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A Phase II Study Using Ibrutinib and Short-Course Fludarabine in Treatment-Naive CLL

A Pilot Phase II Study Using Ibrutinib and Short-Course Fludarabine in Previously Untreated Patients With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia/Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma (CLL/SLL)

Status
Active, not recruiting
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02514083
Enrollment
29
Registered
2015-08-03
Start date
2015-12-09
Completion date
2034-10-23
Last updated
2026-04-14

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 Lymphoma

Keywords

Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor, Fludarabine, Immune modulation

Brief summary

This is a pilot phase 2 study investigating the safety and efficacy of ibrutinib combined with short-course fludarabine in previously untreated CLL patients. Ibrutinib will be given daily until disease progression or intolerable side effects occur. Fludarabine will be given in cycles 3 and 4. The primary efficacy endpoint is the rate of complete response after 6 cycles or 24 weeks. The primary safety endpoint is the rate of treatment discontinuation after 6 cycles or 24 weeks.

Detailed description

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and/or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) are tumors of B cells that often affect elderly patients. While the cause of CLL is still unclear, studies have indicated critical factors required for the tumor cells. First, CLL cells grow and survive because they receive signals through the B-cell receptor (BCR); and second, CLL cells benefit from interactions with other cells, especially T cells. The stimulation through the BCR can be reduced with ibrutinib, which is an oral drug that selectively inhibits Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK). In clinical trials, ibrutinib demonstrated safety and high response rates in patients with high-risk disease. Ibrutinib has gained FDA approval as a treatment for CLL patients with 17p deletion and for those who had at least one prior therapy. However, single-agent ibrutinib has limitations; the drug does not eliminate all the tumor cells, and, with time, the tumor cells may become resistant. Therefore, a combination of ibrutinib with other drugs could be beneficial. Here we chose fludarabine because it is a well-tolerated drug that has been used widely to treat CLL. Also, fludarabine can kill both malignant B cells and T cells that support the growth of leukemia cells. With this approach, we hope to restore a healthier immune system. This study will investigate the safety and efficacy of ibrutinib combined with fludarabine. This protocol is intended for previously untreated CLL patients. Ibrutinib will be given daily until disease progression or intolerable side effects occur. Fludarabine will be given only in cycles 3 and 4.

Interventions

DRUGIbrutinib

Ibrutinib 420mg PO daily for the duration of the study.

DRUGFludarabine

Fludarabine 25 mg/m2/day IV on days 1-5 of cycles 3 and 4

Sponsors

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Lead SponsorNIH

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

1. Men and women with histologically confirmed disease as defined by the following: * CLL: clonal B-lymphocytosis greater than or equal to 5,000 cells/microL . * SLL: lymphadenopathy with the tissue morphology of CLL but that are not leukemic, \< 5,000 cells/microL. * Immunophenotypic profile or immunohistochemistry read by an expert pathologist as consistent with CLL. This will include CD5, CD19, and CD20 expression by the CLL cells typically also with CD23 expression, but CD23 negative cases may be included if there is an absence of t(11;14). 2. Active disease as defined by at least one of the following (IWCLL consensus criteria): * Weight loss greater than or equal to 10% within the previous 6 months * Extreme fatigue * Fevers of greater than 100.5 F for greater than or equal to 2 weeks without evidence of infection * Night sweats for more than one month without evidence of infection * Evidence of progressive marrow failure as manifested by the development of, or worsening of, anemia and/or thrombocytopenia * Massive or progressive splenomegaly * Massive nodes or clusters or progressive lymphadenopathy * Progressive lymphocytosis with an increase of \>50% over a 2-month period, or an anticipated doubling time of less than 6 months 3. Treatment naive CLL/SLL patients -Treatment-naive CLL indicates no prior anti-CLL therapy. Anti-CLL therapy includes chemotherapies, monoclonal antibodies, and targeted agents with known or reasonably expected anti-leukemic activity. 4. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of less than or equal to 2 5. Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \> 750/microL, platelets \> 50,000/microL 6. Agreement to use acceptable methods of contraception during the study and for 90 days after the last dose of study drug if sexually active and able to bear or beget children. Female subjects of childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test upon study entry. Male and female subjects who agree to use both a highly effective method of birth control (eg, implants, injectables, combined oral contraceptives, some intrauterine devices, complete abstinence, or sterilized partner) and a barrier method (e.g. condoms, vaginal ring, sponge, etc.) during the period of therapy and for 90 days after the last dose of study drug. 7. Willing and able to participate in all required evaluations and procedures in this study protocol including swallowing capsules without difficulty 8. Ability to understand the purpose and risks of the study and provide signed and dated informed consent and authorization to use protected health information (in accordance with national and local subject privacy regulations)

Exclusion criteria

1. Transformed CLL, including Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma 2. Active autoimmune hemolytic anemia or thrombocytopenia 3. Known bleeding disorders 4. Impaired hepatic function: Total bilirubin greater than or equal to 1.5 times upper limit of normal unless due to Gilbert's disease, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or alanine transaminase (ALT) greater than or equal to 2.5 times institutional upper limit of normal unless due to infiltration of liver, Child-Pugh class B or C 5. Impaired renal function: estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) \< 30ml/min/1.73m(2) based on CKD-EPI 6. Life-threatening illness, medical condition or organ system dysfunction which, in the investigators opinion, could compromise the subject's safety, interfere with the absorption or metabolism of ibrutinib and fludarabine, or put the study outcomes at undue risk 7. Concomitant immunomodulatory therapy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or experimental therapy 8. Active Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C infection 9. HIV infection 10. Female patients who are currently in pregnancy, or unwilling to use acceptable methods of contraception or refrain from pregnancy if of childbearing potential or currently breastfeeding. Male patients who are unwilling to follow the contraception requirements described in this protocol. 11. Psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit the patient's ability to tolerate and/or comply with study requirements. 12. Unable to understand the investigational nature of the study or give informed consent. 13. Individuals \< 18 years old 14. Known hypersensitivity to any component of ibrutinib or fludarabine 15. Requires concomitant anticoagulation with Coumadin (warfarin) or other vitamin K antagonists. 16. Prior malignancy, except for adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, in situ cervical cancer, or other cancer from which the subject has been disease-free for greater than or equal to 2 years or which will not limit survival to \< 2 years 17. Malabsorption syndrome, disease significantly affecting gastrointestinal function, or resection of the stomach or small bowel or ulcerative colitis, symptomatic inflammatory bowel disease, or partial or complete bowel obstruction 18. History of stroke or intracranial hemorrhage within 6 months before the first dose of study drug 19. Major surgery within 4 weeks of first dose of study drug 20. Currently active, clinically significant cardiovascular disease such as uncontrolled or symptomatic arrhythmias, Class 3 or 4 congestive heart failure as defined by New York Heart Association Functional Classification, or a history of myocardial infarction or unstable angina, or acute coronary syndrome within 6 months of screening. 21. Subjects who received a strong cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A inhibitor within 7 days prior to the first dose of ibrutinib or subjects who require continuous treatment with a strong CYP3A inhibitor.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Rate of Complete Response at 24 Weeks24 weeksRate of complete response at 24 weeks or after 6 cycles. Response assessment was conducted according to the guidelines from the 2008 International Workshop on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (IWCLL).
Rate of Treatment Discontinuation Within the First 24 Weeks24 weeksRate of treatment discontinuation within the first 24 weeks or 6 cycles due to intolerable side effects from study therapy

Countries

United States

Contacts

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORAndy Itsara, M.D.

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Ibrutinib With Fludarabine in Patients With CLL or SLL
Open-label study of ibrutinib and a short-course fludarabine in previously untreated participants with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) or Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma (SLL). Ibrutinib is administered orally, 420 mg daily for duration of study. Fludarabine dose is 25 mg/m2/day on days 1-5 of cycles 3 and 4.
29
Total29

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicIbrutinib With Fludarabine in Patients With CLL or SLL
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
15 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
14 Participants
Age, Continuous62.4 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 10.7
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
0 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
29 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
28 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
10 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
19 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
1 / 29
other
Total, other adverse events
29 / 29
serious
Total, serious adverse events
14 / 29

Outcome results

Primary

Rate of Complete Response at 24 Weeks

Rate of complete response at 24 weeks or after 6 cycles. Response assessment was conducted according to the guidelines from the 2008 International Workshop on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (IWCLL).

Time frame: 24 weeks

Population: Treatment-naive CLL or SLL patients

ArmMeasureCategoryValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
Ibrutinib With Fludarabine in Patients With CLL or SLLRate of Complete Response at 24 WeeksComplete response6 Participants
Ibrutinib With Fludarabine in Patients With CLL or SLLRate of Complete Response at 24 WeeksPartial response with or without lymphocytosis21 Participants
Ibrutinib With Fludarabine in Patients With CLL or SLLRate of Complete Response at 24 WeeksStable disease1 Participants
Primary

Rate of Treatment Discontinuation Within the First 24 Weeks

Rate of treatment discontinuation within the first 24 weeks or 6 cycles due to intolerable side effects from study therapy

Time frame: 24 weeks

ArmMeasureCategoryValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
Ibrutinib With Fludarabine in Patients With CLL or SLLRate of Treatment Discontinuation Within the First 24 WeeksTreatment discontinued within 24 weeks1 Participants
Ibrutinib With Fludarabine in Patients With CLL or SLLRate of Treatment Discontinuation Within the First 24 WeeksTreatment continued for 24+ weeks28 Participants

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Apr 15, 2026