Venetoclax, SL-401, and Chemotherapy for the Treatment of Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasm

Phase 2 Clinical Trial for Comprehensive Treatment Program for Patients With Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasm (BPDCN): Tagraxofusp (SL-401) in Combination With HCVAD/Mini-CVD and VENETOCLAX

This phase II trial studies how well venetoclax, SL-401, and chemotherapy works in treating patients with blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm. Venetoclax may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. SL-401 is a recombinant protein consisting of IL-3 linked to a toxic agent called DT. IL-3 attaches to IL-3 receptors on tumor cells in a targeted way and delivers DT to kill them. Drugs used in chemotherapy work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Giving venetoclax and SL-401 with chemotherapy may be an effective treatment for patients with blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasm
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Cyclophosphamide; Drug: Mercaptopurine; Drug: Prednisone; Drug: Venetoclax; Drug: Dexamethasone; Drug: Vincristine; Biological: Rituximab; Drug: Doxorubicin; Drug: Cytarabine; Drug: Methylprednisolone; Biological: Tagraxofusp-erzs; Drug: Methotrexate

Detailed Description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:

I. To evaluate progression-free survival (PFS) at 12 months of venetoclax (VEN) in combination with chemotherapy and SL-401 (tagraxofusp [TAG]) in patients with newly diagnosed blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN).

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To determine the safety of the SL-401 in combination with VEN and in combination with chemotherapy in patients with newly diagnosed BPDCN by toxicity and futility monitoring.

II. To determine the efficacy by measurement of progression free survival (PFS), overall response rate (ORR): complete response (CR) and complete response with incomplete marrow recovery (CRi), clinical complete response (CRc) and remission duration of SL-401 in combination with chemotherapy and VEN in patients with newly diagnosed BPDCN.

III. To determine the rate of stem cell translant (SCT) within the first 8 cycles (understanding that some patients won't get SCT) in patients with newly diagnosed BPDCN.

EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVES:

I. To examine expression and function of BCL-2 family proteins and its modulation by VEN in BPDCN blasts.

II. To determine the rate of minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity in patients achieving CR/CRi/CRc and its correlation with disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS).

III. To determine CD123 levels pre- and post-therapy. IV. To determine molecular mutations pre-and post- therapy as part of 81-gene panel by next-generation sequencing.

OUTLINE:

INDUCTION:

CYCLE 1: Patients receive tagraxofusp-erzs (SL-401) intravenously (IV) once daily (QD) over 15 minutes on days 1-5.

CYCLES 2, 4, 6, and 8: Patients receive tagraxofusp-erzs IV QD over 15 minutes on days 1-5, and venetoclax orally (PO) QD on days 1-14 of cycle 2, and days 1-7 of cycles 4, 6, and 8.

CYCLES 3 and 7: Patients receive venetoclax PO QD on days 1-7. Patients whose age < 60 receive hyper-CVAD and age >= 60 receive mini-hyper-CVD. Patients may receive rituximab IV over 90 minutes on days 1 and 8, methotrexate intrathecally (IT) on day 2, and/or cytarabine IT on day 8. Patients also receive venetoclax PO QD on days 1-7.

HYPER-CVAD (AGE < 60): Patients receive cyclophosphamide IV over 3 hours every 12 hours (Q12H) on days 1-3, vincristine IV over 15 minutes on days 1 and 8, dexamethasone orally (PO) or IV over 30 minutes on days 1-4 and 11-14, and doxorubicin IV over 24 hours on day 4.

MINI-HYPER-CVD (AGE >= 60): Patients receive cyclophosphamide IV over 3 hour Q12H on days 1-3, vincristine IV over 15 minutes on days 1 and 8, dexamethasone PO or IV over 30 minutes on days 1-4 and 11-14.

CYCLE 5: Patients receive venetoclax PO QD on days 1-7. Patients who age < 60 receive MTX/AraC and age >= 60 receive mini-MTX/AraC. Patients may receive rituximab IV over 4-6 hours on days 1 and 8, cytarabine IT on day 5, and/or methotrexate IT on day 8.

MTX/ARAC (AGE < 60): Patients receive methotrexate IV over 24 hours on day 1, and cytarabine IV over 3 hours Q12H on days 2 and 3.

MINI-MTX/ARAC (AGE >= 60): Patients receive methotrexate IV over 24 hours on day 1, methylprednisolone IV over 2 hours Q12H on days 1-3, and cytarabine IV over 3 hours Q12H on days 2 and 3.

ALL CYCLES: Treatment repeats every 28 days for 8 cycles in the absence of disease progression and unacceptable toxicity.

MAINTENANCE: Patients receive venetoclax PO QD on days 1-7, POMP chemotherapy during cycles 1-5, 7-11, and 13-17, and SL-401 IV QD on days 1-5 of cycles 6, 12, and 18. Treatment repeats every 28 days for 24 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

POMP: Patients receive mercaptopurine PO three time daily (TID) on days 1-28, vincristine IV over 15 minutes on day 1, prednisone PO QD on days 1-5, and methotrexate PO once weekly.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up at 30 days, and then every 3 months thereafter.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 40
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Naveen Pemmaraju; Phone Number: 713-792-4956; Email: npemmaraju@mdanderson.org

Study Locations

• United States
  • Texas
    • Houston, Texas, United States, 77030
      • Recruiting
      • M D Anderson Cancer Center
      • Contact: Naveen Pemmaraju; Phone Number: 713-792-4956; Email: npemmaraju@mdanderson.org
      • Principal Investigator: Naveen Pemmaraju

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Treatment naïve or relapsed refractory patients with histologically confirmed diagnosis of blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) per 2016 WHO criteria

2. Front line participants may have received emergent chemotherapy prior to study enrollment:

   1. One prior cycle of SL-401, or other BPDCN-directed therapy, will be allowed prior to entering the study.
   2. Prior or concomitant doses of ARA-C (cytarabine) or Hydroxyurea are allowed on before or during the study for proliferative disease due to BPDCN.
3. Relapsed/refractory participants may have received at least one prior cycle of therapy.
4. Age ≥ 18 years
5. ECOG performance status 0, 1, or 2 (see APPENDIX B)

6. Adequate organ function as defined by:

   • Albumin ≥ 3.2 g/dL (in the absence of receipt of intravenous albumin in the previous 72 hours)
   • Serum creatinine < 1.5x ULN
   • Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) < 2.5x ULN
   • Total bilirubin < 1.5x ULN (if total bilirubin is > 1.5x but < 3x ULN, and thought to be elevated due to Gilbert's disease or the patient's BPDCN, the subject may be eligible but must discuss with the PI)
7. Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.
8. Able to adhere to study visit schedule and other protocol requirements including follow-up for survival assessment

9. Women of child-bearing potential and men enrolled on this protocol must agree to use adequate contraception for the duration of study participation and for 2 months after completion VEN administration. Acceptable birth control methods allowed to be used while on study include:

   • Birth control pills or injections
   • Intrauterine devices (IUDs)
   • Double-barrier methods for example condom in combination with spermicide. Males should not donate sperm while on study and for at least 8 weeks after the last dose of SL-401.
10. Left ventricular ejection fraction ≥ institutional lower limit of normal by MUGA scan or echocardiogram within 30 days of first protocol treatment.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Participants is pregnant or breastfeeding
2. Known active hepatitis B or C infection, or known seropositivity for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
3. Major surgery or radiation therapy within 14 days prior to the first study dose
4. Symptomatic or untreated leptomeningeal disease or spinal cord compression
5. Participants with active heart disease (New York Heart Association (NYHA) class 3-4 as assessed by history and physical examination, unstable angina/stroke/myocardial infarction within the last 6 months)
6. Malabsorption syndrome or other conditions that preclude enteral route of administration
7. Other severe acute or chronic medical or psychiatric condition or laboratory abnormality that in the opinion of the investigator may increase the risk associated with study participation or investigational product administration or may interfere with the interpretation of study results and/or would make the participants inappropriate for enrollment into this study

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 (SL-401, venetoclax, chemotherapy); See detailed description.

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; Bw 57-323H; 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; 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: Dexamethasone; Given PO or IV; 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: Vincristine; Given IV; Other Names: VCR; Leurocristine; Vincrystine; Biological: Rituximab; Given IV; Other Names: Rituxan; MabThera; ABP 798; BI 695500; C2B8 Monoclonal Antibody; Chimeric Anti-CD20 Antibody; CT-P10; IDEC-102; IDEC-C2B8; IDEC-C2B8 Monoclonal Antibody; Monoclonal Antibody IDEC-C2B8; PF-05280586; Rituximab ABBS; Rituximab Biosimilar ABP 798; Rituximab Biosimilar BI 695500; Rituximab Biosimilar CT-P10; Rituximab Biosimilar GB241; Rituximab Biosimilar IBI301; Rituximab Biosimilar JHL1101; Rituximab Biosimilar PF-05280586; Rituximab Biosimilar RTXM83; Rituximab Biosimilar SAIT101; rituximab biosimilar TQB2303; rituximab-abbs; RTXM83; Truxima; Drug: Doxorubicin; Given IV; Other Names: Adriablastin; Hydroxydaunomycin; Hydroxyl Daunorubicin; Hydroxyldaunorubicin; Drug: Cytarabine; Given IT or 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; Beta-Cytosine Arabinoside; CHX-3311; Cytarabinum; Cytarbel; Cytosar; Cytosine Arabinoside; Cytosine-.beta.-arabinoside; Cytosine-beta-arabinoside; Erpalfa; Starasid; Tarabine PFS; U 19920; U-19920; Udicil; WR-28453; Drug: Methylprednisolone; Given IV; Other Names: Medrol; Wyacort; Adlone; Caberdelta M; DepMedalone; Depo Moderin; Depo-Nisolone; Duralone; Emmetipi; Esametone; Firmacort; Medlone 21; Medrate; Medrol Veriderm; Medrone; Mega-Star; Meprolone; Methylprednisolonum; Metilbetasone Solubile; Metrocort; Metypresol; Metysolon; Predni-M-Tablinen; Prednilen; Radilem; Sieropresol; Solpredone; Summicort; Urbason; Veriderm Medrol; Biological: Tagraxofusp-erzs; Given IV; Other Names: Diphtheria Toxin(388)-Interleukin-3 Fusion Protein; DT(388)-IL3 Fusion Protein; DT388IL3 fusion protein; Elzonris; IL3R-targeting Fusion Protein SL-401; SL-401; Tagraxofusp; Tagraxofusp ERZS; Drug: Methotrexate; Given IT, IV, or 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

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Progression free survival (PFS)	The median PFS time will be estimated by Bayesian posterior estimates. Estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method.	Up to 6 years
Incidence of adverse events	Will be reported by type, frequency and severity. Highest toxicity grades per patient per course will be tabulated for selected adverse events and laboratory measurements.	Up to 6 years
Overall response rate	Overall response rate along with complete remission and complete remission with incomplete hematologic recovery will be estimated along with 95% confidence interval.	Up to 6 years
Rate of stem cell transplant	The response rate will be compared between subgroups (e.g. minimal residual disease negativity, etc.) by Fisher's exact test, and Wilcoxon rank test will be used to compare the patient clinical information (e.g., protein expression) between subgroups such as response and non-response.	Up to 6 years

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
• Collaborators: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Naveen Pemmaraju, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Publications and helpful links

Helpful Links

• MD Anderson Cancer Center Website

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 29, 2020
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 30, 2019
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 30, 2019
• First Posted (Actual): January 2, 2020

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 14, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 9, 2026
• Last Verified: April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neoplasms by Site; Neoplasms; Neoplasms by Histologic Type; Hematologic Diseases; Skin Diseases; Lymphoma; Leukemia; Skin Neoplasms; Hematologic Neoplasms; Histiocytic Disorders, Malignant; Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases; Hemic and Lymphatic Diseases; Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasm; Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins; Proteins; Sulfur Compounds; Organic Chemicals; Heterocyclic Compounds, 1-Ring; Heterocyclic Compounds; Heterocyclic Compounds, 2-Ring; Heterocyclic Compounds, Fused-Ring; Nucleic Acids, Nucleotides, and Nucleosides; Hydrocarbons; Hydrocarbons, Cyclic; Carbohydrates; Alkaloids; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; Hydrocarbons, Aromatic; Polycyclic Compounds; Glycosides; Indoles; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Antibodies; Immunoglobulins; Immunoproteins; Blood Proteins; Serum Globulins; Globulins; Purines; Cytidine; Pyrimidine Nucleosides; Pyrimidines; Pregnadienes; Pregnanes; Steroids; Fused-Ring Compounds; Steroids, Fluorinated; Benzene Derivatives; Sulfonic Acids; Sulfur Acids; Phosphoramide Mustards; Nitrogen Mustard Compounds; Mustard Compounds; Hydrocarbons, Halogenated; Phosphoramides; Organophosphorus Compounds; Nucleosides; Pterins; Pteridines; Pregnadienetriols; Pregnadienediols; Vinca Alkaloids; Secologanin Tryptamine Alkaloids; Indole Alkaloids; Indolizidines; Indolizines; Arabinonucleosides; Aminopterin; Anthracyclines; Naphthacenes; Aminoglycosides; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; Daunorubicin; Benzenesulfonates; Arylsulfonates; Arylsulfonic Acids; Sulfhydryl Compounds; Prednisolone; Rituximab; Dexamethasone; Methotrexate; Prednisone; Cyclophosphamide; Cytarabine; Doxorubicin; Vincristine; Methylprednisolone; Mercaptopurine; Calcium Dobesilate; venetoclax; dexamethasone 21-phosphate; CT-P10; deltacortene; prednylidene; azathiopurine; merphos; auricularum; dexamethasone acetate; tagraxofusp; exifone; Medrol Veriderm
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2019-0587 (Other Identifier: M D Anderson Cancer Center); P30CA016672 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract); NCI-2019-08358 (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