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Once-weekly Versus Twice-weekly Carfilzomib in Combination With Dexamethasone in Adults With Relapsed and Refractory Multiple Myeloma

A Randomized, Open-label, Phase 3 Study in Subjects With Relapsed and Refractory Multiple Myeloma Receiving Carfilzomib in Combination With Dexamethasone, Comparing Once-weekly Versus Twice-weekly Carfilzomib Dosing

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02412878
Acronym
ARROW
Enrollment
478
Registered
2015-04-09
Start date
2015-09-09
Completion date
2019-01-07
Last updated
2022-09-23

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

Conditions

Multiple Myeloma

Brief summary

The purpose of the study is to compare the progression-free survival (PFS) of once-weekly carfilzomib dosing in combination with dexamethasone to twice-weekly carfilzomib dosing in combination with dexamethasone in adults with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma, previously treated with bortezomib and an immunomodulatory agent (IMiD).

Interventions

DRUGCarfilzomib

Carfilzomib was administered as an IV infusion

DRUGDexamethasone

Commercially available dexamethasone was obtained by the investigational site.

Sponsors

Amgen
Lead SponsorINDUSTRY

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

Key Inclusion Criteria: 1. Relapsed multiple myeloma 2. Refractory multiple myeloma defined as meeting 1 or more of the following: * Nonresponsive to most recent therapy (stable disease only or PD while on treatment), or * Disease progression within 60 days of discontinuation from most recent therapy 3. At least 2 but no more than 3 prior therapies for multiple myeloma 4. Prior exposure to an immunomodulatory agent (IMiD) 5. Prior exposure to a proteasome inhibitor (PI) 6. Documented response of at least partial response (PR) to 1 line of prior therapy 7. Measurable disease with at least 1 of the following assessed within the 21 days prior to randomization: * Serum M-protein ≥ 0.5 g/dL * Urine M-protein ≥ 200 mg/24 hours * In subjects without detectable serum or urine M-protein, serum free light chain (SFLC) \> 100 mg/L (involved light chain) and an abnormal serum kappa lambda ratio 8. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG PS) of 0 or 1 9. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥ 40% within the 21 days prior to randomization 10. Adequate organ and bone marrow function within the 21 days prior to randomization defined by: * Bilirubin \< 1.5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) * Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) \< 3 times the ULN * Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1000/mm³ (screening ANC should be independent of growth factor support for ≥ 1 week) * Hemoglobin ≥ 8.0 g/dL (Use of erythropoietic stimulating factors and red blood cell \[RBC\] transfusion per institutional guidelines is allowed, however the most recent RBC transfusion may not have been done within 7 days prior to obtaining screening hemoglobin.) * Platelet count ≥ 50,000/mm³ (≥ 30,000/mm³ if myeloma involvement in the bone marrow is \> 50%. Subjects should not have received platelet transfusions for at least 1 week prior to obtaining the screening platelet count.) * Calculated or measured creatinine clearance (CrCl) of ≥ 30 mL/min Key

Exclusion criteria

1. Waldenström macroglobulinemia 2. Multiple myeloma of Immunoglobin M (IgM) subtype 3. POEMS syndrome (polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal protein, and skin changes) 4. Plasma cell leukemia (\> 2.0 × 10⁹/L circulating plasma cells by standard differential) 5. Myelodysplastic syndrome 6. Second malignancy within the past 5 years except: * Adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer * Carcinoma in situ of the cervix * Prostate cancer \< Gleason score 6 with stable prostate-specific antigen (PSA) over 12 months * Ductal breast carcinoma in situ with full surgical resection (i.e., negative margins) * Treated medullary or papillary thyroid cancer * Similar condition with an expectation of \> 95% five-year disease-free survival 7. History of or current amyloidosis 8. Cytotoxic chemotherapy within the 28 days prior to randomization 9. Immunotherapy within the 21 days prior to randomization 10. Glucocorticoid therapy within the 14 days prior to randomization that exceeds a cumulative dose of 160 mg of dexamethasone or 1000 mg prednisone 11. Radiation therapy: * Focal therapy within the 7 days prior to randomization * Extended field therapy within the 21 days prior to randomization 12. Prior treatment with either carfilzomib or oprozomib 13. Known history of allergy to Captisol (a cyclodextrin derivative used to solubilize carfilzomib) 14. Contraindication to dexamethasone or any of the required concomitant drugs or supportive treatments, including hypersensitivity to antiviral drugs, or intolerance to hydration due to pre-existing pulmonary or cardiac impairment 15. Active congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association \[NYHA\] Class III or IV), symptomatic ischemia, conduction abnormalities uncontrolled by conventional intervention, acute diffuse infiltrative pulmonary disease, pericardial disease, or myocardial infarction within 6 months prior to enrollment 16. Active infection within the 14 days prior to randomization requiring systemic antibiotics 17. Pleural effusions requiring thoracentesis within the 14 days prior to randomization 18. Ascites requiring paracentesis within the 14 days prior to randomization 19. Ongoing graft-versus-host disease 20. Uncontrolled hypertension or uncontrolled diabetes despite medication 21. Significant neuropathy (≥ Grade 3) within the 14 days prior to randomization 22. Known cirrhosis

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Progression Free SurvivalFrom randomization until the data cut-off date of 15 June 2017; median (minimum, maximum) follow-up time for PFS was 12.0 (0, 20) and 12.6 (0, 19) months in each treatment group respectively.Progression-free survival (PFS) was defined as the time from randomization to the earlier of disease progression or death due to any cause. Disease status was assessed at a central laboratory with serum and urine protein electrophoresis, immunofixation, serum-free light chain (SFLC) assay, bone marrow sample evaluation, serum calcium, plasmacytoma evaluation, and skeletal survey. Response and disease progression were determined using a validated computer algorithm based on the International Myeloma Working Group-Uniform Response Criteria (IMWG-URC). Median PFS was derived using the Kaplan-Meier method; participants still alive with no disease progression were censored at the time of their last disease assessment.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Overall Response RateDisease response was assessed every 28 days until progressive disease, up to the data cut-off date of 15 June 2017; median time on follow-up was 12.0 and 12.6 months in each treatment group respectively.Disease response was evaluated according to the IMWG-URC using a validated computer algorithm. Overall response rate was defined as the percentage of participants with a best overall response of stringent complete response (sCR), complete response (CR), very good partial response (VGPR), or partial response (PR). sCR: As for CR, normal serum free light chain (SFLC) ratio and no clonal cells in bone marrow (BM). CR: No immunofixation on serum and urine, disappearance of any soft tissue plasmacytomas and \< 5% plasma cells in BM biopsy; VGPR: Serum and urine M-protein detectable by immunofixation but not electrophoresis or ≥ 90% reduction in serum M-protein with urine M-protein \<100 mg/24 hours. A ≥ 50% reduction in the size of soft tissue plasmacytomas if present at baseline. PR: ≥ 50% reduction of serum M-protein and reduction in urine M-protein by ≥ 90% or to \< 200 mg/24 hours. A ≥ 50% reduction in the size of soft tissue plasmacytomas if present at baseline.
Overall SurvivalFrom randomization until the data cut-off date of 15 June 2017; median (minimum, maximum) follow-up time for OS was 12.6 (0, 20) and 13.2 (0, 19) months in each treatment group respectively.Overall Survival (OS) was defined as the time from randomization to death due to any cause. Median overall survival was derived using the Kaplan-Meier method; participants still alive were censored at the date last known to be alive.
Number of Participants With Adverse Events (AEs)From first dose of study drug up to 30 days after last dose, up to the end of study; median (minimum, maximum) duration of treatment was 29.1 (0.1, 156.3) weeks and 38.0 (0.1, 158.3) weeks in each treatment group respectively.The severity of adverse events was graded according to the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI CTCAE) version 4.03, where where Grade 1 = Mild; Grade 2 = Moderate; Grade 3 = Severe; Grade 4 = Life-threatening; Grade 5 = Fatal. Treatment-related adverse events are adverse events considered related to at least 1 investigational product by the investigator, including those with unknown relationship.
Plasma Carfilzomib Concentration During Cycle 2Cycle 2 day 1 predose, 15 minutes after the start of infusion (once-weekly carfilzomib only), end of infusion, and 30 minutes after the end of infusionConcentrations of carfilzomib in plasma were measured using a validated assay method. The lower limit of quantification was 0.100 ng/mL.

Countries

Australia, Belgium, Canada, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States

Participant flow

Recruitment details

Participants were enrolled from September 2015 to August 2016 at 118 sites in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, North America, and Europe.

Pre-assignment details

Participants were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive a regimen consisting of either once-weekly or twice weekly carfilzomib in combination with dexamethasone. Randomization was stratified by International Staging System (ISS) stage (stage 1 vs stages 2 or 3), refractory to bortezomib treatment (yes vs no), and age (\< 65 vs ≥ 65 years).

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Twice-weekly Carfilzomib 20/27 mg/m² + Dexamethasone
Participants received carfilzomib administered by intravenous (IV) infusion on days 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, and 16 of each 28-day cycle (20 mg/m² on days 1 and 2 of cycle 1 and 27 mg/m² thereafter). Participants also received 40 mg dexamethasone IV or orally on days 1, 8, 15 and 22 for the first 8 cycles; starting with cycle 9, dexamethasone was administered only on days 1, 8, and 15.
238
Once-weekly Carfilzomib 20/70 mg/m² + Dexamethasone
Participants received carfilzomib administered by IV infusion on days 1, 8, and 15 of each 28-day cycle (20 mg/m² on day 1 of cycle 1 and 70 mg/m² thereafter). Participants also received 40 mg dexamethasone IV or orally on days 1, 8, 15 and 22 for the first 8 cycles; starting with cycle 9, dexamethasone was administered only on days 1, 8, and 15.
240
Total478

Withdrawals & dropouts

PeriodReasonFG000FG001
Overall StudyLost to Follow-up23
Overall StudyWithdrawal by Subject1910

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicTotalOnce-weekly Carfilzomib 20/70 mg/m² + DexamethasoneTwice-weekly Carfilzomib 20/27 mg/m² + Dexamethasone
Age, Continuous66.0 years66.0 years66.0 years
Age, Customized
18 - 64 years
208 Participants104 Participants104 Participants
Age, Customized
65 - 74 years
192 Participants90 Participants102 Participants
Age, Customized
75 - 84 years
77 Participants45 Participants32 Participants
Age, Customized
≥ 85 years
1 Participants1 Participants0 Participants
Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status
0 (Fully active)
236 Participants118 Participants118 Participants
Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status
1 (Restrictive but ambulatory)
241 Participants121 Participants120 Participants
Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status
2 (Ambulatory but unable to work)
1 Participants1 Participants0 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
7 Participants2 Participants5 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
461 Participants235 Participants226 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
10 Participants3 Participants7 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Asian
45 Participants30 Participants15 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Black or African American
5 Participants3 Participants2 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Missing
13 Participants3 Participants10 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Other
13 Participants4 Participants9 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
White
402 Participants200 Participants202 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
218 Participants108 Participants110 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
260 Participants132 Participants128 Participants
Stratification Factor: International Staging System (ISS) stage
Stage 1
200 Participants100 Participants100 Participants
Stratification Factor: International Staging System (ISS) stage
Stage 2 or 3
278 Participants140 Participants138 Participants
Stratification Factor: Refractory to Bortezomib Treatment
No
302 Participants152 Participants150 Participants
Stratification Factor: Refractory to Bortezomib Treatment
Yes
176 Participants88 Participants88 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
127 / 238119 / 240
other
Total, other adverse events
204 / 235217 / 238
serious
Total, serious adverse events
102 / 235118 / 238

Outcome results

Primary

Progression Free Survival

Progression-free survival (PFS) was defined as the time from randomization to the earlier of disease progression or death due to any cause. Disease status was assessed at a central laboratory with serum and urine protein electrophoresis, immunofixation, serum-free light chain (SFLC) assay, bone marrow sample evaluation, serum calcium, plasmacytoma evaluation, and skeletal survey. Response and disease progression were determined using a validated computer algorithm based on the International Myeloma Working Group-Uniform Response Criteria (IMWG-URC). Median PFS was derived using the Kaplan-Meier method; participants still alive with no disease progression were censored at the time of their last disease assessment.

Time frame: From randomization until the data cut-off date of 15 June 2017; median (minimum, maximum) follow-up time for PFS was 12.0 (0, 20) and 12.6 (0, 19) months in each treatment group respectively.

Population: Intent-to-treat population

ArmMeasureValue (MEDIAN)
Twice-weekly Carfilzomib 20/27 mg/m² + DexamethasoneProgression Free Survival7.6 months
Once-weekly Carfilzomib 20/70 mg/m² + DexamethasoneProgression Free Survival11.2 months
Comparison: To ensure proper control of type I error, analysis of PFS was performed under a group sequential design framework with the stopping boundaries constructed using the Lan-DeMets spending function with an O'Brien-Fleming approach. The inferential comparison between the 2 treatment groups for PFS used the 1-sided log-rank test stratified by the randomization stratification factors. A 1-sided p-value was compared against the prespecified adjusted alpha value of 0.011 to determine significance.p-value: 0.001495% CI: [0.544, 0.883]Log Rank
p-value: 0.003395% CI: [0.567, 0.913]Log Rank
Secondary

Number of Participants With Adverse Events (AEs)

The severity of adverse events was graded according to the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI CTCAE) version 4.03, where where Grade 1 = Mild; Grade 2 = Moderate; Grade 3 = Severe; Grade 4 = Life-threatening; Grade 5 = Fatal. Treatment-related adverse events are adverse events considered related to at least 1 investigational product by the investigator, including those with unknown relationship.

Time frame: From first dose of study drug up to 30 days after last dose, up to the end of study; median (minimum, maximum) duration of treatment was 29.1 (0.1, 156.3) weeks and 38.0 (0.1, 158.3) weeks in each treatment group respectively.

Population: All participants who received at least 1 dose of study drug

ArmMeasureGroupValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
Twice-weekly Carfilzomib 20/27 mg/m² + DexamethasoneNumber of Participants With Adverse Events (AEs)Adverse events Grade ≥ 3152 Participants
Twice-weekly Carfilzomib 20/27 mg/m² + DexamethasoneNumber of Participants With Adverse Events (AEs)Treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs)176 Participants
Twice-weekly Carfilzomib 20/27 mg/m² + DexamethasoneNumber of Participants With Adverse Events (AEs)AEs leading to discontinuation of carfilzomib29 Participants
Twice-weekly Carfilzomib 20/27 mg/m² + DexamethasoneNumber of Participants With Adverse Events (AEs)Treatment-related adverse events Grade ≥ 382 Participants
Twice-weekly Carfilzomib 20/27 mg/m² + DexamethasoneNumber of Participants With Adverse Events (AEs)Adverse events (AEs)230 Participants
Twice-weekly Carfilzomib 20/27 mg/m² + DexamethasoneNumber of Participants With Adverse Events (AEs)Serious treatment-related adverse events31 Participants
Twice-weekly Carfilzomib 20/27 mg/m² + DexamethasoneNumber of Participants With Adverse Events (AEs)AEs leading to discontinuation of dexamethasone31 Participants
Twice-weekly Carfilzomib 20/27 mg/m² + DexamethasoneNumber of Participants With Adverse Events (AEs)TRAE leading to discontinuation of carfilzomib11 Participants
Twice-weekly Carfilzomib 20/27 mg/m² + DexamethasoneNumber of Participants With Adverse Events (AEs)Serious adverse events102 Participants
Twice-weekly Carfilzomib 20/27 mg/m² + DexamethasoneNumber of Participants With Adverse Events (AEs)Fatal adverse events20 Participants
Twice-weekly Carfilzomib 20/27 mg/m² + DexamethasoneNumber of Participants With Adverse Events (AEs)Fatal treatment-related adverse events3 Participants
Twice-weekly Carfilzomib 20/27 mg/m² + DexamethasoneNumber of Participants With Adverse Events (AEs)TRAEs leading to discontinuation of dexamethasone13 Participants
Once-weekly Carfilzomib 20/70 mg/m² + DexamethasoneNumber of Participants With Adverse Events (AEs)Fatal treatment-related adverse events5 Participants
Once-weekly Carfilzomib 20/70 mg/m² + DexamethasoneNumber of Participants With Adverse Events (AEs)Adverse events (AEs)233 Participants
Once-weekly Carfilzomib 20/70 mg/m² + DexamethasoneNumber of Participants With Adverse Events (AEs)Adverse events Grade ≥ 3181 Participants
Once-weekly Carfilzomib 20/70 mg/m² + DexamethasoneNumber of Participants With Adverse Events (AEs)Serious adverse events118 Participants
Once-weekly Carfilzomib 20/70 mg/m² + DexamethasoneNumber of Participants With Adverse Events (AEs)AEs leading to discontinuation of carfilzomib35 Participants
Once-weekly Carfilzomib 20/70 mg/m² + DexamethasoneNumber of Participants With Adverse Events (AEs)AEs leading to discontinuation of dexamethasone40 Participants
Once-weekly Carfilzomib 20/70 mg/m² + DexamethasoneNumber of Participants With Adverse Events (AEs)Fatal adverse events21 Participants
Once-weekly Carfilzomib 20/70 mg/m² + DexamethasoneNumber of Participants With Adverse Events (AEs)Treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs)180 Participants
Once-weekly Carfilzomib 20/70 mg/m² + DexamethasoneNumber of Participants With Adverse Events (AEs)Treatment-related adverse events Grade ≥ 3108 Participants
Once-weekly Carfilzomib 20/70 mg/m² + DexamethasoneNumber of Participants With Adverse Events (AEs)Serious treatment-related adverse events57 Participants
Once-weekly Carfilzomib 20/70 mg/m² + DexamethasoneNumber of Participants With Adverse Events (AEs)TRAE leading to discontinuation of carfilzomib23 Participants
Once-weekly Carfilzomib 20/70 mg/m² + DexamethasoneNumber of Participants With Adverse Events (AEs)TRAEs leading to discontinuation of dexamethasone29 Participants
Secondary

Overall Response Rate

Disease response was evaluated according to the IMWG-URC using a validated computer algorithm. Overall response rate was defined as the percentage of participants with a best overall response of stringent complete response (sCR), complete response (CR), very good partial response (VGPR), or partial response (PR). sCR: As for CR, normal serum free light chain (SFLC) ratio and no clonal cells in bone marrow (BM). CR: No immunofixation on serum and urine, disappearance of any soft tissue plasmacytomas and \< 5% plasma cells in BM biopsy; VGPR: Serum and urine M-protein detectable by immunofixation but not electrophoresis or ≥ 90% reduction in serum M-protein with urine M-protein \<100 mg/24 hours. A ≥ 50% reduction in the size of soft tissue plasmacytomas if present at baseline. PR: ≥ 50% reduction of serum M-protein and reduction in urine M-protein by ≥ 90% or to \< 200 mg/24 hours. A ≥ 50% reduction in the size of soft tissue plasmacytomas if present at baseline.

Time frame: Disease response was assessed every 28 days until progressive disease, up to the data cut-off date of 15 June 2017; median time on follow-up was 12.0 and 12.6 months in each treatment group respectively.

Population: Intent-to-treat population

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Twice-weekly Carfilzomib 20/27 mg/m² + DexamethasoneOverall Response Rate40.8 percentage of participants
Once-weekly Carfilzomib 20/70 mg/m² + DexamethasoneOverall Response Rate62.9 percentage of participants
p-value: <0.000195% CI: [1.716, 3.598]Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel
p-value: <0.000195% CI: [1.707, 3.563]Fisher Exact
Secondary

Overall Survival

Overall Survival (OS) was defined as the time from randomization to death due to any cause. Median overall survival was derived using the Kaplan-Meier method; participants still alive were censored at the date last known to be alive.

Time frame: From randomization until the data cut-off date of 15 June 2017; median (minimum, maximum) follow-up time for OS was 12.6 (0, 20) and 13.2 (0, 19) months in each treatment group respectively.

Population: Intent-to-treat population

ArmMeasureValue (MEDIAN)
Twice-weekly Carfilzomib 20/27 mg/m² + DexamethasoneOverall SurvivalNA months
Once-weekly Carfilzomib 20/70 mg/m² + DexamethasoneOverall SurvivalNA months
p-value: 0.10795% CI: [0.563, 1.138]Log Rank
p-value: 0.132695% CI: [0.578, 1.164]Log Rank
Secondary

Plasma Carfilzomib Concentration During Cycle 2

Concentrations of carfilzomib in plasma were measured using a validated assay method. The lower limit of quantification was 0.100 ng/mL.

Time frame: Cycle 2 day 1 predose, 15 minutes after the start of infusion (once-weekly carfilzomib only), end of infusion, and 30 minutes after the end of infusion

Population: Participants at a subset of sites who participated in the sparse pharmacokinetic sampling, with available data at each time point.

ArmMeasureGroupValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Twice-weekly Carfilzomib 20/27 mg/m² + DexamethasonePlasma Carfilzomib Concentration During Cycle 2End of infusion1640 ng/mLStandard Deviation 1900
Twice-weekly Carfilzomib 20/27 mg/m² + DexamethasonePlasma Carfilzomib Concentration During Cycle 2Predose36.2 ng/mLStandard Deviation 162
Twice-weekly Carfilzomib 20/27 mg/m² + DexamethasonePlasma Carfilzomib Concentration During Cycle 230 minutes after end of infusion104 ng/mLStandard Deviation 293
Once-weekly Carfilzomib 20/70 mg/m² + DexamethasonePlasma Carfilzomib Concentration During Cycle 230 minutes after end of infusion480 ng/mLStandard Deviation 2300
Once-weekly Carfilzomib 20/70 mg/m² + DexamethasonePlasma Carfilzomib Concentration During Cycle 2End of infusion1130 ng/mLStandard Deviation 928
Once-weekly Carfilzomib 20/70 mg/m² + DexamethasonePlasma Carfilzomib Concentration During Cycle 2Predose203 ng/mLStandard Deviation 1380
Once-weekly Carfilzomib 20/70 mg/m² + DexamethasonePlasma Carfilzomib Concentration During Cycle 215 minutes after start of infusion1370 ng/mLStandard Deviation 1410

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Mar 6, 2026