scholarly journals Phase I trial and pharmacokinetic study of high-dose clofarabine and busulfan and allogeneic stem cell transplantation in adults with high-risk and refractory acute leukemia

Leukemia ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 599-605 ◽  
Author(s):  
S S Farag ◽  
L L Wood ◽  
J E Schwartz ◽  
S Srivastava ◽  
R P Nelson ◽  
...  
Blood ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 114 (22) ◽  
pp. 198-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sherif Farag ◽  
Lisa L Wood ◽  
Jennifer E. Schwartz ◽  
Shivani Srivastava ◽  
Robert P. Nelson ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 198 Fludarabine in combination high-dose busulfan (Bu) is an effective myeloablative preparative regimen for allogeneic stem cell transplantation. At doses used, however, fludarabine has only modest anti-leukemic activity. Clofarabine (Clo) is a second-generation purine nucleoside antimetabolite with significant single agent activity in patients with AML and ALL. The novel combination of Clo with Bu may provide improved disease activity safely. Therefore, we conducted a phase I trial to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of Clo in combination with Bu in patients with high-risk acute leukemia. Patients received i.v. Bu (Busulfex) 0.8 mg/kg q 6 hrs on days −6 to −3 and Clo at 30–60 mg/m2/day on days −6 to −2 in successive cohorts. Stem cells were infused day 0. GvHD prophylaxis included sirolimus plus tacrolimus starting day −2 to day 100, tapering to day 180. Patients were eligible if they were 18–60 years, had primary refractory or relapsed and refractory AML or ALL, or were in CR2 or higher, had Karnofsky performance status ≥70%, and adequate organ function. Donors were HLA-matched related (5/6 or 6/6 antigen-matched) or unrelated (10/10 allele-matched). Toxicity was scored using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse events, version 3.0. Dose limiting toxicity (DLT) was defined as any grade 3–4 non-hematologic toxicity that did not resolve to grade 2 or less by day 30. A total of 15 patients were treated at 4 Clo dose levels, 30 (n=3), 40 (n=3), 50 (n=3), and 60 mg/m2 (n=6). Seven males and 8 females of median age 48 (30–58) years, with AML (n=13) or ALL (n=2) were treated. At transplant, leukemia was relapsed and refractory (n=8), primary refractory (n=6), or in CR2 (n=1). Median number of lines of treatment failed before transplant was 2 (1–3). Median marrow blasts at transplant was 12% (3%–83%). Hematopoietic cell transplants were from related (n=9) and unrelated (n=6) donors. All patients engrafted. Median time to neutrophils >0.5×109/l was 16 (12–20) days, and to platelets >20×109/l was 15 (10–42) days. One patient treated at the 30 mg/m2 dose level failed to achieve platelets > 20×109/l. No DLT was observed. Transient Grades 3–4 non-hematological toxicities were evenly distributed across all 4 dose levels, and included vomiting (n=3), mucositis (n=9), hand-foot syndrome (n=1), and elevation of AST/ALT (n=10). Grades 3–4 elevation of AST/ALT occurred in 2 of 3 patients treated at 30 mg/m2, 3 of 3 at 40 mg/m2, 2 of 3 at 50 mg/m2, and 3 of 6 patients at 60 mg/m2 dose levels. AST/ALT peaked at day −1 or 0 and returned to baseline in all patients by day 10, with no long-term sequelae. There was no correlation between Clo dose and peak AST/ALT. One patient developed acute renal failure at the 60 mg/m2 dose on day +12 in association with elevated tacrolimus levels, although the creatinine subsequently normalized. Two patients, both at the 30 mg/m2 dose, developed mild veno-occlusive disease of the liver which was self-limiting. One treatment-related death due to sepsis was observed at day +104 in a patient treated at the 30 mg/m2 dose. Thirteen of 15 patients were in CR by day 30; 2 patients, treated at 40 mg/m2 and 50 mg/m2, respectively, failed to achieve CR. Day 100 mortality was 0. With a median follow-up of 313 days, the 1-year relapse-free survival was 51% ± 15%, and the 1-year overall survival was 61% ± 14%. Clo at doses as high as 60 mg/m2/day × 5 days in combination with Bu 3.2 mg/kg/day × 4 days is well tolerated and demonstrates promising efficacy in a very-high risk acute leukemia population. The MTD has not been reached. We recommend Phase II testing of Clo 60 mg/m2/day × 5 days in combination with high-dose Bu as a myeloablative regimen for allogeneic stem cell transplantation in patients with acute leukemia. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 2699
Author(s):  
Panagiotis Tsirigotis ◽  
Konstantinos Gkirkas ◽  
Vassiliki Kitsiou ◽  
Spiros Chondropoulos ◽  
Theofilos Athanassiades ◽  
...  

Background: Patients with high-risk acute leukemia have a high risk of relapse after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT). In an effort to reduce the relapse rate, various therapeutic methods have been implemented into clinical practice. Among them, prophylactic donor lymphocyte infusion (pro-DLI) has shown significant efficacy. However, the widespread application of pro-DLI has been restricted mostly due to concerns regarding the development of graft versus host disease (GVHD). In the present study, we tested the safety and efficacy of a novel method of prophylactic-DLI based by repetitive administration of low lymphocyte doses. Methods: DLI was administered to patients with high-risk acute leukemia at a dose of 2 × 106/kg CD3-positive cells. DLI at the same dose was repeated every two months for at least 36 months post-allo-SCT, or until relapse or any clinical or laboratory feature suggested GVHD, whichever occurred first. Forty-four patients with a median age of 53 years (range 20–67) who underwent allo-SCT between 2011 and 2020 were included in our study. Thirty-three patients with high-risk acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and 11 with high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) after allo-SCT from a matched sibling (MSD, no = 38 pts) or a matched-unrelated donor (MUD, no = 6 pts) received pro-DLI. Twenty-three patients were in CR1, all with unfavorable genetic features; 12 patients were in CR2 or beyond; and 9 patients had refractory disease at the time of transplant. Ten out of 23 patients in CR1 had detectable minimal residual disease (MRD) at the time of allo-SCT. Disease risk index (DRI) was high and intermediate in 21 and 23 patients, respectively. Conditioning was myeloablative (MAC) in 36 and reduced intensity (RIC) in 8 patients, while GVHD prophylaxis consisted of cyclosporine-A in combination with low-dose alemtuzumab in 39 patients or with low-dose MTX in 5 patients, respectively. Results: Thirty-five patients completed the scheduled treatment and received a median of 8 DLI doses (range 1–35). Fifteen out of 35 patients received all planned doses, while DLI was discontinued in 20 patients. Reasons for discontinuation included GVHD development in nine, donor unavailability in seven, disease relapse in three, and secondary malignancy in one patient, respectively. Nine patients were still on treatment with DLI, and they received a median of four (range 2–12) doses. Fourteen percent of patients developed transient grade-II acute GVHD while 12% developed chronic GVHD post-DLI administration. Acute GVHD was managed successfully with short course steroids, and four out of five patients with cGVHD were disease-free and off immunosuppression. With a median follow-up of 44 months (range 8–120), relapse-free (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were 74%, (95% CI, 54–87%) and 78%, (95% CI, 58–89%) respectively, while the cumulative incidence of non-relapse mortality (NRM) was 13% (95% CI, 4–28%). The cumulative incidence of relapse in patients with intermediate and high DRI is 7% and 15%, respectively. Conclusion: Prolonged—up to three years—low-dose pro-DLI administered every two months is safe and effective in reducing relapse rate in patients with high-risk acute leukemia. The low-dose repetitive administration DLI strategy reduced the risk of DLI-mediated GVHD, while the prolonged repeated administration helped in preventing relapse, possibly by inducing a sustained and prolonged immunological pressure on residual leukemic cells. This novel strategy deserves testing in larger cohort of patients with high-risk acute leukemia.


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