Randomized Phase III Study of Intensive Chemotherapy With or Without Dasatinib (Sprycel™)

This is a randomized phase III open-label, multicenter trial evaluating standard induction therapy (daunorubicin [DNR] and cytarabine [Ara-C]) and consolidation therapy (high-dose cytarabine [HDAC]) with or without dasatinib in adult patients with newly diagnosed CBF-AML; in the investigational arm, consolidation therapy is followed by a one-year maintenance therapy with dasatinib. Patients with molecular disease persistence or molecular relapse as assessed by quantitative RQ-PCR for the CBF fusion transcripts will be eligible for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation before overt hematologic relapse occurs. Primary endpoint is event-free survival.

AML patients will be assessed for the CBF fusion genes in one of two AMLSG central laboratories within 48 hours of diagnosis, and only patients with CBF-AML will be enrolled.

Inclusion criteria

• Core-binding factor (CBF) AML with molecular diagnosis of RUNX1-RUNX1T1 fusion transcript resulting from t(8;21)(q22;q22.1) (or a variant form) or of CBFB-MYH11 fusion transcript resulting from inv(16)(p13.1q22)/t(16;16)(p13.1;q22) as assessed in one of the central AMLSG reference laboratories (Ulm, Hannover)
• Age ≥ 18; there is no upper age limit
• No prior chemotherapy for leukemia except hydroxyurea for up to 5 days during the diagnostic screening phase
• Non-pregnant and non-nursing. Due to the unknown teratogenic potential of dasatinib in humans, pregnant or nursing patients may not be enrolled. Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test within a sensitivity of at least 25 mIU/mL with-in 72 hours prior to registration. Women of child-bearing potential must either commit to continued abstinence from heterosexual intercourse or begin TWO acceptable methods of birth control - one highly effective method (e.g., IUD, hormonal, tubal ligation, or partner's vasectomy), and one additional effective method (e.g., latex condom, diaphragm, or cervical cap) - AT THE SAME TIME, at least four weeks before she begins dasatinib therapy. "Women of childbearing potential" is defined as a sexually active mature woman who has not undergone a hysterectomy or who has had menses at any time in the preceding 24 consecutive months.
• Men must agree not to father a child and must use a latex condom during any sexual contact with women of childbearing potential while taking dasatinib and for 3 months after therapy is stopped, even if they have undergone a successful vasectomy.
• Signed written informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

• Performance status WHO >2
• Pulmonary edema and/or pleural/pericardial effusion within 14 days of day 1. If edema/effusion resolves to CTC Grade ≤1, patients can be treated with dasatinib.
• Patients with ejection fraction <50% by echocardiography within 14 days of day 1
• Organ insufficiency (creatinine >1.5x upper normal serum level; bilirubin, AST or AP >2.5x upper normal serum level; heart failure NYHA III/IV; severe obstructive or restrictive ventilation disorder)
• Uncontrolled infection
• Patients with a "currently active" second malignancy other than non-melanoma skin cancers. Patients are not considered to have a "currently active" malignancy, if they have completed therapy and are considered by their physician to be at less than 30% risk of relapse within one year.
• Severe neurological or psychiatric disorder interfering with ability of giving an informed consent
• Known positive for HIV, active HBV, HCV, or Hepatitis A infection
• Bleeding disorder independent of leukemia
• No consent for registration, storage and processing of the individual disease characteristics and course as well as information of the family physician and/or other physicians involved in the treatment of the patient about study participation.
• No consent for biobanking.