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Low-Dose Melphalan and Dexamethasone Compared With High-Dose Melphalan Followed By Autologous Stem Cell Transplant in Treating Patients With Primary Systemic Amyloidosis

Phase III Trial of Stem Cell Transplantation Compared to Parenteral Melphalan and Oral Dexamethasone in the Treatment of Primary Systemic Amyloidosis (AL)

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT00477971
Enrollment
89
Registered
2007-05-24
Start date
2005-10-31
Completion date
2014-12-31
Last updated
2016-05-17

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

Conditions

Multiple Myeloma and Plasma Cell Neoplasm

Keywords

primary systemic amyloidosis

Brief summary

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as melphalan and dexamethasone, work in different ways to stop the growth of plasma cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Having an autologous stem cell transplant to replace the blood-forming cells destroyed by chemotherapy, allows higher doses of chemotherapy to be given so that more plasma cells are killed. By reducing the number of plasma cells, the disease may progress more slowly. It is not yet known whether combination chemotherapy is more effective than chemotherapy followed by an autologous stem cell transplant in treating primary systemic amyloidosis. PURPOSE: This randomized phase III trial is studying the side effects and how well giving low-dose melphalan together with dexamethasone works compared with high-dose melphalan followed by an autologous stem cell transplant in treating patients with primary systemic amyloidosis.

Detailed description

OBJECTIVES: Primary * Compare hematologic response rate in patients with primary systemic amyloidosis treated with conventional chemotherapy comprising low-dose melphalan and dexamethasone vs high-dose melphalan followed by autologous stem cell transplantation. * Compare the toxicity of these regimens in these patients. Secondary * Compare the overall and progression-free survival of patients treated with these regimens. * Compare the regression of organ involvement in patients treated with these regimens. * Compare the duration of response in patients treated with these regimens. * Correlate clonal burden and time to in vitro amyloid formation with clinical outcomes in patients treated with these regimens. * Compare quality of life of patients treated with these regimens. * Compare the information-seeking behavior in patients treated with these regimens. OUTLINE: This is a comprehensive cohort study comprising a randomized option and a nonrandomized option. Patients consenting to randomization are stratified by risk group (high vs low) and ECOG performance status (0-1 vs 2). They are then randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms. Patients not consenting to randomization choose their treatment arm. * Arm I: Patients receive low-dose melphalan IV over 15-30 minutes on day 1 or orally once daily on days 1-7 and oral dexamethasone on days 1-4 and 22-25. Treatment repeats every 6 weeks for 10 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. * Arm II: Patients receive filgrastim (G-CSF) on days -7 to -3 and undergo autologous hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) collection. Patients receive high-dose melphalan IV over 1 hour on days -2 and -1 and undergo autologous HSC transplantation on day 0. Blood and bone marrow samples are collected at baseline. Samples are examined by PCR, cDNA, and nucleotide sequence analysis to determine VH and VL gene families and carrier status. Urine is collected at baseline and analyzed for light-chain protein levels by exclusion chromatography. Quality of life is assessed at baseline, at months 3, 9, and 12, at completion of study treatment, and then every 6 months for up to 5 years. After completion of study treatment, patients are followed every 6 months for up to 10 years.

Interventions

BIOLOGICALfilgrastim

No administration information given

DRUGdexamethasone

Given orally

DRUGmelphalan

Given IV or orally

PROCEDUREautologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Given on day 0

Sponsors

National Cancer Institute (NCI)
CollaboratorNIH
Mayo Clinic
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed primary systemic amyloidosis * Amyloid light-chain (AL) disease * Monoclonal protein by immunoelectrophoresis or immunofixation of the serum or urine OR abnormal free light-chain ratio * The following amyloid syndromes\* are allowed: * Amyloid hepatomegaly * Cardiomyopathy * Proteinuria * Peripheral or autonomic neuropathy * Soft tissue involvement including the tongue, submandibular tissues, and vascular claudication * Diffuse interstitial pulmonary AL disease allowed if pulmonary function is adequate to allow safe transplantation NOTE: \*Presence of amyloid deposits in a plasmacytoma or in bone marrow vessels in an asymptomatic patient does not constitute an amyloid syndrome * No secondary or familial amyloidosis * No multiple myeloma with lytic or destructive bone lesions or myeloma cast nephropathy * No multiple myeloma with \> 30% plasma cells in the bone marrow * No amyloidosis manifested only by carpal tunnel syndrome or purpura PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * ECOG performance status 0-2 * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³ * Bilirubin ≤ 2.0 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 6 times ULN * Creatinine ≤ 3.0 mg/dL * No NYHA class IV heart disease * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * No uncontrolled infection * No HIV positivity PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * Prior alkylating agents, immunosuppressive drugs, or steroids allowed provided they were given for \< 1 month * Therapeutic steroid doses of ≤ 15 mg per day (or equivalent) allowed at discretion of physician * No concurrent participation in another clinical trial involving a pharmacologic agent

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Hematologic Response Rate10 yearsResponse that was confirmed on 2 consecutive evaluations during treatment. A hematologic response consisted of a Complete response, Very Good Partial Response or Partial Response. * Complete Response (CR): Complete disappearance of M-protein from serum and urine on immunofixation, normalization of Free Light Chain (FLC) ratio and \<5% plasma cells in bone marrow. * Very Good Partial Response (VGPR): \>=90% reduction in serum M-component; Urine M-Component \<=100 mg per 24 hours. * Partial Response (PR): \>=50% reduction in serum M-component and/or Urine M-Component \>=90% reduction or \<200 mg per 24 hours; or \>=50% decrease in difference between involved and uninvolved FLC levels.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
3 Year Overall Survival3 yearsPercentage of patients who were alive at 3 years. The 3-year survival rate was estimated using the Kaplan Meier method.
Organ Response to Treatment10 yearsOrgan response was evaluated on the basis of improvement of one or more affected organ; only one parameter was required to satisfy the criteria. Response needed to be maintained for a minimum of 3 months to be considered valid. Renal response required a 50% reduction in 24-hour urine protein excretion (at least 0.5 g/d) with stable creatinine. Cardiac response required one of \>= 2-mm reduction in the interventricular septal (IVS) thickness by echocardiogram, or improvement of ejection fraction by \>= 20%, or improvement by 2 NYHA classes without an increase in diuretic use. Hepatic response required either \>= 50% decrease in (or normalization of) an initially elevated alkaline phosphatase level or reduction in the size of the liver by at least 2 cm by radiographic determination. Gastrointestinal tract improvement was defined as normalization of a low serum carotene level, or reduction of diarrhea to \< 50% of previous movements/day, or decrease in fecal fat excretion by 50%.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Recruitment details

From October 2005 to August 2012, 89 participants were recruited.

Pre-assignment details

This study was originally designed as a randomized Phase III clinical trial; however the unwillingness of participants to be randomized to treatment led to changes. The protocol was amended to allow participants to choose between the two regimens.

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Low-Dose Melphalan
Patients receive low-dose melphalan 20 mg/m\^2 IV over 15-30 minutes on day 1 or 0.12 mg/kg tablet orally once daily on days 1-7 and dexamethasone 40 mg orally on days 1-4 and 22-25. Treatment repeats every 6 weeks for 10 courses. (Study treatment beyond one year is not allowed.)
34
High-Dose Melphalan + Autologous HSC
Patients receive filgrastim (G-CSF) 10 mg/kg/day on days -7 to -3 and undergo autologous hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) collection. Patients receive high-dose melphalan 140 mg/m\^2 IV for low risk or 200 mg/m\^2 IV for high risk patients over 1 hour on days -2 and -1 and undergo autologous HSC transplantation on day 0.
55
Total89

Withdrawals & dropouts

PeriodReasonFG000FG001
Overall StudyAdverse Event30
Overall StudyAlternative treatment31
Overall StudyDeath24
Overall StudyDisease progression60
Overall StudyWithdrawal by Subject31

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicLow-Dose MelphalanHigh-Dose Melphalan + Autologous HSCTotal
Age, Continuous62 years57 years59 years
ECOG Performance Score
0-1
25 participants50 participants75 participants
ECOG Performance Score
2
9 participants5 participants14 participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants1 Participants1 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
1 Participants1 Participants2 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants1 Participants1 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
1 Participants1 Participants2 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
32 Participants51 Participants83 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
34 participants55 participants89 participants
Risk Group
High
14 participants17 participants31 participants
Risk Group
Low
20 participants38 participants58 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
17 Participants16 Participants33 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
17 Participants39 Participants56 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
— / —— / —
other
Total, other adverse events
34 / 3455 / 55
serious
Total, serious adverse events
6 / 343 / 55

Outcome results

Primary

Hematologic Response Rate

Response that was confirmed on 2 consecutive evaluations during treatment. A hematologic response consisted of a Complete response, Very Good Partial Response or Partial Response. * Complete Response (CR): Complete disappearance of M-protein from serum and urine on immunofixation, normalization of Free Light Chain (FLC) ratio and \<5% plasma cells in bone marrow. * Very Good Partial Response (VGPR): \>=90% reduction in serum M-component; Urine M-Component \<=100 mg per 24 hours. * Partial Response (PR): \>=50% reduction in serum M-component and/or Urine M-Component \>=90% reduction or \<200 mg per 24 hours; or \>=50% decrease in difference between involved and uninvolved FLC levels.

Time frame: 10 years

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Low-Dose MelphalanHematologic Response Rate55.9 percentage of participants
High-Dose Melphalan + Autologous HSCHematologic Response Rate69.1 percentage of participants
Secondary

3 Year Overall Survival

Percentage of patients who were alive at 3 years. The 3-year survival rate was estimated using the Kaplan Meier method.

Time frame: 3 years

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Low-Dose Melphalan3 Year Overall Survival58.8 percentage of participants
High-Dose Melphalan + Autologous HSC3 Year Overall Survival83.6 percentage of participants
Secondary

Organ Response to Treatment

Organ response was evaluated on the basis of improvement of one or more affected organ; only one parameter was required to satisfy the criteria. Response needed to be maintained for a minimum of 3 months to be considered valid. Renal response required a 50% reduction in 24-hour urine protein excretion (at least 0.5 g/d) with stable creatinine. Cardiac response required one of \>= 2-mm reduction in the interventricular septal (IVS) thickness by echocardiogram, or improvement of ejection fraction by \>= 20%, or improvement by 2 NYHA classes without an increase in diuretic use. Hepatic response required either \>= 50% decrease in (or normalization of) an initially elevated alkaline phosphatase level or reduction in the size of the liver by at least 2 cm by radiographic determination. Gastrointestinal tract improvement was defined as normalization of a low serum carotene level, or reduction of diarrhea to \< 50% of previous movements/day, or decrease in fecal fat excretion by 50%.

Time frame: 10 years

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Low-Dose MelphalanOrgan Response to Treatment26.5 percentage of participants
High-Dose Melphalan + Autologous HSCOrgan Response to Treatment29.1 percentage of participants
Post Hoc

3-Year Progression Free Survival

Percentage of patients who were progression free at 3 years. The 3-year progression free rate was estimated using the Kaplan Meier method. Progression is assessed when one of the following occur: * reappearance of monoclonal protein by immunofixation, * Increase in serum monoclonal paraprotein to \>25% above the lowest response level, * Increase in urine M-protein to \> 25% above the lowest remission value for 24-hour excretion.

Time frame: 3 years

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Low-Dose Melphalan3-Year Progression Free Survival29.1 percentage of participants
High-Dose Melphalan + Autologous HSC3-Year Progression Free Survival51.7 percentage of participants

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