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Fludarabine, Cyclophosphamide, and Rituximab in Treating Patients Who Have Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

A Phase II Study of Fludarabine Induction With Sequential High Dose Cyclophosphamide and Rituximab as Consolidation Therapy for Previously Untreated Patients With Intermediate and High-Risk Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT00003659
Enrollment
39
Registered
2003-01-27
Start date
1998-09-30
Completion date
2009-05-31
Last updated
2017-10-24

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Leukemia

Keywords

stage II chronic lymphocytic leukemia, stage III chronic lymphocytic leukemia, stage IV chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Brief summary

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop cancer cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Combining more than one drug may kill more cancer cells. Monoclonal antibodies can locate cancer cells and either kill them or deliver cancer-killing substances to them without harming normal cells. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of fludarabine plus high-dose cyclophosphamide and rituximab in treating patients who have previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Detailed description

OBJECTIVES: * Determine the response rate in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia treated with sequential fludarabine, high dose cyclophosphamide, and rituximab. * Survival up to 5 years * Utilize flow cytometry and polymerase chain reaction as sensitive measures of minimal residual disease in these patients. OUTLINE: This is an open label study. Patients receive fludarabine IV once daily for 5 days. Treatment is repeated every 4 weeks for 3 or 6 courses. Three weeks later, cyclophosphamide is administered intravenously every 2-3 weeks for 3 courses. Filgrastim (G-CSF) is administered on days 2-10. Beginning 4 weeks after the last dose of cyclophosphamide, patients receive rituximab by intravenous infusion once weekly for 4 weeks. Patient are followed every 3 months until death. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: This study will accrue 30 patients within 3 years.

Interventions

BIOLOGICALfilgrastim

Filgrastim (300 μg for patients ≤ 70 kg or 480 μg for patients \> 70 kg) will be administered beginning two days after each cyclophosphamide dose and given for a total of eight subcutaneous daily doses.

BIOLOGICALrituximab

Approximately four weeks after the completion of the last cyclophosphamide dose, patients will receive rituximab 375mg/m2 as an intravenous infusion once weekly for four doses.

DRUGcyclophosphamide

Cyclophosphamide 3000mg/m2 will be given intravenously q 2 - 3 weeks x 3 doses.

DRUGfludarabine phosphate

Fludarabine will be administered intravenously at a dose of 25 mg/m2 per day x 5 days every 4 weeks.

Sponsors

National Cancer Institute (NCI)
CollaboratorNIH
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 75 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Patients must have either intermediate or high-risk chronic lymphocytic leukemia as defined by the three-stage Rai system (see section 2.2 page 2). Patients with Rai intermediate risk disease should meet the criteria for active disease as outlined by the NCI Working Group guidelines (including weight loss, fatigue, fevers, evidence of progressive marrow failure, splenomegaly, progressive lymphadenopathy, or progressive lymphocytosis with a rapid doubling time). * Patients must be previously untreated (with cytoreductive agents) for their CLL. * The patient must have an absolute lymphocytosis in the blood of at least 5,000 lymphocytes/μl, or bone marrow lymphocytosis greater than or equal to 30% of all nucleated cells. These lymphocytes must have an appropriate immunophenotype for CLL including expression of CD5 and CD20. * Karnofsky performance status equal to or greater than 60% (see Appendix B). * Eligible patients should have a reasonable life-expectancy greater than four weeks. * Age ≥ 18 years and ≤ 75 years. * Total bilirubin ≤ 2.0 mg per deciliter. Total creatinine ≤ 2.0 mg/ dl. * Platelet count ≥ 50,000/ ul. * Signed informed consent, which indicates the investigational nature of this, is required. * No patient may be entered onto the study without consultation with the principal investigator.

Exclusion criteria

* Patients with Rai intermediate risk disease who meet the criteria of Montserrat smouldering leukemia will not be eligible for treatment on this protocol. * Patients with significant autoimmune hemolytic anemia or autoimmune thrombocytopenia shall not be eligible for treatment on this protocol as there is some evidence that fludarabine can worsen these conditions. * Patients with active infections requiring systemic antibiotics. * Prior cytotoxic treatment of their CLL. * Pregnant or lactating women. Women and men of childbearing age should use effective contraception. * Patients with a serious cardiac condition. * Concomitant chemotherapy or radiotherapy while on protocol. * Concomitant prednisone therapy will not be permitted as the combination of fludarabine and prednisone is known to increase the risk of opportunistic infections. Patients may receive intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and other supportive care measures as clinically appropriate while on protocol.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Overall Response Rate3 yearsResponse was determined as indicated in the protocol. The categories are: complete response, nodular partial response, partial response and failure. The major criteria for determination of response to therapy in patients with CLL include physical examination and examination of the peripheral blood and bone marrow. The laboratory and radiographic studies which were abnormal pre-study, will be repeated to document the degree of maximal response.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Utilize Flow Cytometry and Polymerase Chain Reaction as Sensitive Measures of Minimal Residual Disease3 yearsThe flow cytometric response and the molecular polymerase chain reaction (PCR) response was captured as indicated in the protocol. Immunophenotypic analysis of bone marrow and/ or peripheral blood demonstrate a normal k:λ ratio and a normal number of CD5/CD19 (or CD5/CD20) dual staining cells (\<5% of the lymphocyte gate).
Overall Survival Statusup to 5 yearsThe 5 year survival rate. The survival of patients with this disease is dependent on the stage of disease. Two useful staging systems are: Three-stage Rai System Clinical Feature and the Binet System.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Recruitment details

Protocol Open to Accrual 09/08/1998 Protocol Closed to Accrual 06/14/2005 Primary Completion Date 05/12/2009 Recruitment Location is the medical clinic

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Intermediate or High Risk Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
This is a single-arm open-label pilot study designed to assess the antileukemic activity of a regimen containing sequential administration of fludarabine, high-dose cyclophosphamide, and rituximab.
39
Total39

Withdrawals & dropouts

PeriodReasonFG000
Overall StudyWithdrawal by Subject3

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicIntermediate or High Risk Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
9 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
30 Participants
Age, Continuous57.7 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 8.8
Region of Enrollment
United States
39 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
8 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
31 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
— / —
other
Total, other adverse events
32 / 36
serious
Total, serious adverse events
10 / 36

Outcome results

Primary

Overall Response Rate

Response was determined as indicated in the protocol. The categories are: complete response, nodular partial response, partial response and failure. The major criteria for determination of response to therapy in patients with CLL include physical examination and examination of the peripheral blood and bone marrow. The laboratory and radiographic studies which were abnormal pre-study, will be repeated to document the degree of maximal response.

Time frame: 3 years

Population: There were 36 assessable patients as described in the protocol

ArmMeasureGroupValue (NUMBER)
Intermediate or High Risk Chronic Lymphocytic LeukemiaOverall Response RatePartial Response8 participants
Intermediate or High Risk Chronic Lymphocytic LeukemiaOverall Response RateComplete Response22 participants
Intermediate or High Risk Chronic Lymphocytic LeukemiaOverall Response RateNodular Partial Response2 participants
Intermediate or High Risk Chronic Lymphocytic LeukemiaOverall Response RateFailure4 participants
Secondary

Overall Survival Status

The 5 year survival rate. The survival of patients with this disease is dependent on the stage of disease. Two useful staging systems are: Three-stage Rai System Clinical Feature and the Binet System.

Time frame: up to 5 years

Population: All assessable patients as indicated in the protocol.

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Intermediate or High Risk Chronic Lymphocytic LeukemiaOverall Survival Status26 participants
Secondary

Utilize Flow Cytometry and Polymerase Chain Reaction as Sensitive Measures of Minimal Residual Disease

The flow cytometric response and the molecular polymerase chain reaction (PCR) response was captured as indicated in the protocol. Immunophenotypic analysis of bone marrow and/ or peripheral blood demonstrate a normal k:λ ratio and a normal number of CD5/CD19 (or CD5/CD20) dual staining cells (\<5% of the lymphocyte gate).

Time frame: 3 years

Population: All assessable patients as indicated in the protocol

ArmMeasureGroupValue (NUMBER)
Intermediate or High Risk Chronic Lymphocytic LeukemiaUtilize Flow Cytometry and Polymerase Chain Reaction as Sensitive Measures of Minimal Residual DiseaseFlow cytometric complete response20 participants
Intermediate or High Risk Chronic Lymphocytic LeukemiaUtilize Flow Cytometry and Polymerase Chain Reaction as Sensitive Measures of Minimal Residual DiseaseMolencular (PCR) complete response12 participants

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026