Use of Ribavirin and Low Dose Ara-C to Treat Acute Myeloid Leukemia

September 28, 2023 updated by: Sarit Assouline, Jewish General Hospital

A Phase I/II Study of Ribavirin and Low-dose Cytarabine Arabinoside (Ara-C) in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) M4 and M5 Subtypes, and AML With High eIF4E Expression

The purpose of the study is to determine the maximum tolerated dose of ribavirin, when given in combination with low-dose ara-C and to determine if it is safe and well-tolerated in patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Detailed Description

Primary Objectives

In the Phase I portion of this study, we will determine the maximum tolerated dose and recommended phase II dose (RP2D) of ribavirin and low-dose ara-C. The primary objective of the Phase II portion of the study is to determine the overall response rate, including the complete remission (CR), complete remission with incomplete blood count recovery (CRi), partial remission (PR) or blast response (BR), to therapy with ribavirin and low dose ara-C at the RP2D.

STUDY DESIGN AND DURATION

This is a multicentre, open-label, single arm Phase I/II study of oral ribavirin and low-dose ara-C for patients with AML M4/M5 or AML with high expression of eIF4E, who have relapsed or refractory disease, or who are not suitable candidates for induction chemotherapy. This study will determine the recommended phase II dose and will evaluate efficacy. Correlative studies will be included to assess relevant molecular targets.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

29

Phase

  • Phase 2
  • Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

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

Study Locations

    • Quebec
      • Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3T 1E2
        • Jewish General Hospital

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

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • The following patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are eligible:

    • De novo AML M4 or M5 FAB subtype or high eIF4E.
    • Secondary AML after a myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or a myeloproliferative disorder (not chronic myelogenous leukemia), if M4 or M5 FAB subtype or high eIF4E.
    • Therapy-related AML if M4 or M5 FAB subtype or high eIF4E.
    • CML blast crisis if they have failed imatinib and at least one other tyrosine kinase inhibitor.
  • All patients must have failed primary therapy (defined as two induction chemotherapies), have relapsed, or are not suitable candidates for intensive induction chemotherapy.
  • Patients who have a dry aspirate or extramedullary disease only are eligible for this study if they have a pre-treatment marrow or tissue biopsy demonstrating AML M4 or M5 subtype or high eIF4E expression.
  • ECOG performance status 0, 1, 2 or 3.
  • Life expectancy > 4 weeks.
  • Age is > 18 years.
  • Female patients of childbearing potential must have a negative serum (beta-HCG) pregnancy test within 14 days of starting protocol and must not be breastfeeding. Men and women of childbearing potential must agree to use an effective means of contraception throughout the study and for at least 30 days after completion of protocol.
  • Adequate renal and hepatic function: serum creatinine < 1.5 x ULN; AST or ALT < 2.5 x ULN (or < 5 x ULN if liver involvement with leukemia); serum bilirubin < 1.5 x ULN.
  • Provide written consent after the investigational nature, study design, risks and benefits of the study have been explained.
  • Accessible for treatment and follow up.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Uncontrolled central nervous system involvement by AML.
  • Active cardiovascular disease as defined by New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III-IV categorization.
  • Intercurrent illness or medical condition precluding safe administration of the planned protocol treatment or required follow-up.
  • Received any previous therapy for AML within 28 days prior to the study entry. Hydrea is permitted for the treatment of leukocytosis but must be stopped within 7 days of starting low dose ara-C and ribavirin.
  • Female patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
  • Concurrent treatment with other anti-cancer therapy.
  • Known infection with HIV.
  • History of other malignancy. Subjects who have been disease-free for 2 year or subjects with a history of completely resected non-melanoma skin cancer or successfully treated in situ carcinoma are eligible.
  • FAB AML M1, 2, 6, 7 will be excluded if they do not have high eIF4E expression. AML M3 is always excluded.

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
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Ribavirin-Cytarabine arabinoside
Ribavirin will be given orally bid according to a dose escalation scheme daily for 28 days of a 28 day cycle Cytarabine arabinoside will be given 20 mg sc bid days 1 to 10 of a 28 day cycle
Dose level 1 = 1000 mg po BID/ Dose level 2 = 1400 mg po BID/ Dose level 3 = 1800 mg po BID
Previous cohorts at 20 mg bid days 1 to 10 of every 28 day cycle. Dosage modified to 10 mg bid days 1 to 10 of every 28 day cycle for more recent cohorts.
Other Names:
  • Ara-C

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Recommended Phase II Dose (RP2D) of Ribavirin When Given in Combination With Low-dose Ara-C
Time Frame: 56 days
This 3+3 designed aimed to determine recommended phase II dose (RP2D) based on pharmacokinetics (PK) and maximum tolerated dose (MTD). For the dose to be selected, a target steady state level of ribavirin 20 uM was needed for all patients and no more than 1 of 6 patients could have had dose limiting toxicity at that dose.
56 days

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Overall Response Rate
Time Frame: 2-3 years
Overall response rate comprises complete response (<5% blasts in the bone marrow, and in the peripheral blood Hgb more than or equal to 100 g/L, platelets more than or equal to 100x10-9/L, and neutrophils more than or equal to 1x10-9/L), partial response (5 to 25% blasts in the bone marrow and same peripheral blood parameters) and blast response (a greater than 50% decrease in bone marrow blast count and 2 log reduction in peripheral blood blast count, sustained for at least 28 days).
2-3 years
Complete Response Rate
Time Frame: 2-3 years
Defined as <5% blasts in the bone marrow and a hgb 100 g/L, platelets 100,000/uL, neutrophils 1000/uL.
2-3 years
Partial Response
Time Frame: 2-3 years
Partial response was defined as 5 to 25% blasts in the bone marrow and Hgb >100g/L, platelets >100,000/ul and neutrophils >1000/ul.
2-3 years
Blast Response
Time Frame: 2-3 years
Blast response was defined as a greater than 50% decrease in bone marrow blast count and 2 log reduction in peripheral blood blast count, sustained for at least 28 days.
2-3 years

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Investigators

  • Study Director: Katherine Borden, PhD, Université de Montréal
  • Principal Investigator: Sarit Assouline, MD, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University

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.

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

January 1, 2010

Primary Completion (Actual)

January 1, 2015

Study Completion (Actual)

January 1, 2015

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

January 25, 2010

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 25, 2010

First Posted (Estimated)

January 26, 2010

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

October 2, 2023

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 28, 2023

Last Verified

September 1, 2023

More Information

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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