Ibrutinib and Venetoclax in Treating Patients With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia After Ibrutinib Resistance

A Multicenter Study of Ibrutinib Resistance Development and Intervention With Venetoclax (Phase II)

This phase II trial studies how well the combination of ibrutinib and venetoclax works in treating patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia whose cancer has stopped responding to ibrutinib alone. Both ibrutinib and venetoclax may stop the growth of cancer cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Giving ibrutinib and venetoclax together after development of ibrutinib resistance may work better than discontinuing ibrutinib and switching to other chemotherapy drugs.

Study Overview

• Status: Withdrawn
• Conditions: Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia; Loss of Chromosome 17p
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Venetoclax; Drug: Ibrutinib

Detailed Description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. Overall response rate to combination ibrutinib and venetoclax after 12 cycles (intervention cohort).

II. Rate of mutation negative status after 12 cycles of combination venetoclax and ibrutinib (intervention cohort ).

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. Incidence of BTK C481S mutations during ibrutinib treatment (observation cohort).

II. Progression-free survival after development of a BTK C481S mutation (observation cohort).

III. Progression-free and overall survival after adding venetoclax to ibrutinib (intervention cohort).

IV. Type and incidence of adverse events during combination ibrutinib and venetoclax treatment in this patient population (intervention cohort).

EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVES:

I. Determine patient and disease characteristics associated with clinical disease progression in a univariable and multivariable analysis (observation cohort).

II. Determine the changes in the allelic frequency of ibrutinib resistance mutations after their development (observation cohort) and after venetoclax is added (intervention cohort).

III. Determine novel resistance mechanisms to ibrutinib and ibrutinib/venetoclax combination therapy by whole exome and ribonucleic acid (RNA) sequencing at baseline and clinical relapse.

IV. Perform BH3 profiling and correlate with response to combination venetoclax and ibrutinib therapy.

OUTLINE: This is a dose-escalation study of venetoclax.

OBSERVATION COHORT: Patients who are taking ibrutinib enter Observation cohort and undergo screening every 3 months for development for genetic mutations. If mutations develop, patients undergo increased screening for development of clinical disease progression. Patients who develop clinical disease progression with or without mutations enter the Intervention cohort.

INTERVENTION COHORT: Patients receive venetoclax orally (PO) daily and ibrutinib PO once daily (QD) on days 1-28. Cycles repeat every 28 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients who achieve minimal residual disease (MRD) negative complete remission (CR) after 12 or 24 cycles continue receiving ibrutinib PO QD on days 1-28 in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up every 3 months for 2 years and then every 6 months thereafter.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Phase: Phase 2

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) meeting criteria established by the International Workshop on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (IWCLL).
• Currently taking ibrutinib and first took ibrutinib > 12 months ago.
• At high risk for the development of ibrutinib resistance. Patients are considered at high risk for ibrutinib resistance if they have had >= 2 prior therapies for CLL prior to ibrutinib and have either del(17p)(13.1) and/or a complex CLL karyotype.
• Able to continue taking ibrutinib.
• Willing to enter the intervention cohort if clinical disease progression as defined by IWCLL 2018 criteria develops.
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status =< 2.
• Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) >= 1000/mm^3 independent of growth factor support.
• Platelets >= 100,000/mm^3 or >= 50,000/mm^3 if bone marrow involvement independent of transfusion support in either situation.
• Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) =< 3 x upper limit of normal (ULN).
• Total bilirubin =< 1.5 x ULN unless bilirubin rise is due to Gilbert?s syndrome or of non-hepatic origin.
• Creatinine clearance (CLcr) >30 ml/min.
• Able to take an absorb pill form oral medications.
• Women of childbearing potential and men who are sexually active must be practicing a highly effective method of birth control during and after the study consistent with local regulations regarding the use of birth control methods for subjects participating in clinical trials. Men must agree to not donate sperm during and after the study. For females, these restrictions apply for 1 month after the last dose of study drug. For males, these restrictions apply for 3 months after the last dose of study drug.
• Women of childbearing potential must have a negative serum (beta-human chorionic gonadotropin [beta-hCG]) or urine pregnancy test at Screening. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding are ineligible for this study.
• Sign (or their legally-acceptable representatives must sign) an informed consent document indicating that they understand the purpose of and procedures required for the study, including biomarkers, and are willing to participate in the study.
• CRITERIA FOR ENTERING THE INTERVENTION COHORT: Clinical disease progression as defined by IWCLL 2018 criteria AND presence of an ibrutinib resistance mutation as defined.
• CRITERIA FOR ENTERING THE INTERVENTION COHORT: No evidence of a non-CLL/small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) lymphoma (Richter?s syndrome).
• CRITERIA FOR ENTERING THE INTERVENTION COHORT: No contraindication to taking venetoclax.
• CRITERIA FOR ENTERING THE INTERVENTION COHORT: Able to continue taking ibrutinib.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Inability to continue taking ibrutinib for any reason.
• Presence of a known ibrutinib resistance mutation as defined.
• Clinical disease progression while taking ibrutinib as defined by IWCLL 2018 criteria.
• Major surgery or a wound that has not fully healed within 4 weeks of randomization.
• Known central nervous system lymphoma.
• Requires anticoagulation with warfarin or equivalent vitamin K antagonists (e.g., phenprocoumon).
• Requires chronic treatment with strong CYP3A inhibitors.
• Clinically significant cardiovascular disease such as uncontrolled or symptomatic arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, or myocardial infarction within 6 months of screening, or any class 3 (moderate) or class 4 (severe) cardiac disease as defined by the New York Heart Association Functional Classification.
• Known history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or active hepatitis C virus or active hepatitis B virus infection or any uncontrolled active systemic infection.
• Any life-threatening illness, medical condition, or organ system dysfunction which, in the investigator?s opinion, could compromise the subject?s safety, interfere with the absorption or metabolism of ibrutinib capsules, or put the study outcomes at undue risk.
• Uncontrolled autoimmune hemolytic anemia or thrombocytopenia.
• History of lymphoma (Richter?s syndrome) unless in complete remission > 2 years without relapse.

• History of active malignancies other than CLL within the past 3 years prior to study entry, with the exception of:

  • Adequately treated in situ carcinoma or the cervix or breast
  • Basal cell or localized squamous cell carcinoma of the skin
  • Previous malignancy treated with curative therapy and not expected to relapse.
• Inability to swallow capsules or tablets, or disease significantly affecting gastrointestinal function and/or inhibiting small intestine absorption (malabsorption syndrome, resection of the small bowel, poorly controlled inflammatory bowel disease, etc.).
• Prior allogeneic stem cell transplant with Day 0 < 12 months prior and/or with chronic graft versus host disease (GVHD) requiring current use of immunosuppression. Patients with prior allogeneic stem cell transplant with Day 0 > 12 months prior who do not require immunosuppression for GVHD will be eligible.
• Patients in the observation cohort who develop clinical disease progression and do NOT have a known ibrutinib resistance mutation will be taken off study and may not enter the intervention cohort.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Intervention / Treatment

Experimental: Treatment (venetoclax, ibrutinib); OBSERVATION COHORT: Patients who are taking ibrutinib enter observation cohort and undergo screening every 3 months for development for genetic mutations. If mutations develop, patients undergo increased screening for development of clinical disease progression. Patients who develop clinical disease progression with or without mutations enter the Intervention cohort. INTERVENTION COHORT: Patients receive venetoclax PO daily and ibrutinib PO QD on days 1-28. Cycles repeat every 28 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients who achieve MRD negative CR after 12 or 24 cycles continue receiving ibrutinib PO QD on days 1-28 in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

Drug: Venetoclax; Given PO; Other Names: Venclexta; ABT-0199; ABT-199; ABT199; GDC-0199; RG7601; Drug: Ibrutinib; Given PO; Other Names: PCI-32765; Imbruvica; BTK Inhibitor PCI-32765; CRA-032765

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Overall response rate (ORR) (intervention cohort)	Defined as the percentage of patients who have achieved any response better than stable disease after 12 cycles of combination ibrutinib and venetoclax treatment. All eligible patients who take one study dose of venetoclax will be considered evaluable and included in the denominator when calculating the ORR. ORR will be estimated with a 95% exact binomial confidence interval at the response assessment after 12 cycles of combination ibrutinib and venetoclax therapy, and 24 if applicable.	After 12 cycles of combination therapy, assessed up to 3 years
Rate of mutation negative status (intervention cohort)	Rate of mutation negative status will be estimated with a 95% exact binomial confidence interval at the response assessment after 12 cycles of combination ibrutinib and venetoclax therapy, and 24 if applicable.	After 12 cycles of combination therapy, assessed up to 3 years

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Incidence of BTK C481S mutations (observation cohort)	Person-time incidence of developing a BTK C481S mutation will be calculated by dividing the number of new mutations observed while on ibrutinib therapy by the total number of months patients are receiving ibrutinib and were at risk.	Up to 3 years
Progression-free survival (PFS) after development of a BTK C481S mutation (observation cohort)	Will be calculated in the observation cohort from the date a BTK C481S mutation was first reported until the date of clinical disease progression by International Workshop on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (IWCLL) 2018 criteria or death from any cause, whichever occurs first.	Up to 3 years
PFS after adding venetoclax to ibrutinib (intervention cohort)	PFS will be calculated in the intervention cohort from the start date of combination therapy (C1D1) until the date of progressive disease or death from any cause. Will be described using the method of Kaplan-Meier.	Up to 3 years
Overall survival (OS) after adding venetoclax to ibrutinib (intervention cohort)	OS will be calculated in the intervention cohort from the start date of combination therapy (C1D1) until the date of progressive disease or death from any cause. Will be described using the method of Kaplan-Meier.	Up to 3 years
Incidence of adverse events (intervention cohort)	Graded per National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5.0 with the exception of hematologic adverse events. Adverse events will be summarized by type, severity and perceived attribution. Hematologic adverse events will be graded according to CLL-specific criteria described in the IWCLL 2018 guidelines. The maximum grade for each type of toxicity will be recorded for each patient and frequency tables will be reviewed to determine the toxicity patterns. In addition, will also summarize the number of patients who discontinue combination therapy due to adverse events.	Up to 3 years

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Patient and disease characteristics associated with clinical disease progression (observation cohort)	Univariable and multivariable analysis will be performed to determine what patient and disease characteristics are associated with development of ibrutinib resistance mutations. All standard CLL risk characteristics, prior treatments, and standard patient demographic information will be included.	Up to 3 years
Changes in allelic frequency of ibrutinib resistance mutations after their development (observation cohort)	Univariable and multivariable analysis will be performed to determine what patient and disease characteristics are associated with development of ibrutinib resistance mutations. All standard CLL risk characteristics, prior treatments, and standard patient demographic information will be included.	Up to 3 years
Changes in allelic frequency of ibrutinib resistance mutations after addition of venetoclax (intervention cohort)	Univariable and multivariable analysis will be performed to determine what patient and disease characteristics are associated with development of ibrutinib resistance mutations. All standard CLL risk characteristics, prior treatments, and standard patient demographic information will be included.	Up to 3 years
Novel resistance mechanisms to ibrutinib and ibrutinib/venetoclax combination therapy by whole exome and ribonucleic acid (RNA) sequencing (Seq)	For RNA-Seq data analysis, will first use FASTQC for the read quality recalibration, and then conduct removing, trimming, and filtering based on base quality scores and nucleotide distributions. Coverage BED (bedtools package) will be used for counting reads per feature per sample. Filtering of noise level counts across comparison groups will be used to reduce false positives. After filtering, differential expression will be tested using R package limma with voom normalization.	At baseline and at clinical relapse, assessed up to 3 years
BH3 profiling	Correlate with response to combination venetoclax and ibrutinib therapy. Descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation, median, range, etc., for continuous variables and proportions for discrete variables will be used to summarize correlative endpoints in each of the defined strata. Graphical summaries will also be used extensively to visualize the data and describe relationships between variables (e.g. boxplots of BH3 profiling by response status).	Up to 3 years

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Kerry Rogers
• Collaborators: Janssen Research & Development, LLC
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Kerry A Rogers, MD, Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center

Publications and helpful links

Helpful Links

• The Jamesline

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 11, 2020
• Primary Completion (Actual): July 20, 2021
• Study Completion (Actual): July 20, 2021

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 7, 2019
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 7, 2019
• First Posted (Actual): May 9, 2019

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): November 5, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 29, 2021
• Last Verified: October 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Immune System Diseases; Neoplasms by Histologic Type; Neoplasms; Lymphoproliferative Disorders; Lymphatic Diseases; Immunoproliferative Disorders; Leukemia, B-Cell; Leukemia; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell; Leukemia, Lymphoid; Antineoplastic Agents; Venetoclax
• Other Study ID Numbers: OSU-18311; NCI-2019-02511 (Registry Identifier: CTRP (Clinical Trial Reporting Program))

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: No

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No