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Phase II Decitabine (DAC) Versus Azacitidine (AZA) in Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS)

Phase II Randomized Study of Lower Doses of Decitabine (DAC; 20 mg/m2 IV Daily for 3 Days Every Month) Versus Azacitidine (AZA; 75 mg/m2 SC/IV Daily for 3 Days Every Month) Versus Azacitidine (AZA; 75 mg/m2 SC/IV Daily for 5 Days Every Month) in MDS Patients With Low and Intermediate-1 Risk Disease Transfusion-Dependent Versus Best Supportive Care (BSC) in MDS Patients With Low and Intermediate-1 Risk Disease Transfusion-Independent

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02269280
Enrollment
185
Registered
2014-10-21
Start date
2014-10-13
Completion date
2024-07-25
Last updated
2025-08-07

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

Conditions

Leukemia

Keywords

Leukemia, Myelodysplastic syndrome, MDS, Low or intermediate-1 risk, Transfusion-dependent, Transfusion-independent, Best supportive care, BSC, Azacitidine, 5-Azacytidine, 5-AZA, Vidaza, 5-AZC, AZA-CR, Ladakamycin, NSC-102816, Azacytidine, Decitabine, Dacogen

Brief summary

The goal of this clinical research study is to compare how 2 different drugs, decitabine and azacitidine, when given on a shorter than standard dosing schedule, may help to control MDS. The safety of each study drug given on these schedules will also be studied. This is an investigational study. Decitabine and azacitidine are both FDA approved and commercially available for use in patients with MDS. Giving these drugs on a different schedule than is standard is considered investigational. The study doctor can tell you how the study drugs are designed to work.

Detailed description

Study Groups and Study Drug Administration: Each cycle is approximately 28 days. If you are found to be eligible to take part in this study, you will be randomly assigned (as in the roll of dice) to 1 of 4 groups: * If you are in Group 1, you will receive decitabine by vein over about 1 hour on Days 1-3 of every cycle. * If you are in Group 2, you will receive azacitidine either as an injection under your skin or by vein on Days 1-3 of every cycle. * If you are in Group 3, you will receive azacitidine either as an injection under your skin or by vein on Days 1-5 of every cycle. * If you are in Group 4, you will receive the standard of care. The study doctor can explain the treatment you will receive and the risks involved. Transfusion-dependent participants will be randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups This is done because no one knows if one study group is better, the same, or worse than the other group. If you are among the first 20 participants, you will have an equal chance of being in any of the groups. If you enroll after that, you will have a higher chance of being assigned to the group that has had better results. However, once you are assigned to a group, you will not be allowed to change groups. You may be given other drugs to help prevent side effects. The study staff will tell you about these drugs, how they will be given, and the possible risks. Study Visits: One (1) time each month, blood (about 2 tablespoons) will be drawn for routine tests. At the end of Cycle 2, then every 3 cycles for the first year, then every 6 cycles, you will have a bone marrow biopsy and/or aspirate to check the status of the disease and for cytogenetic testing. After Cycle 1, if the study doctor decides it is acceptable, you may be allowed to receive treatment from your local cancer doctor. However, you must return to Houston at least every 3 cycles for study visits. How often these visits will occur will depend on what the doctor thinks is in your best interest. Length of Study: You may continue taking the study drug or standard therapy for as long as the doctor thinks it is in your best interest. You will no longer be able to take the study drug or standard therapy if the disease gets worse, if intolerable side effects occur, or if you are unable to follow study directions. Follow-Up: When you are off-treatment, every 6 -12 months for up to 5 years, you will be called by a member of the study staff. You will be asked about any side effects you may be having. The phone calls will take about 5-10 minutes.

Interventions

DRUGAzacitidine (AZA) Days 1 - 3

Azacitidine 75 mg/m2 by vein or subcutaneously daily for 3 days (days 1-3) approximately every 28 days.

Decitabine 20 mg/m2 by vein for 3 days (days 1-3) approximately every 28 days.

OTHERBest Supportive Care (BSC)

Participants receive standard of care as chosen by study doctor. Best supportive care for transfusion-independent participants only.

Azacitidine 75 mg/m2 by vein or subcutaneously daily for 5 days (days 1-5) approximately every 28 days.

Sponsors

National Cancer Institute (NCI)
CollaboratorNIH
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

1. Sign an IRB-approved informed consent document. 2. Age \>/= 18 years. 3. IPSS low- or intermediate-1-risk MDS, including CMML-1 4. ECOG performance status of \</= 3 at study entry. 5. Organ function defined as: Serum creatinine \</= 2 mg/dL; Total bilirubin \</= 2 x ULN; ALT (SGPT) \</= 2 x ULN; AST (SGOT) \</= 2 x ULN 6. Women of childbearing potential must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test within 7 days and will also need to use contraceptives. Men must agree not to father a child and agree to use a condom if his partner is of child bearing potential.

Exclusion criteria

1. Breast feeding females 2. Prior therapy with decitabine or azacitidine

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Event Free Survival (EFS)Up to 8 years, 9 months and 12 daysEvent free survival (EFS) defined as the time from beginning of treatment till an event occurs or last follow-up. For transfusion independent patients, the events includes lack of response, requirement of blood transfusion, progression to advanced stages of disease, transformation into AML, discontinuation of therapy due to side effects, and death. For transfusion dependent patients, the events includes lack of response, progression to advanced stages of disease, transformation into AML, discontinuation of therapy due to side effects, and death.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Number of Participants With Overall ImprovementUp to 8 years, 9 months and 12 daysOverall improvement, defined as complete remission (CR), partial remission (PR), marrow CR (mCR), or hematologic improvement (HI), measured using each patient's best response with the 2 different agents. Response assessed using the modified MDS International Working Group 2006 criteria.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Azacitidine (AZA) - Days 1 - 3
Azacitidine (AZA) Azacitidine 75 mg/m2 by vein or subcutaneously daily for 3 days (days 1-3) approximately every 28 days. Azacitidine (AZA) Days 1 - 3: Azacitidine 75 mg/m2 by vein or subcutaneously daily for 3 days (days 1-3) approximately every 28 days.
54
Azacitidine (AZA) - Days 1 - 5
Azacitidine (AZA) 75 mg/m2 by vein or subcutaneously daily for 5 days (days 1-5) approximately every 28 days. Azacitidine (AZA) Days 1 - 5: Azacitidine 75 mg/m2 by vein or subcutaneously daily for 5 days (days 1-5) approximately every 28 days.
68
Decitabine (DAC)
Decitabine 20 mg/m2 by vein for 3 days (days 1-3) approximately every 28 days. Decitabine (DAC): Decitabine 20 mg/m2 by vein for 3 days (days 1-3) approximately every 28 days.
58
Best Supportive Care (BSC)
Participants receive standard of care as chosen by study doctor. Best supportive care for transfusion-independent participants only. Best Supportive Care (BSC): Participants receive standard of care as chosen by study doctor. Best supportive care for transfusion-independent participants only.
5
Total185

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicAzacitidine (AZA) - Days 1 - 5Decitabine (DAC)Best Supportive Care (BSC)Azacitidine (AZA) - Days 1 - 3Total
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
49 Participants44 Participants3 Participants38 Participants134 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
19 Participants14 Participants2 Participants16 Participants51 Participants
Age, Continuous70 years71 years67 years72 years71 years
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
1 Participants1 Participants0 Participants0 Participants2 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
0 Participants5 Participants0 Participants2 Participants7 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
2 Participants4 Participants0 Participants2 Participants8 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
65 Participants48 Participants5 Participants50 Participants168 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
68 participants58 participants5 participants54 participants185 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
17 Participants16 Participants1 Participants13 Participants47 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
51 Participants42 Participants4 Participants41 Participants138 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
EG002
affected / at risk
EG003
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
1 / 542 / 685 / 580 / 5
other
Total, other adverse events
35 / 5451 / 6838 / 583 / 5
serious
Total, serious adverse events
4 / 543 / 680 / 580 / 5

Outcome results

Primary

Event Free Survival (EFS)

Event free survival (EFS) defined as the time from beginning of treatment till an event occurs or last follow-up. For transfusion independent patients, the events includes lack of response, requirement of blood transfusion, progression to advanced stages of disease, transformation into AML, discontinuation of therapy due to side effects, and death. For transfusion dependent patients, the events includes lack of response, progression to advanced stages of disease, transformation into AML, discontinuation of therapy due to side effects, and death.

Time frame: Up to 8 years, 9 months and 12 days

ArmMeasureValue (MEDIAN)
Azacitidine (AZA) - Days 1 - 3Event Free Survival (EFS)14.1 Months
Azacitidine (AZA) - Days 1 - 5Event Free Survival (EFS)18.0 Months
Decitabine (DAC)Event Free Survival (EFS)9.8 Months
Best Supportive Care (BSC)Event Free Survival (EFS)13.3 Months
Secondary

Number of Participants With Overall Improvement

Overall improvement, defined as complete remission (CR), partial remission (PR), marrow CR (mCR), or hematologic improvement (HI), measured using each patient's best response with the 2 different agents. Response assessed using the modified MDS International Working Group 2006 criteria.

Time frame: Up to 8 years, 9 months and 12 days

ArmMeasureValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
Azacitidine (AZA) - Days 1 - 3Number of Participants With Overall Improvement22 Participants
Azacitidine (AZA) - Days 1 - 5Number of Participants With Overall Improvement27 Participants
Decitabine (DAC)Number of Participants With Overall Improvement29 Participants
Best Supportive Care (BSC)Number of Participants With Overall Improvement0 Participants

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 20, 2026