Skip to content

Metformin+Cytarabine for the Treatment of Relapsed/Refractory AML

A Phase I Study of Metformin and Cytarabine for the Treatment of Relapsed/Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Status
Terminated
Phases
Phase 1
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01849276
Enrollment
2
Registered
2013-05-08
Start date
2015-03-11
Completion date
2016-01-21
Last updated
2019-01-31

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

Conditions

Adult Acute Megakaryoblastic Leukemia (M7), Adult Acute Minimally Differentiated Myeloid Leukemia (M0), Adult Acute Monoblastic Leukemia (M5a), Adult Acute Monocytic Leukemia (M5b), Adult Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia With Maturation (M2), Adult Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia Without Maturation (M1), Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With 11q23 (MLL) Abnormalities, Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With Del(5q), Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With Inv(16)(p13;q22), Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With t(16;16)(p13;q22), Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With t(8;21)(q22;q22), Adult Acute Myelomonocytic Leukemia (M4), Adult Erythroleukemia (M6a), Adult Pure Erythroid Leukemia (M6b), Blastic Phase Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia, Recurrent Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Untreated Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Brief summary

The purpose of the study is to determine if metformin in combination with cytarabine is safe and effective. Participants in this research study have acute myeloid leukemia (AML) that has come back after initial treatment or has not gone away with initial therapy.There is evidence that metformin directly kills leukemia cells. Laboratory data have also shown that combinations of metformin with cytarabine are more efficient than each agent alone in killing leukemia cells in the laboratory.

Detailed description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of metformin (metformin hydrochloride) in combination with cytarabine in relapsed/refractory AML. II. Define the dose limiting toxicity (DLT) of metformin in combination with cytarabine in relapsed/refractory AML. SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: I. Remission rate. II. Overall survival (OS). III. Disease-free survival (DFS). IV. Length of remission. OUTLINE: This is a dose-escalation study of metformin hydrochloride in combination with Cytarabine. Patients receive metformin hydrochloride orally (PO) twice daily (BID) on days 1-15 and cytarabine intravenously (IV) over 3 hours BID on days 4-10. After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up every 3 months for 2 years and then every 6 months for 5 years.

Interventions

DRUGmetformin hydrochloride

Given orally

DRUGcytarabine

Given IV

OTHERlaboratory biomarker analysis

Correlative studies

Sponsors

Northwestern University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

* Patients with relapsed/refractory disease must have morphologic proof (from bone marrow aspirate, smears or touch preps of bone marrow biopsy) of AML with \>= 10% blasts within two weeks (14 days) prior to initiation of therapy * All immunophenotype and cytogenetic/molecular groups are eligible for participation except for acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) (as proven by the presence of promyelocytic leukemia/retinoic acid receptor alpha \[PML-RARα\]) * Patients must demonstrate one of the following: * Relapse after first complete remission * Refractory to conventional induction chemotherapy (failure to respond to 1 or more cycles of daunorubicin and cytarabine) or to re-induction * Patients with previously untreated AML are candidates if they are unable to receive anthracyclines, and have documented AML with \>= 20% blasts within one week prior to enrollment * Patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in myeloid blast crisis are eligible if their disease has failed to respond, and/or they are intolerant, to the available tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) * Serum total and direct bilirubin =\< upper limit of normal (ULN) * Serum creatinine \< 1.4 mg/dl in females and \< 1.5 mg/dl in males, and creatinine clearance \> 60 mL/min * Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) (aspartate aminotransferase \[AST\])/serum glutamic pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) (alanine aminotransferase \[ALT\]) =\< ULN * Bicarbonate within the normal range of the hospital lab (24-32 mmol/L) * Patients must exhibit an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0, 1, or 2 * Females of childbearing potential and sexually active males must agree to use an accepted and effective method of contraception while on study * Childbearing potential is defined as any woman (regardless of sexual orientation, having undergone a tubal ligation, or remaining celibate by choice) who meets the following criteria: * Has NOT undergone a hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy; OR * Has NOT been naturally postmenopausal for at least 12 consecutive months (i.e. has had menses at any time in the preceding 12 consecutive months) * Patients with a history of central nervous system (CNS) leukemia are eligible if they are not symptomatic from current CNS involvement * If there is CNS involvement that is known prior to enrollment or identified subsequently, it will be treated accordingly * Patients may have received therapy for other malignancies, as long as they have completed therapy at least 6 months prior to study entry and be deemed to have a life expectancy of at least 2 years with regard to that malignancy * All patients must have given signed, informed consent prior to registration on study

Exclusion criteria

* Patients who have received chemotherapy or radiotherapy within 4 weeks prior to enrollment are NOT eligible for participation * The exception to this is patients who are refractory to conventional initial induction chemotherapy (=\< 2 courses) or to first radiation (1 course); patients must have morphologic proof (from bone marrow aspirate, smears, or touch preps of marrow biopsy) of AML with \> 10% blasts within 2 weeks prior to initiation of study therapy; the last dose of cytotoxic therapy (NOT including hydrea, which is allowed) must have been given \>= 14 days prior to initiation of study therapy * Patients with a history of diabetes mellitus (DM) treated with metformin are NOT eligible for participation * Patients who are pregnant or breast feeding are NOT eligible for participation due to the lack of knowledge regarding the effects of the drugs on the fetus and during breast feeding * Patients with any intercurrent organ damage or medical problems that would prohibit therapy are NOT eligible for participation * Patients with any active, uncontrolled infection are NOT eligible for participation * Patients who are receiving therapy for another active malignancy are NOT eligible for participation * The exception to this is squamous cell carcinoma or basal cell carcinoma of the skin

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Evaluate Toxicity by Assessing the Adverse Events of Metformin and CytarabineChecked daily during administration of cytarabine and at least 2x weekly following therapy until desired blood counts acheived (maximum 15 days)To determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) by assessing the adverse events of metformin in combination with cytarabine in evaluating toxicity. Assessments will occur daily during cytarabine administration and at least twice weekly following treatment until blood count recovery.
Study Treatment Dose Toxicity Will be Evaluated by Measurement of Adverse Events Experienced While on TreatmentChecked daily during administration of cytarabine and at least 2x weekly following therapy until desired blood counts acheived (maximum 15 days)Determination of Dose Limiting Toxicity (DLT) as evidenced by adverse events due to toxicity from study treatment. If no DLT is observed, then 3 patients will be enrolled in the next dose escalated cohort. If one DLT is seen in the first 3 patients, then an additional 3 patients will be enrolled at the same dose cohort. If 0-1 in 6 patients experience a DLT this dose will be considered tolerable and the next dose escalated cohort with enroll 3 patients. If 2 or more in 6 patients experience a DLT, the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) will have been exceeded and the next cohort will enroll 3 patients at a reduced dose.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Overall SurvivalEvery 3 months for 2 years, and then every 6 months for 5 years post-treatmentPatients will be followed-up with from the initiation of study treatment until progression of disease or for up to 5 years, whichever comes first.
Remission RateEvery 3 months for 2 years, and then every 6 months for 5 years post-treatmentPatients will be evaluated for remission status in response to therapy.
Disease-free SurvivalEvery 3 months for 2 years, and then every 6 months for 5 years post-treatmentEvaluation of Disease-Free Survival will defined as the time from the initiation of study treatment until the time of disease relapse.
Length of RemissionFrom date of remission of disease to date of relapse (maximum of 5 year follow-up)Patients will be followed-up with to determine Remission length which is defined as the time from attainment of remission to relapse of disease.

Other

MeasureTime frameDescription
ImmunoblottingAt baseline prior to study treatmentBone marrow and/or blood samples taken prior to initiation of treatment will be used in Immunoblotting studies to observe enzyme and protein activity.
Bone Marrow and Blood Samples Will be Taken Prior to Study Treatment to Determine Number of Leukemic Progenitor CellsAt baseline prior to study treatment
Identical ImmunoblottingAt baseline prior to study treatmentIdentical immunoblotting studies may also be performed using blood samples taken prior to start of treatment.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Recruitment details

The study opened for accrual July 29, 2013 with an accrual goal of between 19 to 28 participants in a 3 + 3 dose escalation design to find the maximum tolerated dose of metformin in combination with cytarabine. The study was closed permanently on January 21 2016 due to slow accrual.

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Treatment (Enzyme Inhibitor and Chemotherapy)
Patients receive metformin hydrochloride orally twice a day on days 1-15 and cytarabine IV over 3 hours twice on days 4-10. metformin hydrochloride: Given orally cytarabine: Given IV laboratory biomarker analysis: Correlative studies
2
Total2

Withdrawals & dropouts

PeriodReasonFG000
Followed for Survival for 5 YearsDeath1
Followed for Survival for 5 YearsEarly termination of the study1

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicTreatment (Enzyme Inhibitor and Chemotherapy)
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
1 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
1 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
1 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
1 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
1 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
1 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
2 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
1 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
1 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
2 / 2
other
Total, other adverse events
2 / 2
serious
Total, serious adverse events
2 / 2

Outcome results

Primary

Evaluate Toxicity by Assessing the Adverse Events of Metformin and Cytarabine

To determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) by assessing the adverse events of metformin in combination with cytarabine in evaluating toxicity. Assessments will occur daily during cytarabine administration and at least twice weekly following treatment until blood count recovery.

Time frame: Checked daily during administration of cytarabine and at least 2x weekly following therapy until desired blood counts acheived (maximum 15 days)

Population: Adverse events that were assessed to be either possibly or unlikely related to treatment on study (i.e. relationship between treatment and adverse event could not be ruled out)

ArmMeasureGroupValue (NUMBER)
Treatment (Enzyme Inhibitor and Chemotherapy)Evaluate Toxicity by Assessing the Adverse Events of Metformin and CytarabineGrade 14 Adverse events related to treatment
Treatment (Enzyme Inhibitor and Chemotherapy)Evaluate Toxicity by Assessing the Adverse Events of Metformin and CytarabineGrade 26 Adverse events related to treatment
Treatment (Enzyme Inhibitor and Chemotherapy)Evaluate Toxicity by Assessing the Adverse Events of Metformin and CytarabineGrade 32 Adverse events related to treatment
Treatment (Enzyme Inhibitor and Chemotherapy)Evaluate Toxicity by Assessing the Adverse Events of Metformin and CytarabineGrade 40 Adverse events related to treatment
Primary

Study Treatment Dose Toxicity Will be Evaluated by Measurement of Adverse Events Experienced While on Treatment

Determination of Dose Limiting Toxicity (DLT) as evidenced by adverse events due to toxicity from study treatment. If no DLT is observed, then 3 patients will be enrolled in the next dose escalated cohort. If one DLT is seen in the first 3 patients, then an additional 3 patients will be enrolled at the same dose cohort. If 0-1 in 6 patients experience a DLT this dose will be considered tolerable and the next dose escalated cohort with enroll 3 patients. If 2 or more in 6 patients experience a DLT, the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) will have been exceeded and the next cohort will enroll 3 patients at a reduced dose.

Time frame: Checked daily during administration of cytarabine and at least 2x weekly following therapy until desired blood counts acheived (maximum 15 days)

Population: The study was terminated early due to slow accrual, thus insufficient data was collected to be analysed.

Secondary

Disease-free Survival

Evaluation of Disease-Free Survival will defined as the time from the initiation of study treatment until the time of disease relapse.

Time frame: Every 3 months for 2 years, and then every 6 months for 5 years post-treatment

Population: The study was terminated early due to slow accrual. As a result no data was collected or analyzed for this outcome measure.

Secondary

Length of Remission

Patients will be followed-up with to determine Remission length which is defined as the time from attainment of remission to relapse of disease.

Time frame: From date of remission of disease to date of relapse (maximum of 5 year follow-up)

Population: The study was terminated early due to slow accrual. As a result no data was collected or analyzed for this outcome measure.

Secondary

Overall Survival

Patients will be followed-up with from the initiation of study treatment until progression of disease or for up to 5 years, whichever comes first.

Time frame: Every 3 months for 2 years, and then every 6 months for 5 years post-treatment

Population: The study was terminated early due to slow accrual. As a result no data was collected or analyzed for this outcome measure.

Secondary

Remission Rate

Patients will be evaluated for remission status in response to therapy.

Time frame: Every 3 months for 2 years, and then every 6 months for 5 years post-treatment

Population: The study was terminated early due to slow accrual. As a result no data was collected or analyzed for this outcome measure.

Other Pre-specified

Bone Marrow and Blood Samples Will be Taken Prior to Study Treatment to Determine Number of Leukemic Progenitor Cells

Time frame: At baseline prior to study treatment

Population: The study was terminated early due to slow accrual. As a result no data was collected or analyzed for this outcome measure.

Other Pre-specified

Identical Immunoblotting

Identical immunoblotting studies may also be performed using blood samples taken prior to start of treatment.

Time frame: At baseline prior to study treatment

Population: The study was terminated early due to slow accrual. As a result no data was collected or analyzed for this outcome measure.

Other Pre-specified

Immunoblotting

Bone marrow and/or blood samples taken prior to initiation of treatment will be used in Immunoblotting studies to observe enzyme and protein activity.

Time frame: At baseline prior to study treatment

Population: The study was terminated early due to slow accrual. As a result no data was collected or analyzed for this outcome measure.

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