Combination Chemotherapy and Nelarabine in Treating Patients With T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia or Lymphoblastic Lymphoma

January 5, 2026 updated by: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Phase II Study of Hyper-CVAD Plus Nelarabine in Previously Untreated T-ALL and Lymphoblastic Lymphoma

This phase II trial studies the side effects and how well combination chemotherapy and nelarabine work in treating patients with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia or lymphoblastic lymphoma. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, dexamethasone, methotrexate, cytarabine, mercaptopurine, prednisone, pegaspargase, nelarabine, and venetoclax work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To determine the complete remission (CR) rate and progression-free survival following treatment with hyperfractionated cyclophosphamide, vincristine sulfate, doxorubicin hydrochloride, and dexamethasone (hyper-CVAD) in combination with nelarabine in previously untreated patients with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma.

II. To determine the safety and overall survival of previously untreated patients with T-cell ALL and T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma.

III. To determine the safety and efficacy of adding pegaspargase to the regimen.

IV. To determine the safety and efficacy of adding venetoclax to the regimen.

OUTLINE:

COURSES 1, 3, 5, and 7 (hyper-CVAD): Patients receive cyclophosphamide intravenously (IV) over 3 hours twice daily (BID) on day 1-3, doxorubicin IV over 24 hours on day 4, vincristine IV over 15-30 minutes on days 4 and 11, and dexamethasone IV or orally (PO) once daily (QD) on days 1-4 and 11-14.

COURSES 2, 4, 6, and 8 (methotrexate/cytarabine): Patients receive methotrexate IV over 24 hours on day 1 and cytarabine IV over 2 hours BID on days 2 and 3.

Patients also receive venetoclax PO QD on days 1-14 of each course. Courses of hyper-CVAD and methotrexate/cytarabine repeat every 21 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

Patients also receive nelarabine IV over 2 hours once daily (QD) for 5 days and pegaspargase IV over 2 hours on day 5 after completion of course 4 and after the completion of course 5 in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

MAINTENANCE COURSES 1-5, 8-17, and 20-30 (mercaptopurine, vincristine, methotrexate, and prednisone [POMP]): Patients receive mercaptopurine PO thrice daily (TID), methotrexate PO once weekly, vincristine sulfate IV on day 1, prednisone PO QD on days 1-5, and venetoclax PO QD on days 1-7. Courses repeat every 28 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

INTENSIFICATION COURSES 6 and 7: Patients receive nelarabine IV QD over 2 hours on days 1-5 and pegaspargase IV over 2 hours on day 5. Patients also receive venetoclax PO QD on days 1-14. Courses repeat every 21-35 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

INTENSIFICATION COURSES 18 and 19: Patients receive methotrexate IV over 2 hours on day 1, pegaspargase IV over 2 hours on day 2, and venetoclax PO QD on days 1-14 in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

POMP maintenance therapy continues for 30 months in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up every 3-6 months.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
160

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.
  • Name: Farhad Ravandi-Kashani, MD
  • Phone Number: 713-745-0394

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Texas
      • Houston, Texas, United States, 77030
        • Recruiting
        • M D Anderson Cancer Center
        • Contact:
          • Farhad Ravandi-Kashani
          • Phone Number: 713-745-0394
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Farhad Ravandi-Kashani

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Previously untreated T cell ALL including T cell lymphoblastic lymphoma; failure to one induction course of chemotherapy are eligible; patients in CR after =< 2 courses are also eligible
  • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status less than or equal to 3
  • Serum bilirubin less than or equal to 2.0 mg/dL unless considered due to involvement by tumor when an upper limit of 5.0 mg/dL is acceptable
  • Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) or serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) less than or equal to 4 x upper limit of normal (ULN)
  • Serum creatinine less than or equal to 2.0 mg/dL unless considered due to involvement by tumor when an upper limit of 2.5 mg/dL is acceptable

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Pregnant or nursing women

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Treatment (nelarabine and combination chemotherapy)
See Detailed Description
Drug: Cytarabine
Given IV
Other Names:
  • .beta.-Cytosine arabinoside
  • 1-.beta.-D-Arabinofuranosyl-4-amino-2(1H)pyrimidinone
  • 1-.beta.-D-Arabinofuranosylcytosine
  • 1-Beta-D-arabinofuranosyl-4-amino-2(1H)pyrimidinone
  • 1-Beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine
  • 1.beta.-D-Arabinofuranosylcytosine
  • 2(1H)-Pyrimidinone, 4-Amino-1-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl-
  • 2(1H)-Pyrimidinone, 4-amino-1.beta.-D-arabinofuranosyl-
  • Alexan
  • Ara-C
  • ARA-cell
  • Arabine
  • Arabinofuranosylcytosine
  • Arabinosylcytosine
  • Aracytidine
  • Aracytin
  • Aracytine
  • CHX-3311
  • Cytarabinum
  • Cytarbel
  • Cytosar
  • Cytosine Arabinoside
  • Cytosine-.beta.-arabinoside
  • Cytosine-beta-arabinoside
  • Erpalfa
  • Starasid
  • Tarabine PFS
  • U 19920
  • U-19920
  • Udicil
  • WR-28453
  • Beta-cytosine Arabinoside
Drug: Cyclophosphamide
Given IV
Other Names:
  • Cytoxan
  • CTX
  • (-)-Cyclophosphamide
  • 2H-1,3,2-Oxazaphosphorine, 2-[bis(2-chloroethyl)amino]tetrahydro-, 2-oxide, monohydrate
  • Carloxan
  • Ciclofosfamida
  • Ciclofosfamide
  • Cicloxal
  • Clafen
  • Claphene
  • CP monohydrate
  • CYCLO-cell
  • Cycloblastin
  • Cycloblastine
  • Cyclophospham
  • Cyclophosphamid monohydrate
  • Cyclophosphamide Monohydrate
  • Cyclophosphamidum
  • Cyclophosphan
  • Cyclophosphane
  • Cyclophosphanum
  • Cyclostin
  • Cyclostine
  • Cytophosphan
  • Cytophosphane
  • Fosfaseron
  • Genoxal
  • Genuxal
  • Ledoxina
  • Mitoxan
  • Neosar
  • Revimmune
  • Syklofosfamid
  • WR- 138719
Drug: Mercaptopurine
Given PO
Other Names:
  • 6-MP
  • Purinethol
  • 3H-Purine-6-thiol
  • 6 MP
  • 6 Thiohypoxanthine
  • 6 Thiopurine
  • 6-Mercaptopurine
  • 6-Mercaptopurine Monohydrate
  • 6-Purinethiol
  • 6-Thiopurine
  • 6-Thioxopurine
  • 6H-Purine-6-thione, 1,7-dihydro- (9CI)
  • 7-Mercapto-1,3,4,6-tetrazaindene
  • Alti-Mercaptopurine
  • Azathiopurine
  • Flocofil
  • Ismipur
  • Leukerin
  • Leupurin
  • Mercaleukim
  • Mercaleukin
  • Mercaptina
  • Mercaptopurinum
  • Mercapurin
  • Mern
  • NCI-C04886
  • Puri-Nethol
  • Purimethol
  • Purine, 6-mercapto-
  • Purine-6-thiol (8CI)
  • Purine-6-thiol, monohydrate
  • Purinethiol
  • U-4748
  • WR-2785
  • BW 57-323H
Drug: Prednisone
Given PO
Other Names:
  • Deltasone
  • Orasone
  • .delta.1-Cortisone
  • 1, 2-Dehydrocortisone
  • Adasone
  • Cortancyl
  • Dacortin
  • DeCortin
  • Decortisyl
  • Decorton
  • Delta 1-Cortisone
  • Delta-Dome
  • Deltacortene
  • Deltacortisone
  • Deltadehydrocortisone
  • Deltison
  • Deltra
  • Econosone
  • Lisacort
  • Meprosona-F
  • Metacortandracin
  • Meticorten
  • Ofisolona
  • Panafcort
  • Panasol-S
  • Paracort
  • Perrigo Prednisone
  • PRED
  • Predicor
  • Predicorten
  • Prednicen-M
  • Prednicort
  • Prednidib
  • Prednilonga
  • Predniment
  • Prednisone Intensol
  • Prednisonum
  • Prednitone
  • Promifen
  • Rayos
  • Servisone
  • SK-Prednisone
Drug: Venetoclax
Given PO
Other Names:
  • Venclexta
  • ABT-0199
  • ABT-199
  • ABT199
  • GDC-0199
  • RG7601
  • Venclyxto
Drug: Vincristine Sulfate
Given IV
Other Names:
  • Oncovin
  • Kyocristine
  • Leurocristine, sulfate
  • Vincasar
  • Vincosid
  • Vincrex
  • Vincristine, sulfate
  • Leurocristine sulfate
Drug: Doxorubicin Hydrochloride
Given IV
Other Names:
  • Adriamycin
  • 5,12-Naphthacenedione, 10-[(3-amino-2,3,6-trideoxy-alpha-L-lyxo-hexopyranosyl)oxy]-7,8, 9,10-tetrahydro-6,8,11-trihydroxy-8-(hydroxyacetyl)-1-methoxy-, hydrochloride, (8S-cis)- (9CI)
  • ADM
  • Adriacin
  • Adriamycin Hydrochloride
  • Adriamycin PFS
  • Adriamycin RDF
  • ADRIAMYCIN, HYDROCHLORIDE
  • Adriamycine
  • Adriblastina
  • Adriblastine
  • Adrimedac
  • Chloridrato de Doxorrubicina
  • DOX
  • DOXO-CELL
  • Doxolem
  • Doxorubicin HCl
  • Doxorubicin.HCl
  • Doxorubin
  • Farmiblastina
  • FI 106
  • FI-106
  • hydroxydaunorubicin
  • Rubex
Drug: Pegaspargase
Given IV
Other Names:
  • L-Asparaginase with Polyethylene Glycol
  • Oncaspar
  • Oncaspar-IV
  • PEG-Asparaginase
  • PEG-L-Asparaginase
  • PEG-L-Asparaginase (Enzon - Kyowa Hakko)
  • PEGLA
  • Polyethylene Glycol L-Asparaginase
  • Polyethylene Glycol-L-Asparaginase
Drug: Dexamethasone
Given IV or PO
Other Names:
  • Decadron
  • Aacidexam
  • Adexone
  • Aknichthol Dexa
  • Alba-Dex
  • Alin
  • Alin Depot
  • Alin Oftalmico
  • Amplidermis
  • Anemul mono
  • Auricularum
  • Auxiloson
  • Baycadron
  • Baycuten
  • Baycuten N
  • Cortidexason
  • Cortisumman
  • Decacort
  • Decadrol
  • Decadron DP
  • Decalix
  • Decameth
  • Decasone R.p.
  • Dectancyl
  • Dekacort
  • Deltafluorene
  • Deronil
  • Desamethasone
  • Desameton
  • Dexa-Mamallet
  • Dexa-Rhinosan
  • Dexa-Scheroson
  • Dexa-sine
  • Dexacortal
  • Dexacortin
  • Dexafarma
  • Dexafluorene
  • Dexalocal
  • Dexamecortin
  • Dexameth
  • Dexamethasone Intensol
  • Dexamethasonum
  • Dexamonozon
  • Dexapos
  • Dexinoral
  • Dexone
  • Dinormon
  • Fluorodelta
  • Fortecortin
  • Gammacorten
  • Hexadecadrol
  • Hexadrol
  • Lokalison-F
  • Loverine
  • Methylfluorprednisolone
  • Millicorten
  • Mymethasone
  • Orgadrone
  • Spersadex
  • TaperDex
  • Visumetazone
  • ZoDex
Drug: Methotrexate
Given IV and PO
Other Names:
  • Abitrexate
  • Folex
  • Mexate
  • MTX
  • Alpha-Methopterin
  • Amethopterin
  • Brimexate
  • CL 14377
  • CL-14377
  • Emtexate
  • Emthexat
  • Emthexate
  • Farmitrexat
  • Fauldexato
  • Folex PFS
  • Lantarel
  • Ledertrexate
  • Lumexon
  • Maxtrex
  • Medsatrexate
  • Metex
  • Methoblastin
  • Methotrexate LPF
  • Methotrexate Methylaminopterin
  • Methotrexatum
  • Metotrexato
  • Metrotex
  • Mexate-AQ
  • Novatrex
  • Rheumatrex
  • Texate
  • Tremetex
  • Trexeron
  • Trixilem
  • WR-19039
Drug: Nelarabine
Given IV
Other Names:
  • Arranon
  • 2-Amino-6-methoxypurine arabinoside
  • 506U78
  • Compound 506U78
  • GW506U78

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Complete remission rate
Time Frame: 3 years
The sample size will provide an estimate of relapse rate at 3 years with a 95% confidence interval of width +/- 10%.
3 years
Duration of remission
Time Frame: Up to 9 years
Duration of remission will be evaluated.
Up to 9 years
Progression-free survival
Time Frame: 3 years
Progression-free survival will be estimated.
3 years
Overall survival
Time Frame: 3 years
Overall survival will be estimated.
3 years

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Farhad Ravandi-Kashani, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

Helpful Links

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
July 11, 2007

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
October 31, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
October 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
July 12, 2007

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
July 13, 2007

First Posted (Estimated)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
July 16, 2007

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimated)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
January 7, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
January 5, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 2006-0328 (Other Identifier: M D Anderson Cancer Center)
  • NCI-2012-01518 (Registry Identifier: CTRP (Clinical Trial Reporting Program))

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

Yes

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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