Randomized Phase IIB Trial of Oral Azacytidine Plus Romidepsin Versus Investigator's Choice in PTCL

Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma (PTCL) is a rare and heterogeneous group of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) originating from mature (or post-thymic or 'peripheral') T- lymphocytes and NK cells. They are considered very aggressive and are often resistant to conventional chemotherapy.

This study employs a stratified randomization with equal allocation within strata of patients to receive oral 5-azacytidine (AZA) plus romidepsin (ROMI) versus pre-specified investigator choice (ROMI, belinostat, pralatrexate or gemcitabine), for the treatment of relapsed or refractory (R/R) PTCL. The dose and schedule of AZA/ROMI has been determined from a phase I clinical trial of the combination. The primary objective of this study is to estimate the progression free survival (PFS) among patients receiving the combination compared to single agent of choice.

Inclusion criteria

In order to be eligible to participate in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria:

Patients must have histologically confirmed relapsed or refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma as defined by 2016 WHO criteria (Section 13.7), who have progressed following one line of prior systemic therapy.

• Patients are required to have no more than 3 lines of prior therapy (with cytoreductive therapy [ex ICE, DHAP, etc.] followed by autologous stem cell transplant counting as one line of therapy). Patients are eligible if they have relapsed after prior autologous or allogeneic stem cell transplant.
• Patients with anaplastic large cell lymphoma are required to have received brentuximab vedotin (Bv) prior to study enrollment.
• Measurable Disease as defined in Section 8.1.3.1.
• Age ≥18 years.
• ECOG performance status ≤2
• Patients must have adequate organ and marrow function as defined below:

Absolute neutrophil count (ANC): ≥1000/mm3 (≥1000/dL); Platelets: > 75,000/mm3; Serum Creatinine:< 2 x ULN OR creatinine clearance >50 mL/min/for patients with creatinine levels above ULN; Bilirubin: ≤ 1.5 x ULN (except in patients with Gilbert's disease, where bilirubin to 4x ULN is allowed); AST and ALT: ≤ 2 x ULN OR ≤ 3 X ULN in presence of demonstrable liver involvement; Serum potassium: ≥ 3.8 mmol/L; Serum magnesium≥1.8 mg/dL.

• Negative urine or serum pregnancy test for females of childbearing potential
• All females of childbearing potential and male subjects must agree to use an effective method of contraception (see section 5.4 for more details)
• Be willing and able to provide written consent or assent for the trial.

Exclusion criteria

An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:

• Diagnosis of patch/plaque stage mycosis fungoides
• Prior Therapy: Prior exposure to any hypomethylating agent or any histone deacetylase inhibitor (ex: romidepsin, chidamide, belinostat, or vorinostat); exposure to chemotherapy or radiotherapy within 2 weeks prior to entering the study or those who have not recovered from adverse events due to agents administered more than 2 weeks earlier.
• Systemic steroids that have not been stabilized to the equivalent of ≤10 mg/day prednisone prior to the start of the study drugs.
• No other concurrent investigational agents are allowed within 2 weeks of enrollment.
• Known central nervous system metastases, including lymphomatous meningitis
• Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements.
• Nursing women
• Other active concurrent malignancy (except non-melanoma skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, or carcinoma in situ of the breast (DCIS or LCIS). If there is a history of prior malignancy, the patient must be disease-free for ≥ 3-years. Patients whose lymphoma has transformed from a less aggressive histology remain eligible.
• Patients known to be Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-positive.
• Patients with active Hepatitis A, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C infection.
• Concomitant use of CYP3A4 inhibitors (see Section 13.3)
• History of inflammatory bowel disease (eg, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis), celiac disease (ie, sprue), prior gastrectomy or upper bowel removal, or any other gastrointestinal disorder or defect that would interfere with the absorption, distribution, metabolism or excretion of the study drug and/or predispose the subject to an increased risk of gastrointestinal toxicity
• Abnormal coagulation parameters (PT >15 seconds, PTT>40 seconds, and/or INR >1.5) unless related to ongoing anticoagulation treatment required by the patient.
• Known or suspected hypersensitivity to azacitidine (or any excipients in the formulation) or mannitol.
• Any known cardiac abnormalities such as:

• Congenital long QT syndrome
• QTc interval ≥ 500 millisecond (using the Fridericia formula)
• Patients taking drugs leading to significant QT prolongation (See Section 13.2)
• Myocardial infarction within 6 months of C1D1. [Subjects with a history of myocardial infarction between 6 and 12 months prior to C1D1 who are asymptomatic and have had a negative cardiac risk assessment (treadmill stress test, nuclear medicine stress test, or stress echocardiogram) since the event, may participate];
• Other significant ECG abnormalities including 2nd degree atrio-ventricular (AV) block type II, 3rd degree AV block, or bradycardia (ventricular rate less than 50 beats/min);
• Symptomatic coronary artery disease (CAD), e.g., angina Canadian Class II-IV (see Section 13.4) In any patient in whom there is doubt, the patient should have a stress imaging study and, if abnormal, angiography to define whether or not CAD is present;
• An ECG recorded at screening showing evidence of cardiac ischemia (ST depression of ≥2 mm, measured from isoelectric line to the ST segment). If in any doubt, the patient should have a stress imaging study and, if abnormal, angiography to define whether or not CAD is present;
• Congestive heart failure (CHF) that meets New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class II to IV definitions (see Section 13.5) and/or ejection fraction <40% by MUGA scan or <50% by echocardiogram and/or MRI;
• A known history of sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT), ventricular fibrillation (VF), Torsade de Pointes, or cardiac arrest;
• Hypertrophic cardiomegaly or restrictive cardiomyopathy from prior treatment or other causes;
• Uncontrolled hypertension, i.e., blood pressure (BP) of ≥160/95; patients who have a history of hypertension controlled by medication must be on a stable dose (for at least one month) and meet all other inclusion criteria; or
• Any cardiac arrhythmia requiring an anti-arrhythmic medication (excluding stable doses of beta-blockers)