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Pyrimethamine for the Treatment of Relapsed Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia/Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma

A Phase I/II Study of Pyrimethamine, a STAT3 Inhibitor, for the Treatment of Relapsed Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia/Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 1Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01066663
Enrollment
20
Registered
2010-02-10
Start date
2010-03-31
Completion date
2023-01-31
Last updated
2023-02-22

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

Conditions

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, Small Lymphocytic Leukemia

Keywords

CLL, SLL, relapsed, pyrimethamine

Brief summary

In this research study we will start by looking for the highest dose of pyrimethamine that can be given safely to CLL patients without severe or unmanageable side effects. This dose will then be used for a larger Phase II study to assess the efficacy of pyrimethamine for the treatment of CLL/SLL. Pyrimethamine is an antibiotic that is used for the treatment of certain infections. Previous research studies have shown that pyrimethamine may target a protein in tumor cells, called STAT3, which may be important for the growth of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)/small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) cells. Pyrimethamine can kill CLL/SLL cells in the laboratory, and we are therefore undertaking this study to assess whether pyrimethamine will result in clinical benefit or tumor responses in CLL in patients.

Detailed description

* Participants will be required to enroll in DFCI Protocol 99-224, the CLL Research Consortium Tissue Bank, and DFCI Protocol 01-206, Tissue and Data Collection for Research Studies in Patients with Hematologic Malignancies, Bone Marrow Disorders, and Normal Donors, or may have blood banked for future use. * Each treatment cycle lasts 28 days during which time participants will take pyrimethamine orally once per day. Since we are looking for the highest dose of the study drug that can be administered safely without severe or unmanageable side effects, not everyone who participates will receive the same dose of study drug. * The following tests and procedures will be performed at specific time points during participation in the study: Physical exam, vital signs, blood tests and bone marrow biopsy. The participant's tumor will be assessed by CT scans of the chest, abdomen and pelvis prior to the start of the study and at the end of the 1st, 3rd and 6th months. * Participants can continue to receive pyrimethamine as long as they do not have side effects and their disease does not worsen.

Interventions

DRUGpyrimethamine

Taken orally once a day

Sponsors

Brigham and Women's Hospital
CollaboratorOTHER
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
CollaboratorOTHER
Lymphoma Research Foundation
CollaboratorOTHER
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
SEQUENTIAL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

* Diagnosed with CLL/SLL based on the standard histologic and immunophenotypic criteria described in the WHO classification of lymphoid malignancies, including immunophenotypic confirmation that the tumor cells co-express B cell antigens CD19/20 and CD5. Mantle cell lymphoma should be excluded based on positive staining of the tumor cells for CD23, or the absence of staining of the tumor cells for cyclin D1 or the absence of t(11;14). This diagnosis should be confirmed at a Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center institution within approximately one month after the subject is registered. * Measurable disease, defined as lymphocytosis \> 5,000/uL, or at least one palpable or CT measurable lesion \> approximately 1.5cm, or bone marrow involvement \> approximately 30% * Relapsed after at least one prior purine analogue-containing regimen, or at least two non-purine analogue containing regimens * 18 years of age or older * Life expectancy of greater than 3 months * ECOG performance status of 0, 1 or 2 * Normal organ function as outlined in the protocol * Require treatment based on IWCLL 2008 criteria * Women of child-bearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation.

Exclusion criteria

* Chemotherapy or radiotherapy within 3 weeks prior to entering the study or those who have not recovered from clinically significant adverse events due to agents administered more than 3 weeks earlier. * May not be receiving any other study agents * Known CNS involvement with CLL * History of allergic reactions or sensitivity to pyrimethamine * Patients taking folic acid are eligible if the folic acid is discontinued prior to pyrimethamine administration and not taken for the duration of time enrolled on this study * Prior allogeneic SCT is an exclusion only if the subject has active graft vs. host disease or requires immunosuppression other than a constant stable dose of glucocorticoids * Uncontrolled intercurrent illness * Pregnant or breastfeeding women * HIV-positive individuals on combination antiretroviral therapy

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Phase I: Maximum Tolerated Dose (MTD)Disease were evaluated weekly in 1st 28 days, and every 2 weeks in 2nd cycle then monthly. Median treatment duration is 1.07 months with range 0.23-9.99 months.maximum tolerated dose and recommended Phase 2 dose pyrimethamine
Phase II: Overall Response Rate (ORR)Within 10 days of the completion of the cycle required for response evaluationThe objective response rate (ORR) was defined as the proportion of participants achieving complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) based on RECIST 1.1 criteria on treatment. Per RECIST 1.1 for target lesions: CR is complete disappearance of all target lesions and PR is at least a 30% decrease in the sum of longest diameter (LD) of target lesions, taking as reference baseline sum LD. PR or better overall response assumes at a minimum incomplete response/stable disease (SD) for the evaluation of non-target lesions and absence of new lesions.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Incidence of Grade 3 or Higher Treatment-Related ToxicityDisease were evaluated weekly in 1st 28 days, and every 2 weeks in 2nd cycle then monthly. Median treatment duration is 1.07 months with range 0.23-9.99 months.All grade 3 or higher adverse events (AE) with treatment attribution of possibly, probably or definite based on CTCAE as reported on case report forms were counted. Incidence is the number of patients experiencing at least one treatment-related grade 3 or higher AE of any type during the time of observation.
Median Progression Free Survival (PFS)Disease were evaluated weekly in 1st 28 days, and every 2 weeks in 2nd cycle then monthly, and every 3-6 months during the follow-up.Progression-free survival based on the Kaplan-Meier method is defined as the duration of time from study entry to documented disease progression (PD) or death. Per RECIST 1.1 criteria: progressive disease (PD) is at least a 20% increase in the sum of longest diameter (LD) of target lesions taking as reference the smallest sum LD recorded since the treatment started or the appearance of one or more new lesions. PD for the evaluation of non-target lesions is the appearance of one or more new lesions and/or unequivocal progression of non-target lesions.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Recruitment details

from May 2010 to April 2012

Participants by arm

ArmCount
DL1: Pyrimethamine 12.5 mg
Pyrimethamine single daily oral 12.5 mg dose.
3
DL2: Pyrimethamine 25 mg
Pyrimethamine single daily oral 25 mg dose.
3
DL3: Pyrimethamine 50 mg
Pyrimethamine single daily oral 50 mg dose.
10
Total16

Withdrawals & dropouts

PeriodReasonFG000FG001FG002
Overall StudyAdverse Event001

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicDL1: Pyrimethamine 12.5 mgDL2: Pyrimethamine 25 mgDL3: Pyrimethamine 50 mgTotal
Age, Continuous53 years54 years60 years56 years
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Black or African American
1 Participants0 Participants1 Participants2 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
White
2 Participants3 Participants9 Participants14 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
0 Participants0 Participants5 Participants5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
3 Participants3 Participants5 Participants11 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
EG002
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 30 / 30 / 10
other
Total, other adverse events
3 / 33 / 310 / 10
serious
Total, serious adverse events
1 / 32 / 36 / 10

Outcome results

Primary

Phase II: Overall Response Rate (ORR)

The objective response rate (ORR) was defined as the proportion of participants achieving complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) based on RECIST 1.1 criteria on treatment. Per RECIST 1.1 for target lesions: CR is complete disappearance of all target lesions and PR is at least a 30% decrease in the sum of longest diameter (LD) of target lesions, taking as reference baseline sum LD. PR or better overall response assumes at a minimum incomplete response/stable disease (SD) for the evaluation of non-target lesions and absence of new lesions.

Time frame: Within 10 days of the completion of the cycle required for response evaluation

Population: The phase 2 study were not done and data not collected

Primary

Phase I: Maximum Tolerated Dose (MTD)

maximum tolerated dose and recommended Phase 2 dose pyrimethamine

Time frame: Disease were evaluated weekly in 1st 28 days, and every 2 weeks in 2nd cycle then monthly. Median treatment duration is 1.07 months with range 0.23-9.99 months.

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Pyrimethamine Phase 1 (Dose-escalation)Phase I: Maximum Tolerated Dose (MTD)NA mg
Secondary

Incidence of Grade 3 or Higher Treatment-Related Toxicity

All grade 3 or higher adverse events (AE) with treatment attribution of possibly, probably or definite based on CTCAE as reported on case report forms were counted. Incidence is the number of patients experiencing at least one treatment-related grade 3 or higher AE of any type during the time of observation.

Time frame: Disease were evaluated weekly in 1st 28 days, and every 2 weeks in 2nd cycle then monthly. Median treatment duration is 1.07 months with range 0.23-9.99 months.

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Pyrimethamine Phase 1 (Dose-escalation)Incidence of Grade 3 or Higher Treatment-Related Toxicity1 number of new cases per 1000 person year
DL2: Pyrimethamine 25 mgIncidence of Grade 3 or Higher Treatment-Related Toxicity5 number of new cases per 1000 person year
DL3: Pyrimethamine 50 mgIncidence of Grade 3 or Higher Treatment-Related Toxicity8 number of new cases per 1000 person year
Secondary

Median Progression Free Survival (PFS)

Progression-free survival based on the Kaplan-Meier method is defined as the duration of time from study entry to documented disease progression (PD) or death. Per RECIST 1.1 criteria: progressive disease (PD) is at least a 20% increase in the sum of longest diameter (LD) of target lesions taking as reference the smallest sum LD recorded since the treatment started or the appearance of one or more new lesions. PD for the evaluation of non-target lesions is the appearance of one or more new lesions and/or unequivocal progression of non-target lesions.

Time frame: Disease were evaluated weekly in 1st 28 days, and every 2 weeks in 2nd cycle then monthly, and every 3-6 months during the follow-up.

ArmMeasureValue (MEDIAN)
Pyrimethamine Phase 1 (Dose-escalation)Median Progression Free Survival (PFS)1.116 months
DL2: Pyrimethamine 25 mgMedian Progression Free Survival (PFS)3.677 months
DL3: Pyrimethamine 50 mgMedian Progression Free Survival (PFS)0.969 months

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