Oral arsenic treatment for low-risk myelodysplastic syndromes

Phase I Study With Dose-escalation and Expansion Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of Oral Arsenic (ATO) in Low-risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes Failing Erythropoiesis Stimulating Agents and Luspatercept (or Ineligible for the Latter)

This phase I test will see if a short-course oral arsenic regimen is safe and can help blood counts in adults with low-risk MDS who failed or are ineligible for ESAs or luspatercept.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 1
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 24 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Groupe Francophone des Myelodysplasies (Academic / other)
• Locations: 3 sites (Nice and 2 other locations)
• Trial ID: NCT06670222 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This is a phase I dose-escalation and expansion trial using a BOIN (Bayesian optimal interval) design to define dose-limiting toxicities and a tolerable dose of oral arsenic trioxide (ATO). Three dose levels (0.10, 0.15, 0.20 mg/kg) are given 5 days per week for 3 weeks of each 28-day cycle, with nine patients treated per dose level and a planned small expansion at the selected dose. Tolerability is formally reviewed after one cycle and hematologic response is assessed after three cycles, with responders allowed to continue until progression or limiting toxicity. Patients who do not respond will stop treatment and enter follow-up; limiting toxicity is predefined as grade III/IV non-hematologic toxicity or prolonged grade IV hematologic toxicity.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults (≥18 years) with WHO 2022 low-risk MDS (very low, low, or intermediate by IPSS-R) who failed or are ineligible for erythropoiesis-stimulating agents and, for sideroblastic cases, failed luspatercept are the intended participants.

Not a fit: Patients with higher-risk or progressive MDS, immediate need for intensive therapy, or severe comorbidities are unlikely to benefit from this early-phase, low-risk cohort trial.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide an oral option to improve anemia or reduce transfusion needs for patients with low-risk MDS after ESA or luspatercept failure.

How similar studies have performed: Arsenic trioxide has proven efficacy in acute promyelocytic leukemia, but its use for low-risk MDS is novel with only limited prior data supporting this specific approach.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria:

Patients must meet all the following criteria to participate in the study:

1. Myelodysplastic syndrome according to WHO (World Health Organization) 2022 classification
2. Age ≥ 18 years
3. Patient with low-risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes according to Revised International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS-R) classification (very low, low, intermediate):

   * non-sideroblastic who failed to achieved a response or who subsequently relapse after Erythropoiesis Stimulating Agents (ESA) (at Epoetin alfa 60000UI or equivalent over at least 12 weeks) without disease progression or ineligible to ESA (defined by Erythopoietine (EPO) \> 500UI/L)
   * sideroblastic who failed to achieved a response or who subsequently relapse after ESA (at Epoetin alfa 60000UI or equivalent over at least 12 weeks) or ineligible for ESA (defined by EPO \>500UI/L) and who failed to achieved a response or who subsequently relapse after Luspatercept
   * del (5q) who failed to achieved a response or who subsequently relapse after ESA (at Epoetin alfa 60000IU or equivalent over at least 12 weeks) and who failed to achieved a response or who subsequently relapse after Lenalidomide
4. Transfusion dependence (at least 3 RBC (Red Blood Cell) within a 16-week period and at least 2 transfusion episodes during this period)
5. Patient not eligible for another clinical trial
6. Adequate renal function defined by creatinine level less than 1.5 times the upper limit of normal and creatinine clearance ≥ 40mL/min (according to MDRD (Modification of Diet in Renal Disease) formula)
7. Adequate liver function defined by total bilirubin and transaminases less than 1.5 times the upper limit of normal
8. Patient not refractory to platelet transfusions
9. Written consent
10. Patient must understand and voluntarily sign informed consent form
11. Patient must be able to adhere to the visit schedule as outlined in the study and follow protocol requirements
12. Performance status 0-2 at the time of screening
13. A FCBP (female of childbearing potential) for this study was defined as a sexually mature woman who: (1) had not undergone a hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy; or (2) had not been naturally postmenopausal (amenorrhea following cancer therapy did not rule out childbearing potential) for at least 24 consecutive months (ie, has had menses at any time in the preceding 24 consecutive months).

    A FCBP participating in the study must:
    * Have had 2 negative pregnancy tests as verified by the investigator prior to starting IP (unless the screening pregnancy test was done within 72 hours of Cycle 1 Day 1). She must have had agreed to ongoing a monthly pregnancy testing during the course of the study and after end of treatment.
    * If sexually active, agreed to have used, and been able to comply with, highly effective contraception\*\* without interruption, 5 weeks prior to starting treatment, during treatment (including dose interruptions), and for 24 weeks after discontinuation of treatment.

      * Highly effective contraception was defined in this protocol as the following (information also appeared in the Informed Consent Form): Hormonal contraception (eg, birth control pills, injection, implant, transdermal patch, vaginal ring), intrauterine device, tubal ligation (tying your tubes), or a partner with a vasectomy.
14. Male subjects must: Have agreed to use a condom, defined as a male latex condom or nonlatex condom NOT made out of natural (animal) membrane (eg, polyurethane), during sexual contact with a pregnant female or a FCBP while participating in the study, during dose interruptions, and for at least 24 weeks following treatment discontinuation, even if he had undergone a successful vasectomy.

Exclusion criteria:

Any patient meeting one of the following criteria cannot be included in the study:

1. Severe infection or any uncontrolled severe condition
2. Uncontrolled hypertension
3. Significant cardiac disease - NYHA (New York Heart Association) Class III or IV or having suffered a myocardial infarction in the last 6 months
4. QTcF (Fridericia's corrected QT interval) \> 460ms
5. Use of investigational agents within 30 days or any anticancer therapy (including IMiD (Immunomodulatory treatments)) within 2 weeks before the study entry with the exception of hydroxyurea. The patient must have recovered at least a grade 1 from all acute toxicity from any previous therapy. However, patients may have received Lenalidomide, hypomethylating agent, or anti-lymphocytic serum (ALS) (but not within 4 weeks before the study entry and, for ALS, within 16 weeks before the study entry).
6. Use of EPO within 4 weeks before the study entry
7. Active cancer or cancer during the year prior to trial entry other than basal cell carcinoma, or carcinoma in situ of the cervix or breast
8. Patient already enrolled in another therapeutic trial of an investigational drug
9. Known Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection or active hepatitis B or C
10. Women who are or could become pregnant or who are currently breastfeeding
11. Any medical or psychiatric contraindication that would prevent the patient from understanding and signing the informed consent form
12. Patient eligible for allogeneic stem cell transplantation
13. No affiliation to a health insurance system

Where this trial is running

Nice and 2 other locations

• CHU de Nice - Hôpital l'Archet - Service d'hématologie clinique — Nice, France (Not_yet_recruiting)
• Hôpital Saint Louis - Service Hématologie séniors — Paris, France (Recruiting)
• Institut Gustave Roussy - Service d'hématologie — Villejuif, France (Not_yet_recruiting)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Thomas CLUZEAU, MD/PhD

Conditions Low-risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes; Oral Arsenic; Low-risk myelodysplastic syndromes