Cladribine, Idarubicin, Cytarabine, and Venetoclax in Treating Patients With Acute Myeloid Leukemia, High-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome, or Blastic Phase Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

May 18, 2026 updated by: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Phase II Study of Cladribine Plus Idarubicin Plus Cytarabine (ARAC) in Patients With AML, HR MDS, or Myeloid Blast Phase of CML

This phase II trial studies how well cladribine, idarubicin, cytarabine, and venetoclax work in patients with acute myeloid leukemia, high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome, or blastic phase chronic myeloid leukemia. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as cladribine, idarubicin, cytarabine, 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 response rate (CR) of cladribine in combination with idarubicin and cytarabine (araC) in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), high risk (HR) myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), or myeloid blast phase of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).

Secondary Objectives:

I. To determine the overall response rate (ORR) of cladribine in combination with idarubicin and araC in patients with AML, HR MDS, or myeloid blast phase of CML.

II. To assess overall survival (OS) and event free survival (EFS) of patients treated with cladribine, idarubicin, and araC (cytarabine).

III. To assess the duration of response to the combination in patients with AML, HR MDS, or myeloid blast phase of CML.

IV. To determine the safety and tolerability of the combination in patients with AML, HR MDS, or myeloid blast phase of CML.

Exploratory Objectives:

I. To study and describe the relationship between pretreatment patient/disease characteristics (including AML-associated molecular abnormalities) and outcome.

II. To identify molecular biomarkers predictive of response to therapy.

III. To study and describe the relationship between patient/disease characteristics, use of intrathecal prophylaxis, and incidence of leptomeningeal disease.

IV. To study the trajectories of leukemia mutations and molecular minimal residual disease (MRD) during the therapy.

OUTLINE:

INDUCTION: Patients receive cladribine intravenously (IV) and cytarabine IV over 1-2 hours on days 1-5 and idarubicin IV over 30-60 minutes on days 1-3. Patients with untreated AML and MDS also receive venetoclax orally (PO) on days 2-8. AML patients with known FLT3-ITD or FLT3 kinase domain mutations may receive midostaurin PO twice daily (BID) on days 6-19 or gilteritinib PO once daily (QD) on days 1-14. Treatment repeats every 28 days for up to 2 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

CONSOLIDATION: Patients receive cladribine IV and cytarabine IV over 1-2 hours on days 1-3 and idarubicin IV over 30-60 minutes on days 1-2. Patients with untreated AML and MDS also receive venetoclax PO on days 2-8. AML patients with known FLT3-ITD or FLT3 kinase domain mutations may receive midostaurin PO BID on days 6-19 or gilteritinib PO QD. Treatment repeats every 28 days for up to 5 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up every 6-12 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.
508

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.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Texas
      • Houston, Texas, United States, 77030
        • Recruiting
        • M D Anderson Cancer Center
        • Contact:
          • Tapan M. Kadia
          • Phone Number: 713-792-7305
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Tapan M. Kadia

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

18 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Patients with a diagnosis of AML, Acute Biphenotypic Leukemia, or high risk MDS (>/= 10% blasts or IPSS >/= intermediate-2) will be eligible. Patients with CML in Myeloid Blast Phase are also eligible.
  2. For Frontline cohort (1 or 4): No prior potentially-curative therapy for leukemia. Prior therapy with hydroxyurea, hematopoietic growth factors, azacytidine, decitabine, ATRA, or a total dose of cytarabine up to 2g (for emergency use for stabilization) is allowed. Patients deemed able to receive venetoclax (ie. insurance clearance) will be assigned to Frontline cohort 4. Patients with secondary AMLwho have been treated for their antecedent myeloid neoplasm will be enrolled into the separate Secondary AML cohort.
  3. For Salvage cohort: Patients with previously treated, relapsed or refractory AML, Acute Biphenotypic Leukemia, or CML in Myeloid Blast Phase are eligible.
  4. Age </= 65 years.

  5. Adequate organ function as defined below:

    • liver function (bilirubin < 2mg/dL, AST and/or ALT <3 x ULN - or <5 x ULN if related to leukemic involvement)
    • kidney function (creatinine < 1.5 x ULN ).
    • known cardiac ejection fraction of > or = 45% within the past 6 months
  6. ECOG performance status of ≤ 2.
  7. A negative urine pregnancy test is required within 1 week for all women of childbearing potential prior to enrolling on this trial.
  8. Patient must have the ability to understand the requirements of the study and signed informed consent. A signed informed consent by the patient is required prior to their enrollment on the protocol.

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Pregnant women are excluded from this study because the agents used in this study have the potential for teratogenic or abortifacient effects. Because there is a potential risk for adverse events in nursing infants secondary to treatment of the mother with the chemotherapy agents, breastfeeding should also be avoided.
  2. Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to active uncontrolled infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure (NYHA Class III or IV), unstable angina pectoris, clinically significant cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements.
  3. Patient with documented hypersensitivity to any of the components of the chemotherapy program.
  4. Men and women of childbearing potential who do not practice contraception. Women of childbearing potential and men must agree to use contraception prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation.

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
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

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 (cladribine, cytarabine, idarubicin)

INDUCTION: Patients receive cladribine IV and cytarabine IV over 1-2 hours on days 1-5 and idarubicin IV over 30-60 minutes on days 1-3. Patients with untreated AML and MDS also receive venetoclax PO on days 2-8. AML patients with known FLT3-ITD or FLT3 kinase domain mutations may receive midostaurin PO BID on days 6-19 or gilteritinib PO QD on days 1-14. Treatment repeats every 28 days for up to 2 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

CONSOLIDATION: Patients receive cladribine IV and cytarabine IV over 1-2 hours on days 1-3 and idarubicin IV over 30-60 minutes on days 1-2. Patients with untreated AML and MDS also receive venetoclax PO on days 2-8. AML patients with known FLT3-ITD or FLT3 kinase domain mutations may receive midostaurin PO BID on days 6-19 or gilteritinib PO QD. Treatment repeats every 28 days for up to 5 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
Other: Laboratory Biomarker Analysis
Correlative studies
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: Venetoclax
Given PO
Other Names:
  • Venclexta
  • ABT-0199
  • ABT-199
  • ABT199
  • GDC-0199
  • RG7601
  • Venclyxto
Drug: Cladribine
Given IV
Other Names:
  • 2-CdA
  • CdA
  • 2CDA
  • Cladribina
  • Leustat
  • Leustatin
  • Leustatine
  • RWJ-26251
Drug: Midostaurin
Given PO
Other Names:
  • Rydapt
  • PKC412
  • CGP 41251
  • CGP41251
  • N-Benzoyl-Staurosporine
  • N-Benzoylstaurosporine
  • PKC-412
Drug: Gilteritinib
Given PO
Other Names:
  • ASP2215
  • Xospata
  • ASP-2215
Drug: Idarubicin
Given IV
Other Names:
  • 4-Demethoxydaunomycin
  • 4-demethoxydaunorubicin
  • 4-DMDR

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 response (CR) rate
Time Frame: Up to 12 months
CR rate will be determined.
Up to 12 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Overall response rate (ORR)
Time Frame: Up to 12 months
ORR will be determined.
Up to 12 months
Overall survival (OS)
Time Frame: Up to 12 months
OS will be assessed.
Up to 12 months
Event-free survival (EFS)
Time Frame: Up to 12 months
EFS will be assessed.
Up to 12 months
Duration of response
Time Frame: Up to 12 months
Duration of response will be assessed.
Up to 12 months
Incidence of toxicities
Time Frame: Up to 12 months
Safety and tolerability of cladribine in combination with idarubicin and cytarabine will be determined.
Up to 12 months

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Use of intrathecal prophylaxis
Time Frame: Up to 12 months
The relationship between patient/disease characteristics and use of intrathecal prophylaxis will be studied and described.
Up to 12 months
Incidence of leptomeningeal disease
Time Frame: Up to 12 months
The relationship between patient/disease characteristics and incidence of leptomeningeal disease will be studied and described.
Up to 12 months

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: Tapan M Kadia, 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.

General Publications

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.
May 19, 2014

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.
May 31, 2030

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.
May 31, 2030

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).
April 14, 2014

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.
April 14, 2014

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.
April 16, 2014

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

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.
May 20, 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.
May 18, 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.
May 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.
  • 2012-0648 (Other Identifier: M D Anderson Cancer Center)
  • NCI-2014-01103 (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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