmune hemolytic anemia) or ITP (idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura).
10. Requires treatment with a strong cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) inhibitor/inducer which cannot be modified as described in Sections 3.8.2 and 3.9.2, and/or the dose of acalabrutinib cannot be modified as described in these sections.
11. Requires or receiving anticoagulation with warfarin or equivalent vitamin K antagonists (eg, warfarin).
12. History of significant cerebrovascular disease/event, including stroke or intracranial hemorrhage, within 6 months before the first dose of study drug.
13. Major surgical procedure within 4 weeks of first dose of study drug. Note: If a subject had major surgery, they must have recovered adequately from any toxicity and/or complications from the intervention before the first dose of study drug.
14. Received a live virus vaccination within 28 days of first dose of R-CHOP + acalabrutinib.
15. Hepatitis B or C serologic status: subjects who are hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) positive and who are surface antigen negative will need to have a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) result before enrolment and must be willing to undergo PCR testing during the study. Those who are hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg) positive or hepatitis B PCR positive will be excluded. Subjects who are hepatitis C antibody positive will need to have a negative PCR result. Those who are hepatitis C PCR positive will be excluded. Subjects with a history of Hepatitis C who received antiviral treatment are eligible as long as PCR is negative.
16. ANC \<1.0 x109/L (subjects with bone marrow involvement by lymphoma are eligible regardless of ANC)
17. Platelets \<50 x109/L (subjects with bone marrow involvement by lymphoma are eligible regardless of platelet count)
18. Total serum bilirubin ≥1.5 times the upper limit of normal, unless directly attributable to Gilbert's syndrome (or \>3 times for documented hepatic involvement by lymphoma), AST and ALT \>3 times the upper limit of normal (or \>5 times for documented hepatic involvement by lymphoma)
19. Creatinine clearance \<30 mL/min.
20. PT/INR \>2 times the upper limit of normal in the absence of anticoagulants and/or PTT \>2 times the upper limit of normal in the absence of anticoagulants.
21. Breastfeeding or pregnant. WOCBP must have a serum and/or urine pregnancy test done a maximum of 7 days prior to treatment initiation and a negative result must be documented prior to recruitment.
22. Concurrent participation in another therapeutic clinical trial.
23. Evidence of disease (such as severe or uncontrolled systemic diseases, including uncontrolled hypertension and renal transplant) that, in the investigator's opinion, make it undesirable for the patient to participate in the study or that would jeopardize compliance with the protocol.
24. Received any investigational drug within 30 days or 5 half-lives (whichever is shorter) before first dose of study drug.
25. Current life-threatening illness, medical condition, or organ system dysfunction which, in the Investigator's opinion, could compromise the subject's safety or put the study at risk.

Where this trial is running

Vancouver, British Columbia and 4 other locations

• BC Cancer Agency — Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (Recruiting)
• QEII Health Sciences Centre — Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada (Recruiting)
• Princess Margaret Cancer Centre — Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Recruiting)
• Sunnybrook Research Institute — Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Active_not_recruiting)
• Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec — Québec, Quebec, Canada (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: John Kuruvilla, M.D.

Conditions Mantle Cell Lymphoma