Eflornithine (DFMO) and AMXT 1501 for Neuroblastoma, CNS Tumors, and Sarcomas

June 2, 2026 updated by: Giselle Sholler, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

A Dose Escalation Study Using Eflornithine (DFMO) and AMXT 1501 Followed by a Randomized Controlled Trial of DFMO With or Without AMXT 1501 for Neuroblastoma, CNS Tumors, and Sarcomas

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the investigational oral drug AMXT 1501 in combination with oral eflornithine (DFMO). An investigational drug is one that has not been approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), or any other regulatory authorities around the world for use alone or in combination with any drug, for the condition or illness it is being used to treat.

The goals of this part of the study are:

  • Establish a recommended dose of AMXT 1501 in combination with DFMO
  • Test the safety and tolerability of AMXT 1501 in combination with DFMO
  • To determine the activity of study treatments chosen based on:
  • How each subject responds to the study treatment
  • How long a subject lives without their disease returning/progressing

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

289

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 Contact

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Alabama
      • Birmingham, Alabama, United States, 35233
        • Recruiting
        • University of Alabama/Children's of Alabama
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Elizabeth Alva
    • Arkansas
      • Little Rock, Arkansas, United States, 72202
        • Recruiting
        • Arkansas Children's Hospital
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Kevin Bielamowicz
        • Contact:
    • Connecticut
      • Hartford, Connecticut, United States, 06106
    • Florida
      • Miami, Florida, United States, 33155
      • Orlando, Florida, United States, 32806
      • Tampa, Florida, United States, 33614
        • Recruiting
        • St. Joseph's Children's Hospital
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Don Eslin
    • Hawaii
      • Honolulu, Hawaii, United States, 96813
        • Recruiting
        • Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Kelley Hutchins
        • Contact:
    • Pennsylvania
      • Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States, 17033
    • Tennessee
      • Nashville, Tennessee, United States, 37232
        • Recruiting
        • Monroe Carrell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Daniel Benedetti
    • Texas
      • Dallas, Texas, United States, 75235
        • Recruiting
        • Children's Medical Center
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Tanya Watt
        • Contact:

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

  • Child
  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Age:

    All subjects: Must be a maximum of 21 years of age at diagnosis

    Age at enrollment by Phase:

    1. Phase I-AYA (adolescents and young adult) Cohort: ≥12 years of age at enrollment.
    2. Phase I-Pediatric Cohort: < 12 years of age at enrollment; may start only after DSMB review confirms the RP2D from the AYA cohort. No subject < 12 years will be treated at a dose level higher than the RP2D established in the Phase I-AYA Cohort.
    3. Phase II: ≤ 21 years of age at diagnosis (with possibly two different age-specific RP2Ds).

  2. Pathology

    All subjects must have a confirmed pathologic diagnosis of tumor type (except for DIPG):

    • Relapsed/refractory Neuroblastoma (NB)
    • Relapsed/refractory Embryonal tumor with multilayer rosettes (ETMR)
    • Relapsed/refractory Atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (ATRT)
    • Newly diagnosed Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG)- radiologic diagnosis acceptable
    • Relapsed/refractory Ewing Sarcoma (EWS)
    • Relapsed/refractory Osteosarcoma (OST)

  3. Tumor assessment:

    Disease staging must be performed at baseline during the 28 day screening period prior to first dose of study drug.

  4. Disease Status:

    Relapsed or Refractory Neuroblastoma Relapsed disease defined as: High-risk neuroblastoma that was previously in remission after standard therapy (at least 4 cycles of aggressive multi-drug induction chemotherapy, with or without radiation, surgery, and immunotherapy, or according to a standard high-risk treatment/neuroblastoma protocol).

    Refractory disease defined as: High-risk neuroblastoma that 1) failed to achieve CR after at least 4 cycles of aggressive multi-drug induction chemotherapy with or without radiation and surgery, followed by immunotherapy, or according to a standard high-risk treatment/neuroblastoma protocol, or 2) progression during upfront therapy or 3) with disease remaining after standard immunotherapy.

    Eligible NB subjects may have active disease or no active disease.

    NB Subjects with no active disease need to meet the following criteria:

    Timing from prior therapy: Enrollment (first dose of study drug) no later than 60 days from most recent therapy.

    NB Subjects with active disease need to meet the following criteria:

    • Received at least one recent treatment for their relapse/refractory disease and is stable (SD) or better on this treatment.

      *Stable disease defined as non-progression over 2 separate imaging studies at least 6 weeks apart

    • Subjects must not have disease in any organs (including lungs, liver, or brain).
    • Measurable tumor size is < 2 cm
    • Bone marrow < 40% involvement

    Relapsed or refractory ETMR/ATRT Subjects that have relapsed following standard of care therapy or having progressed during standard of care therapy and non-responsive/progressive to accepted curative therapy, including up-front chemotherapy and radiation and/or high-dose chemotherapy with stem cell rescue.

    ETMR/ATRT Subjects with no active disease need to meet the following criteria:

    Timing from prior therapy: Enrollment (first dose of study drug) no later than 60 days from most recent therapy.

    ETMR/ATRT Subjects with active disease need to meet the following criteria:

    • Received at least one recent treatment for their relapse/refractory disease and is stable (SD) or better on this treatment.

    *Stable disease defined as non-progression over 2 separate imaging studies at least 6 weeks apart

    Newly Diagnosed Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) Subjects with DIPG to start greater than 30 days, and no longer than 60 days, after standard of care radiation therapy.

    Subjects with newly-diagnosed typical DIPG, defined as tumors with a pontine epicenter and diffuse involvement of the pons on at least 1 axial T2-weighted image, are eligible. No histologic confirmation is required. Subjects with metastatic disease are not eligible. Subjects with a biopsy and no evidence of H3K27m mutations are eligible as long as they meet radiographic criteria. Subjects with H3K27m altered DMG outside of the brainstem are not eligible. Subjects with progression or recurrence after initial standard of care radiation are ineligible.

    Relapsed or refractory Ewing sarcoma and osteosarcoma Subjects that have relapsed following standard of care therapy or having progressed during standard of care therapy. Standard of care therapy for Ewing sarcoma and osteosarcoma includes multi-agent chemotherapy with local control consisting of either surgery or radiation therapy.

    EWS/OST Subjects with no active disease need to meet the following criteria:

    Timing from prior therapy: Enrollment (first dose of study drug) no later than 60 days from most recent therapy.

    EWS/OST Subjects with active disease need to meet the following criteria:

    • Received at least one recent treatment for their relapse/refractory disease and is stable (SD) or better on this treatment.

    *Stable disease defined as non-progression over 2 separate imaging studies at least 6 weeks apart

  5. Subjects must be able to swallow capsules.
  6. Subjects with CNS disease currently taking steroids must have been on a stable dose of steroids for at least one week and must not have progressive hydrocephalus at enrollment.

  7. Subjects must have fully recovered from the acute toxic effects of all prior anti- cancer chemotherapy and be within the following timelines:

    1. Myelosuppressive chemotherapy: Must not have received within 2 weeks of enrollment onto this study (6 weeks if prior nitrosourea).
    2. Small Molecule Inhibitor (anti-neoplastic agent): At least 7 days since the completion of therapy with a small molecule inhibitor. For agents that have known adverse events occurring beyond 7 days after administration, this period must be extended beyond the time during which adverse events are known to occur. The duration of this interval must be discussed with the Study Chair.
    3. Immunotherapy: At least 4 weeks since the completion of any type of immunotherapy, e.g. tumor vaccines, CAR-T cells except for anti-GD2 Monoclonal antibodies (ex. naxitamab, dinutuximab, etc.) which should be at least 2 weeks since prior treatment with a monoclonal antibody.

    4. XRT: At least 14 days since the last treatment except for radiation delivered with palliative intent to a non-target site.

      Note: Subjects with DIPG will be required to have had up front standard of care radiation. As above, subjects with DIPG must be between 30-60 days post initial up front radiation therapy.

    5. Stem Cell Transplant:

      1. Allogeneic: No evidence of active graft vs. host disease
      2. Allo/Auto: ≥ 45 days must have elapsed since transplant.
    6. MIBG Therapy: At least 6 weeks since treatment with MIBG therapy.
  8. Subjects must have a Lansky or Karnofsky Performance Scale score of >/= 60

  9. Subjects must have adequate organ function at the time of enrollment:

    • Hematological: Hematological recovery as defined by ANC ≥750/μL (unsupported- >24 hrs off G-CSF and 7 days off neulasta)
    • Liver: Adequate liver function as defined by AST and ALT <10x upper limit of normal

    • Cardiac: all subjects must have:

      1. Normal serum Cardiac Troponin Concentration
      2. Normal BNP (B-type natriuretic peptide) Level
      3. A QTcF ≤ 470 msec (or EKG with no significant findings)
      4. Normal ECHO defined as:

      i. Shortening fraction of ≥ 27% by echocardiogram, or ii. Ejection fraction of ≥ 50% by echocardiogram or radionuclide angiogram

    • Renal: Subjects must have adequate renal function defined as:

      1. For subjects < 17 years old: estimated Glomerular Filtration rate (eGFR) as calculated from the Bedside Schwartz equation (in units of mL/min/1.73 m2) or via radioisotope GFR of ≥ 70 mL/min/1.73 m2. The Bedside Schwartz equation is: [(0.413) X (Height in cm)] / SCr
      2. For subjects ≥17 years old: estimated Glomerular Filtration rate (eGFR) as calculated from the Cockcroft and Gault formula (in units of mL/min/1.73 m2) or via radioisotope GFR of ≥ 70 mL/min/1.73 m2. The Cockcroft and Gault formula is: [(140-age) x (Wt in kg) x (0.85 if female)] / (72 x SCr)
      3. OR a 24 hour urine Creatinine clearance ≥ 70 mL/min/1.73 m2
  10. Subjects of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test. Subjects of childbearing potential must agree to use an effective birth control method. Subjects who are lactating must agree to stop breast-feeding.
  11. Written informed consent in accordance with institutional and FDA guidelines must be obtained from all subjects (or subjects' legal representative).

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. BSA of <0.25 m2
  2. Investigational Drugs: Subjects who are currently receiving another investigational drug are excluded from participation.
  3. Anti-cancer Agents: Subjects who are currently receiving other anticancer agents are not eligible. Subjects must have fully recovered from the hematological and bone marrow suppression effects of prior chemotherapy.
  4. Infection: Subjects who have an uncontrolled infection are not eligible until the infection is judged to be well controlled in the opinion of the investigator.
  5. Subjects who, in the opinion of the investigator, may not be able to comply with the safety monitoring requirements of the study, or in whom compliance is likely to be suboptimal, should be 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: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Phase I- AYA Cohort
The initial phase I will be an AYA (adolescents and young adult) cohort that will be for subjects ≥12 years of age at enrollment in a standard 3+3 design in which groups of 3 subjects per cohort will be treated and assessed. Subjects will receive up to twenty-four (24), 28-day cycles of AMXT 1501 combined with DFMO. Subjects will receive oral AMXT 1501 at a starting dose of 350 mg/m2 BID each day. The dose escalation scheme for subsequent groups and modifications for dose limiting toxicities (DLT) are detailed in the protocol.
Drug: Eflornithine (DFMO)
Oral DFMO capsules
Other Names:
  • Difluoromethylornithine
Drug: AMXT 1501 Dicaprate
Capsule
Experimental: Phase I- Pediatric Cohort
The second phase I will be a pediatric cohort that will be for subjects < 12 years of age at enrollment in a standard 3+3 design in which groups of 3 subjects per cohort will be treated and assessed. Subjects will receive up to twenty-four (24), 28-day cycles of AMXT 1501 combined with DFMO. Subjects will receive oral AMXT 1501 at a starting dose of 350 mg/m2 BID each day. The dose escalation scheme for subsequent groups and modifications for dose limiting toxicities (DLT) are detailed in the protocol.
Drug: Eflornithine (DFMO)
Oral DFMO capsules
Other Names:
  • Difluoromethylornithine
Drug: AMXT 1501 Dicaprate
Capsule
Experimental: Phase II- Arm A: AMXT 1501 + DFMO

In this portion of the study, cohort 1 will be randomized to either receive Arm A: oral AMXT 1501 at the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) found in the Phase I along with oral DFMO at the RP2D found in the Phase I on each day of study or Arm B: oral DFMO alone at the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) found in the Phase I. Subjects will receive up to twenty-four (24), 28-day cycles of their assigned treatment. Cohorts 2 (ETMR/ATRT), 3 (DIPG), and 4 (Sarcomas) will automatically be assigned to Arm A with AMXT 1501 in combination with DFMO.

Subjects in cohort 1 who progress on DFMO alone (and have met the primary PFS endpoint) may cross over to AMXT 1501+DFMO.
Drug: Eflornithine (DFMO)
Oral DFMO capsules
Other Names:
  • Difluoromethylornithine
Drug: AMXT 1501 Dicaprate
Capsule
Active Comparator: Phase II- Arm B: DFMO Alone

In this portion of the study, cohort 1 will be randomized to either receive Arm A: oral AMXT 1501 at the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) found in the Phase I along with oral DFMO at the RP2D found in the Phase I on each day of study or Arm B: oral DFMO alone at the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) found in the Phase I. Subjects will receive up to twenty-four (24), 28-day cycles of their assigned treatment. Cohorts 2 (ETMR/ATRT), 3 (DIPG), and 4 (Sarcomas) will automatically be assigned to Arm A with AMXT 1501 in combination with DFMO.

Subjects in cohort 1 who progress on DFMO alone (and have met the primary PFS endpoint) may cross over to AMXT 1501+DFMO.
Drug: Eflornithine (DFMO)
Oral DFMO capsules
Other Names:
  • Difluoromethylornithine

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Phase I- Number of Participants with Adverse Events as a Measure of Safety and Tolerability
Time Frame: 28 days
To evaluate the safety, tolerability and recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) of AMXT 1501 in combination with oral DFMO in pediatric and young adult subjects.
28 days
Phase II- Number of Cohort 1 participants with progression free survival (PFS) during study
Time Frame: 2 years plus 5 years follow up
To evaluate, in a prospective randomized clinical trial, the efficacy of eflornithine (DFMO) in combination with AMXT 1501 compared to DFMO alone in neuroblastoma (Cohort 1) based upon Progression Free Survival (PFS)
2 years plus 5 years follow up
Phase II- Number of Cohort 2-4 participants with progression free survival (PFS) during study
Time Frame: 2 years plus 5 years follow up

To evaluate the efficacy of eflornithine (DFMO) in combination with AMXT 1501 in non-randomized (Cohorts 2-4) based upon Progression Free Survival (PFS):

2. Cohort 2-Relapsed/refractory Embryonal Tumor with Multilayered Rosettes (ETMR) Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid Tumor (ATRT) 3. Cohort 3-Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) at diagnosis after standard of care radiation therapy 4. Cohort 4- Relapsed/refractory Ewing Sarcoma (EWS) and Osteosarcoma (OST)
2 years plus 5 years follow up

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Phase I- Number of participants with progression free survival (PFS) during study
Time Frame: 2 years plus 5 years follow up
To evaluate the activity of AMXT 1501 in combination with DFMO based on Progression free survival (PFS)
2 years plus 5 years follow up
Phase I- Determine the Overall Response Rate (ORR) of Participants using INSS Response
Time Frame: 2 years
To evaluate the activity of AMXT 1501 in combination with DFMO based on Overall response rate (ORR)
2 years
Phase II- Determine the Overall Response Rate (ORR) of Participants using INSS Response
Time Frame: 2 years
To evaluate the efficacy of eflornithine (DFMO) in combination with AMXT 1501 (Cohort 2-4) and in a randomized arm compared to DFMO alone in neuroblastoma (Cohort 1), based upon overall response rate (ORR).
2 years
Phase II- Length of time that participants experience Overall Survival (OS)
Time Frame: 2 years plus 5 years follow up
To evaluate the efficacy of eflornithine (DFMO) in combination with AMXT 1501 (Cohort 2-4) and in a randomized arm compared to DFMO alone in neuroblastoma (Cohort 1), based upon overall Survival (OS).
2 years plus 5 years follow up
Phase II-Number of Participants with Adverse Events as a Measure of Safety and Tolerability
Time Frame: 2 years plus 30 days
To evaluate the safety and tolerability profile of eflornithine (DFMO) in combination with AMXT 1501 in pediatric and young adult subjects.
2 years plus 30 days

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

Collaborators

Penn State University
Aminex Therapeutics, Inc.

Investigators

  • Study Chair: Giselle Saulnier Sholler, MD, Penn State Health Children's Hospital

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)

May 13, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

May 1, 2033

Study Completion (Estimated)

May 1, 2035

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 13, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 13, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

June 18, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

June 3, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 2, 2026

Last Verified

June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • BCC020

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

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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