Venetoclax + Azacitidine vs. Induction Chemotherapy in AML

This is an open-label, multicenter, phase II randomized clinical trial to compare the therapeutic activity of conventional induction chemotherapy (7+3 regimen or liposomal daunorubicin and cytarabine) to the combination of venetoclax and azacitidine among fit, traditionally induction-eligible adults with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the combinations of liposomal daunorubicin and cytarabine as well as cytarabine and idarubicin or daunorubicin as treatment options for acute myeloid leukemia (AML)

The FDA has approved the combination of venetoclax and azacitidine for people with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) that are over the age of 75 or who have comorbidities that preclude intensive induction chemotherapy.

Venetoclax may interact with BCL-2 (a protein that initiates tumor growth, disease progression, and drug resistance) and inhibit BLC-2 which can lead to cancer cell death. Azacitidine may cause cell death in rapidly dividing cells, which may lead to cancer cell death since cancer cells do not grow at a normal rate. Induction Chemotherapy which includes the drugs idarubicin or daunorubicin, cytarabine, and liposomal daunorubicin and cytarabine is the standard of care chemotherapy treatment for someone with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

The research study procedures include screening for eligibility and study treatment, including evaluations and follow up visits.

Participants will receive study treatment for as long as they and their doctor believe they are benefitting from the study drugs. Participants will then be followed for 3 years or until they withdraw their consent to be contacted.

It is expected that about 172 people will take part in this research study.

AbbVie, a biopharmaceutical company, is supporting this research study by providing funding for the study, including one of the study drugs.

Inclusion criteria

• Age ≥ 18 years
• Participants must have pathologically confirmed, newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and characterized by 20% or more blasts in the peripheral blood or bone marrow. The AML may be either:

• De Novo: AML in patients with no clinical history of prior myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), myeloproliferative disorder, or exposure to potentially leukemogenic therapies or agents
• Secondary AML (sAML): refers to an acute leukemic process (1) evolving from known prior myelodysplasia, myeloproliferative disorder, or aplastic anemia with or without treatment or; (2) as a product of previous exposure to a proven leukemogenic chemotherapeutic agent
• Eligible for intensive induction chemotherapy, according to their treating physician
• ECOG performance status ≤2 (Karnofsky ≥60%, see Appendix A)
• Left ventricular ejection fraction > 50% as measured by echocardiogram or MUGA scan
• Must not have received systemic prior antineoplastic therapy for treatment for the newly diagnosed AML, including radiation therapy, except hydroxyurea for the purposes of cytoreduction. Patients may also have received all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) if there is an early suspicion of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL, M3-AML), although if confirmed to have APL these patients will be excluded from the study.
• Adequate renal function as defined by calculated creatinine clearance ≥ 30 mL/min (Cockcroft-Gault formula or measured by 24 hours urine collection).
• Adequate hepatic function per local laboratory reference ranges as follows:

• Aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) ≤ 3.0X ULN (unless secondary to leukemia, in which case patient may be eligible after consideration and approval by the Overall PI)
• Total bilirubin ≤ 2.0 x ULN (unless bilirubin rise is known to be due to Gilbert's syndrome or of non-hepatic origin)
• The effects of venetoclax on the developing human fetus are unknown. For this reason and because other chemotherapeutic agents are known to be teratogenic, women of childbearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control; abstinence) prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while she or her partner is participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately. Women should use contraceptives for at least 30 days following the last dose of venetoclax. Men treated or enrolled on this protocol must also agree to use adequate contraception prior to the study, for the duration of study participation, and 4 months after completion of therapy.
• Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.

Exclusion criteria

• Diagnosis of Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) or AML with favorable cytogenetics [t(8;21), inv(16), t(16;16)]
• Patients < 60 years old with NPM1-mutated AML:
• Patients with FLT3-mutated AML (TKD or ITD) - see notes below.

• Institutional FLT3 mutational assays can be used to assess for detection of the mutation.
• A patient with a FLT3 mutation detected at a level of 5% VAF or less, below that typically detectable on the companion diagnostics approved for use by the FDA (http://www.fda.gov/CompanionDiagnostics), would be deemed eligible to enroll.
• A negative FLT3 mutation result using an outside laboratory assay that is equivalent or similar to that approved as a companion diagnostic by the FDA (http://www.fda.gov/CompanionDiagnostics) is sufficient to rule out FLT3 mutated disease.
• Patients with a known diagnosis of CML or known presence of BCR-Abl alteration
• Patients with acute leukemia with ambiguous lineage or mixed phenotype
• Patients that have received strong and/or moderate CYP3A inducers within 7 days prior to the initiation of study treatment.
• Subject has consumed grapefruit, grapefruit products, Seville oranges (including marmalade containing Seville oranges) or Starfruit within 3 days prior to the initiation of study treatment.
• Patients who have had prior systemic cytotoxic chemotherapy or radiotherapy for AML (excluding patients with therapy-related AML), except for hydroxyurea or 6-MP as noted. Empiric intrathecal chemotherapy during a diagnostic lumbar puncture is allowed, as long as CNS disease is not suspected.
• Patients treated with prior hypomethylating therapy (such as azacitidine or decitabine).
• Patients who will exceed a lifetime anthracycline exposure of >550 mg/m2 daunorubicin or equivalent (or >400 mg/m2 daunorubicin or equivalent in the event of prior mediastinal radiation) if they receive the maximum potential exposure to anthracyclines per protocol (including both induction and consolidation cycles).
• Individuals with a history of a different malignancy are ineligible except for the following circumstances. Individuals with a history of other malignancies are eligible if they have been disease-free for at least 3 years and are deemed by the investigator to be at low risk for recurrence of that malignancy. Individuals with a history of other malignancies within 3 years and without any evidence of disease progression may be considered, but only after consideration and approval by the Overall PI. Individuals with the following cancers are eligible if diagnosed and treated within the past 3 years: cervical cancer in situ, breast DCIS, and basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin.
• Current clinical central nervous system (CNS) symptoms deemed by the investigator to be related to leukemic CNS involvement (no lumbar puncture required, clinical assessment per investigator's judgment is sufficient).
• Prior bone marrow transplantation for a myeloid malignancy
• Participants who are receiving any other investigational agents within the prior 14 days.
• Currently clinically active hepatitis C or hepatitis B infection, as suggested by serology or viral load.
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected participants. Patients with detectable viral load on a stable anti-viral regimen may be eligible, after discussion with the study overall PI.
• Current or history of congestive heart failure New York Heart Association (NYHA) class 3 or 4, or any known history of an LVEF <50%, as measured by MUGA scan or echocardiogram. Prior to study entry, any ECG abnormality at screening has to be documented by the investigator as not medically relevant.
• Known hypersensitivity to the trial drugs or other contraindication to standard "7+3" induction chemotherapy.
• WBC > 25 x 109/L. Note: hydroxyurea is permitted to meet this criterion. If WBC cannot be controlled to <25 x 109/L at the time of enrollment, the WBC management plan must be discussed and approved by the Overall PI.
• Patients who might refuse to receive blood products and/or have a hypersensitivity to blood products
• Patients with clinically significant persistent electrolyte abnormalities such as hypokalemia, hyperkalemia, hypocalcemia, hypercalcemia, hypomagnesemia, and hypermagnesemia of Grade > 1 per NCI CTCAE, v5.0. Treatment for correction of above electrolyte imbalances is permitted during screening to meet eligibility.
• Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, clinically ongoing or active infection requiring intravenous antibiotics (IV antibiotics are allowed if infection is deemed to be controlled), symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements.
• Known GI disease or GI procedures that could interfere with the oral absorption or tolerance of the study drugs. Examples include, but are not limited to partial gastrectomy, history of small intestine surgery, and celiac disease.
• Pregnant women are excluded from this study because venetoclax and azacitidine, along with standard induction chemotherapy, carries the potential for teratogenic or abortifacient effects. Because there is potential risk for adverse events in nursing infants secondary to treatment of the mother with venetoclax as well as azacitidine, cytarabine, daunorubicin and idarubicin, breastfeeding should be avoided. Confirmation that the subject is not pregnant must be established by a negative serum β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) pregnancy test result obtained during screening. Pregnancy testing is not required for post-menopausal or surgically sterilized women.
• Patients with psychological, familial, social, or geographic factors that otherwise preclude them from giving informed consent, following the protocol, or potentially hamper compliance with study treatment and follow-up.
• Patients who are otherwise felt unable to comply with the protocol, in the opinion of the investigator.