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NCT Number: NCT03319901

Venetoclax and Chemotherapy as Frontline Therapy in Older Patients and Patients With Relapsed/Refractory ALL

This research study is studying a medication called Venetoclax and a chemotherapy regimen as a possible treatment for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

The drugs involved in this study are:

* Venetoclax * Standard Chemotherapy (which includes cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, dexamethasone, methotrexate, 6-mercaptopurine, etoposide, and cytarabine

Active, Not Recruiting

This study is active but is not currently recruiting participants.

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Key information

Conditions

Leukemia Hematologic Diseases Hemic and Lymphatic Diseases Neoplasms Neoplasms by Histologic Type

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 1 / Phase 2

Primary location

University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States

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About this study

This research study is a Phase I clinical trial, which tests the safety of an investigational drug and drug combination and also tries to define the appropriate dose of the investigational drug and drug combination to use for further studies. "Investigational" means that the drug and drug combination is being studied.

The FDA (the U.S. Food and Drug Administration) has not approved Venetoclax for this specific disease, but it has been approved for other uses.

Venetoclax is an inhibitor of Bcl-2. Bcl-2 is critical for keeping cancer cells alive.

By inhibiting Bcl-2, venetoclax promotes cancer cell death. This drug is currently being used in other clinical trials for people with certain types of leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. There is some evidence from those and other laboratory trials that venetoclax may kill cancer cells and cause tumors to shrink.

In this research study, the investigators are investigating how safe the combination of Venetoclax and standard chemotherapy is and how it affects this disease.. The participant will be given Venetoclax alone first and the standard chemotherapies will be given in combination. This study aims to provide information to help determine the dose of Venetoclax , in combination with standard chemotherapy, affects this disease the best and which dose is the safest.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Patients with previously untreated acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-cell or T-cell)
  • Bone marrow involvement with ≥20% lymphoblasts
  • Age ≥ 60 Years

OR

  • Patients with relapsed or refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-cell or T-cell) defined as receiving one or more cytotoxic containing regimens
  • Bone marrow involvement with ≥5% lymphoblasts
  • Age ≥ 18 Years
  • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status ≤2 (Refer to Appendix D)
  • Adequate organ function
  • Serum total bilirubin ≤1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) or ≤3 x ULN for patients with Gilbert's disease
  • Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≤3.0 x ULN, unless clearly due to disease involvement
  • Creatinine clearance >50 mL/min (calculated according to institutional standards or using Cockcroft-Gault or Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) formula)
  • Women of childbearing potential must have a negative serum or urine beta human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) pregnancy test result within 14 days prior to the first dose of study drugs and must agree to use an effective contraception method during the study and for 30 days following the last dose of study drug. Women of non- childbearing potential are those who are postmenopausal greater than 1 year or who have had a bilateral tubal ligation or hysterectomy. Men who have partners of childbearing potential must agree to use an effective contraceptive method during the study and for 30 days following the last dose of study drug
  • Patients or their legally authorized representative must provide written informed consent

Exclusion criteria

  • Ph-positive ALL, Burkitt's leukemia/lymphoma, or lymphoblastic lymphoma
  • Patient is pregnant or breastfeeding
  • Patients with uncontrolled infection
  • Hepatitis B or C infection, or known seropositivity for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
  • Major surgery or radiation therapy within 4 weeks prior to the first study dose
  • Systemic chemotherapy/radiotherapy/investigational therapy within 14 days (with the exception of hydroxyurea and/or dexamethasone, or one dose of cytarabine) prior to starting therapy
  • Symptomatic or untreated leptomeningeal disease or spinal cord compression
  • Patients with active heart disease (New York Heart Association (NYHA) class 3-4 as assessed by history and physical examination, unstable angina/stroke/myocardial infarction within the last 6 months)
  • Patients with a cardiac ejection fraction (as measured by either Multi Gated Acquisition (MUGA) or echocardiogram (EKG)) <40%
  • History of another primary invasive malignancy that has not been definitively treated or in remission for at least 2 years. Patients with non-melanoma skin cancers or with carcinomas in situ are eligible regardless of the time from diagnosis (including concomitant diagnoses)
  • Concurrent use of warfarin
  • Received Cytochrome P450 3A (CYP3A) inhibitors (such as fluconazole, ketoconazole, voriconazole, and clarithromycin) within 3 days of starting venetoclax; received strong CYP3A inducers (such as rifampin, rifabutin, phenytoin, carbamazepine, and St. John's Wort) within 3 days of starting venetoclax
  • Consumed grapefruit, grapefruit products, Seville oranges, or star fruit within 3 days prior to starting venetoclax
  • Prior treatment with venetoclax
  • Malabsorption syndrome or other conditions that preclude enteral route of administration
  • Other severe acute or chronic medical or psychiatric condition or laboratory abnormality that in the opinion of the investigator may increase the risk associated with study participation or investigational product administration or may interfere with the interpretation of study results and/or would make the patient inappropriate for enrollment into this study

Treatment and study plan

Venetoclax

Drug

Venetoclax is an inhibitor of Bcl-2. Bcl-2 is critical for keeping cancer cells alive.

By inhibiting Bcl-2, venetoclax promotes cancer cell death.

Other names: ABT199

Standard Chemotherapy

Drug

Standard treatment of chemotherapy is administered

Primary outcomes

  1. Maximum Tolerated Dose

    Time frame: 2 years

    To determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of venetoclax in combination with chemotherapy in patients with newly diagnosed Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)

Secondary outcomes

  1. To Evaluate The Safety of the Combination

    Time frame: 2 years

    To evaluate the safety of this combination in a dose expansion cohort.

    The proportion of patients having a grade 3 or higher adverse event will be estimated with a 95% confidence interval in the expansion cohort.

  2. Complete Response

    Time frame: 2 years

    To determine the efficacy: complete response (CR) with incomplete marrow recovery (CRi) of venetoclax in combination with chemotherapy in patients with newly diagnosed ALL

  3. Progression Free Survival

    Time frame: 2 years

    To determine the duration of response: progressive-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of venetoclax in combination with chemotherapy in patients with newly diagnosed ALL

  4. Overall Survival

    Time frame: 2 years

    To determine the duration of response: progressive-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of venetoclax in combination with chemotherapy in patients with newly diagnosed ALL

  5. Minimal Residual Disease

    Time frame: 2 years

    To determine the rate of minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity in patients achieving CR/CRi and its correlation with disease-free survival (DFS) and OS

  6. Disease Free Survival

    Time frame: 2 years

    To determine the rate of minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity in patients achieving CR/CRi and its correlation with disease-free survival (DFS) and OS

  7. Change in expression of BCL-2 family proteins: BCL-2

    Time frame: 2 years

    To measure expression and function of Bcl-2 family proteins and its modulation by venetoclax in ALL blasts.

    The change in expression of BCL-2 family proteins from baseline to the time of each response assessment will be measured including BCL-2 and summary statistics including the median and interquartile range of the change will be reported for all patients in the expansion cohort and also summarized for those achieving a CR/CRi and those patients who do not achieve a CR/CRi.

    This is based on section 9.1: We plan to collect bone marrow and peripheral blood samples at baseline, at the time of clinical response assessment and at the time of progression for correlative studies. These will be done in the laboratory of Dr. Marina Konopleva at MDACC and Dr. Tony Letai at DFCI.

  8. Change in expression of BCL-2 family proteins: BCL-XL

    Time frame: 2 years

    To measure expression and function of Bcl-2 family proteins and its modulation by venetoclax in ALL blasts.

    The change in expression of BCL-2 family proteins from baseline to the time of each response assessment will be measured including BCL-XL and summary statistics including the median and interquartile range of the change will be reported for all patients in the expansion cohort and also summarized for those achieving a CR/CRi and those patients who do not achieve a CR/CRi.

    This is based on section 9.1: We plan to collect bone marrow and peripheral blood samples at baseline, at the time of clinical response assessment and at the time of progression for correlative studies. These will be done in the laboratory of Dr. Marina Konopleva at MDACC and Dr. Tony Letai at DFCI.

  9. Change in expression of BCL-2 family proteins: MCL-1 (anti-apoptotic)

    Time frame: 2 years

    To measure expression and function of Bcl-2 family proteins and its modulation by venetoclax in ALL blasts.

    The change in expression of BCL-2 family proteins from baseline to the time of each response assessment will be measured including MCL-1 (anti-apoptotic) and summary statistics including the median and interquartile range of the change will be reported for all patients in the expansion cohort and also summarized for those achieving a CR/CRi and those patients who do not achieve a CR/CRi.

    This is based on section 9.1: We plan to collect bone marrow and peripheral blood samples at baseline, at the time of clinical response assessment and at the time of progression for correlative studies. These will be done in the laboratory of Dr. Marina Konopleva at MDACC and Dr. Tony Letai at DFCI.

  10. Change in expression of BCL-2 family proteins: BCL-2 homology 3 (BH3)

    Time frame: 2 years

    To measure expression and function of Bcl-2 family proteins and its modulation by venetoclax in ALL blasts.

    The change in expression of BCL-2 family proteins from baseline to the time of each response assessment will be measured including BCL-2 homology 3 (BH3) and summary statistics including the median and interquartile range of the change will be reported for all patients in the expansion cohort and also summarized for those achieving a CR/CRi and those patients who do not achieve a CR/CRi.

    This is based on section 9.1: We plan to collect bone marrow and peripheral blood samples at baseline, at the time of clinical response assessment and at the time of progression for correlative studies. These will be done in the laboratory of Dr. Marina Konopleva at MDACC and Dr. Tony Letai at DFCI.

  11. Change in expression of BCL-2 family proteins: BIM

    Time frame: 2 years

    To measure expression and function of Bcl-2 family proteins and its modulation by venetoclax in ALL blasts.

    The change in expression of BCL-2 family proteins from baseline to the time of each response assessment will be measured including BIM and summary statistics including the median and interquartile range of the change will be reported for all patients in the expansion cohort and also summarized for those achieving a CR/CRi and those patients who do not achieve a CR/CRi.

    This is based on section 9.1: We plan to collect bone marrow and peripheral blood samples at baseline, at the time of clinical response assessment and at the time of progression for correlative studies. These will be done in the laboratory of Dr. Marina Konopleva at MDACC and Dr. Tony Letai at DFCI.

  12. Change in expression of BCL-2 family proteins: BID

    Time frame: 2 years

    To measure expression and function of Bcl-2 family proteins and its modulation by venetoclax in ALL blasts.

    The change in expression of BCL-2 family proteins from baseline to the time of each response assessment will be measured including BID and summary statistics including the median and interquartile range of the change will be reported for all patients in the expansion cohort and also summarized for those achieving a CR/CRi and those patients who do not achieve a CR/CRi.

    This is based on section 9.1: We plan to collect bone marrow and peripheral blood samples at baseline, at the time of clinical response assessment and at the time of progression for correlative studies. These will be done in the laboratory of Dr. Marina Konopleva at MDACC and Dr. Tony Letai at DFCI.

  13. Change in expression of BCL-2 family proteins: BAD

    Time frame: 2 years

    To measure expression and function of Bcl-2 family proteins and its modulation by venetoclax in ALL blasts.

    The change in expression of BCL-2 family proteins from baseline to the time of each response assessment will be measured including BAD and summary statistics including the median and interquartile range of the change will be reported for all patients in the expansion cohort and also summarized for those achieving a CR/CRi and those patients who do not achieve a CR/CRi.

    This is based on section 9.1: We plan to collect bone marrow and peripheral blood samples at baseline, at the time of clinical response assessment and at the time of progression for correlative studies. These will be done in the laboratory of Dr. Marina Konopleva at MDACC and Dr. Tony Letai at DFCI.

  14. Change in expression of BCL-2 family proteins: NOXA

    Time frame: 2 years

    To measure expression and function of Bcl-2 family proteins and its modulation by venetoclax in ALL blasts.

    The change in expression of BCL-2 family proteins from baseline to the time of each response assessment will be measured including NOXA and summary statistics including the median and interquartile range of the change will be reported for all patients in the expansion cohort and also summarized for those achieving a CR/CRi and those patients who do not achieve a CR/CRi.

    This is based on section 9.1: We plan to collect bone marrow and peripheral blood samples at baseline, at the time of clinical response assessment and at the time of progression for correlative studies. These will be done in the laboratory of Dr. Marina Konopleva at MDACC and Dr. Tony Letai at DFCI.

  15. Change in expression of BCL-2 family proteins: PUMA

    Time frame: 2 years

    To measure expression and function of Bcl-2 family proteins and its modulation by venetoclax in ALL blasts.

    The change in expression of BCL-2 family proteins from baseline to the time of each response assessment will be measured including PUMA and summary statistics including the median and interquartile range of the change will be reported for all patients in the expansion cohort and also summarized for those achieving a CR/CRi and those patients who do not achieve a CR/CRi.

    This is based on section 9.1: We plan to collect bone marrow and peripheral blood samples at baseline, at the time of clinical response assessment and at the time of progression for correlative studies. These will be done in the laboratory of Dr. Marina Konopleva at MDACC and Dr. Tony Letai at DFCI.

  16. Change in expression of BCL-2 family proteins: HRK (pro-apoptotic)

    Time frame: 2 years

    To measure expression and function of Bcl-2 family proteins and its modulation by venetoclax in ALL blasts.

    The change in expression of BCL-2 family proteins from baseline to the time of each response assessment will be measured including HRK (pro-apoptotic) and summary statistics including the median and interquartile range of the change will be reported for all patients in the expansion cohort and also summarized for those achieving a CR/CRi and those patients who do not achieve a CR/CRi.

    This is based on section 9.1: We plan to collect bone marrow and peripheral blood samples at baseline, at the time of clinical response assessment and at the time of progression for correlative studies. These will be done in the laboratory of Dr. Marina Konopleva at MDACC and Dr. Tony Letai at DFCI.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Other

Collaborators

  • AbbVie

Registry information

Official study title

A Phase Ib Study of the Combination of Venetoclax With Chemotherapy as Frontline Therapy in Older Patients and Patients With Relapsed/Refractory Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Important dates

Study start
2017
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2028
First posted
Oct 24, 2017
Registry last updated
Jun 1, 2026

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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