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NCT Number: NCT00645606

Rituximab Maintenance Versus Observation After First-line Immunochemotherapy by FCR in Older Patients With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

RATIONALE: Classical chemotherapy does not cure advanced chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) despite new drugs. Rituximab is a monoclonal antibody directed against CD20 surface antigen on B lymphocytes and leads to apoptosis of CD20 positive B lymphocytes. The highest response rate yet published in the treatment of first-line CLL has been obtained by the association of fludarabine, cyclophosphamide and rituximab (FCR). Now, the question is whether this response can be improved, as some trials showed that eradication of minimal residual disease (MRD) in CLL is associated with a longer treatment-free and overall survival. Maintenance therapy using rituximab has been recently approved as a means of prolonging remission in patients with indolent non Hodgkin's lymphoma. Maintenance therapy with rituximab could be of interest in treatment of MRD in CLL and prolonging remission and survival times.

PURPOSE: The overall purpose of the study is to determine the value of immunotherapy maintenance with single agent rituximab in comparison with no further treatment (observation ) for previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukaemia in elderly (>65 years) patients who respond to induction immunochemotherapy with FCR.

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Key information

Conditions

Leukemia Chronic Disease Disease Attributes Hematologic Diseases Hemic and Lymphatic Diseases Immune System Diseases Immunoproliferative Disorders Leukemia, B-Cell Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell Leukemia, Lymphoid Lymphatic Diseases Lymphoproliferative Disorders Neoplasms Neoplasms by Histologic Type Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Age range

65 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 3

Primary location

French Innovative leukemia Organization

Tours, 37044, France

About this study

OBJECTIVES:

Primary

  • To demonstrate superiority, in terms of 3-year progression-free survival (PFS), of rituximab maintenance over observation in patients who are in complete or partial response (CR or PR) after induction therapy comprising fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab.

Secondary

  • To determine event-free survival, disease-free survival, overall survival, and time to next treatment, all from time of randomization.
  • To determine overall response rate (CR and PR) according to NCI and iwCLL criteria
  • To assess the rate of phenotypic response (minimal residual disease).
  • To assess duration of phenotypic and NCI and iwCLL clinical responses.
  • To determine response rates and time-related parameters in biological subgroups.
  • To determine rates of treatment-related adverse events.
  • To evaluate CD4/CD8 counts, immunoglobulin levels, and incidence of Coombs-positive hemolytic anemia.
  • To study pharmacokinetics of rituximab during induction and maintenance.
  • To evaluate the prognostic impact of the immunoglobulin FcγRIIIA genotype.
  • To assess quality of life.
  • To study pharmacoeconomics.

OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study. Randomization is stratified according to response to induction therapy (complete response [CR] vs partial response [PR]), IGHV mutational status, and 11q deletion.

Patients receive rituximab IV on days 1 and 14 of courses 1-2 and on day 1 of courses 3 and 4. Patients also receive oral fludarabine and oral cyclophosphamide once daily on days 2-4 of course 1 and on days 1-3 of courses 2-4. Courses are administered every 28 days. Patients achieving CR or PR are randomized 1:1 to maintenance arm or observation arm.

  • Arm A: Patients receive rituximab IV every 2 months in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity for a maximum duration of 24 months (12 infusions).
  • Arm B: Patients undergo observation only.

After completion of study therapy, patients are followed every 3 months for 1 year and then every 6 months for 2 years.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • B-CLL
  • Matutes score 4 or 5
  • Binet stages B or C
  • Age > 65 years old
  • No previous treatment of CLL by chemotherapy, radiotherapy or immunotherapy, except glucocorticoids < 1 month
  • Patient's written informed consent
  • Life expectancy > 6 months

Exclusion criteria

  • Binet stage A
  • ECOG performance status 2 or more
  • Presence of a 17p deletion by FISH (> 10% positive cores)
  • Clinically significant auto-immune cytopenia, Coombs-positive hemolytic anemia as judged by the treating physician
  • Patients with a history of another malignancy in complete remission less than 5 years, except basal cell skin cancer or tumor treated curatively by surgery
  • Concomitant disease requiring prolonged use of corticosteroids (> 1 month)
  • Any severe co-morbidities such as NYHA Class III or IV heart failure, myocardial infarction within 6 months, unstable angina, ventricular tachyarrhythmias requiring ongoing treatment, severe uncontrolled myocardiopathy, uncontrolled hypertension, severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with hypoxemia, or uncontrolled diabetes mellitus.
  • CIRS (Cumulative Illness rating Scale) > 6
  • Known hypersensitivity to murine proteins or to any of the study drugs or to their components
  • Transformation into an aggressive B-cell malignancy (e.g. diffuse large cell lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma) or prolymphocytic leukemia
  • Active bacterial, viral or fungal infection
  • Seropositivity HIV, hepatitis C or hepatitis B (unless clearly due to vaccination)
  • Total bilirubin, alkaline phosphatases and aminotransferases > 2 x ULN
  • Creatinine clearance < 60 ml/min calculated according to the formula of Cockcroft and Gault
  • Any coexisting medical or psychological condition that would preclude participation to the required study procedures
  • Patient with mental deficiency preventing proper understanding of the requirements of treatment

Inclusion criteria

at randomization

  • Patients having received the full induction phase with 4 FC and 6 rituximab courses (with/without dose adjustments as per protocol)
  • Complete or partial response according to NCI and iwCLL criteria at the end of induction phase
  • Recovery from FCR toxicities
  • Patient willingness to continue on protocol

Treatment and study plan

Rituximab

Biological

rituximab :500 mg/m² every 8 weeks during 2 years

Other names: Mabthera

Primary outcomes

  1. Progression-free survival

    Time frame: randomization until disease progression or death

    Progression-free survival is defined as the time from randomization to the first occurrence of disease progression, relapse or death from any cause; using iwCLL criteria

Secondary outcomes

  1. Event-free survival

    Time frame: randomization until disease progression, death, new CLL treatment, and secondary cancer

    Event-free survival is defined as the time from randomization to the occurrence of one of the following events, whichever occurs first: disease progression or relapse, death from any cause, initiation of any new anti-CLL therapy, and secondary malignancy

  2. Disease-free survival

    Time frame: first documented CR until relapse

    Disease-free survival is defined as the time from first documented CR to relapse

  3. Overall survival

    Time frame: randomization until death

    Overall survival is defined as the time from randomization to death from any cause

  4. Time to next treatment

    Time frame: randomization until new CLL treatment

    Time to next treatment is defined as the time from randomization to initiation of a new CLL-related treatment

  5. Overall response rate

    Time frame: baseline up to approximately 66 months

    Overall response rate is defined by the percentage of participants with an overall response; CR or PR according to NCI criteria and CR, CRi or PR according to iwCLL

  6. Phenotypic response rate

    Time frame: randomization up to approximately 60 months

    Phenotypic response rate is defined by the percentage of participants with minimal residual disease negativity as measured by six-colour flow cytometry with a sensitivity of 0.7 x 10-5. MRD is considered as undetectable when the positivity criteria, defined as the presence of at least 20 CLL cells, is not reached

  7. Rates of treatment-related adverse events

    Time frame: safety since baseline

    Rate of treatment-related adverse events (plus adverse events of particular interest) is defined as the percentage of participants with adverse events assessed according to the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI CTCAE) version 3.0 and version 2.0. for hematological toxicity

  8. Pharmacokinetics of rituximab

    Time frame: baseline up to approximately 36 months

    Pharmacokinetics of rituximab during induction and rituximab maintenance

  9. Quality of life

    Time frame: baseline up to approximately 30 months

    Change from baseline in EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University Hospital, Tours

Other

Collaborators

  • French Innovative Leukemia Organisation
  • Roche Pharma AG

Registry information

Official study title

Single-agent Rituximab as Maintenance Treatment Versus Observation After Combined Induction Immunochemotherapy With Fludarabine, Cyclophosphamide and Rituximab in Patients Older Than 65 Years With Previously Untreated Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: a Phase III Trial of FILO

Acronym: LLC2007SA

Important dates

Study start
2007
Primary completion
2014
Study completion
2017
First posted
Mar 27, 2008
Registry last updated
Aug 1, 2017

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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