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Combination Chemotherapy With or Without Temsirolimus in Treating Patients With Intermediate Risk Rhabdomyosarcoma

A Randomized Phase 3 Study of Vincristine, Dactinomycin, Cyclophosphamide (VAC) Alternating With Vincristine and Irinotecan (VI) Versus VAC/VI Plus Temsirolimus (TORI, Torisel, NSC# 683864) in Patients With Intermediate Risk (IR) Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS)

Status
Active, not recruiting
Phases
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02567435
Enrollment
325
Registered
2015-10-05
Start date
2016-06-01
Completion date
2026-10-27
Last updated
2026-08-28

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

Conditions

Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma, Botryoid-Type Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma, Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma, Rhabdomyosarcoma, Sclerosing Rhabdomyosarcoma, Spindle Cell Rhabdomyosarcoma

Brief summary

This randomized phase III trial studies how well combination chemotherapy (vincristine sulfate, dactinomycin, cyclophosphamide alternated with vincristine sulfate and irinotecan hydrochloride or vinorelbine) works compared to combination chemotherapy plus temsirolimus in treating patients with rhabdomyosarcoma (cancer that forms in the soft tissues, such as muscle), and has an intermediate chance of coming back after treatment (intermediate risk). Drugs used work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Combination chemotherapy and temsirolimus may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. It is not yet known whether chemotherapy plus temsirolimus is more effective than chemotherapy alone in treating patients with intermediate-risk rhabdomyosarcoma.

Detailed description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: I. To compare the event-free survival (EFS) of patients with intermediate-risk (IR) rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) treated with surgery, radiotherapy, and vincristine (vincristine sulfate), dactinomycin, and cyclophosphamide (VAC) alternating with vincristine and irinotecan (irinotecan hydrochloride) (VI) (VAC/VI) with maintenance to that of patients treated with surgery, radiotherapy and VAC/VI plus temsirolimus with maintenance. SECONDARY OBJECTIVE: I. To compare the overall survival (OS) of patients with IR RMS treated with surgery, radiotherapy, and VAC alternating with VI with maintenance to that of patients treated with surgery, radiotherapy and VAC/VI plus temsirolimus with maintenance. EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVES: I. To compare the outcome of patients based on their FOXO1 fusion gene partner, by evaluating PAX3 versus (vs) PAX7 in all patients found to be FOXO1 fusion positive. II. To compare the outcome of patients based on their \[F18\]-fluorodeoxy-D-glucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) response at week 9 (positive or negative), as assessed by Deauville criteria (5-point). III. To estimate the frequency of patients with circulating tumor deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) (ctDNA) at diagnosis and subsequent time-points, and explore whether tumor-specific somatic variants are detectable in the ctDNA. IV. To compare the outcome of patients (VAC/VI with or without temsirolimus) who have received maintenance therapy on ARST1431 to those who received VAC/VI on ARST0531. OUTLINE: FEASIBILITY PHASE (THE FEASIBILITY PHASE IS COMPLETE, EFFECTIVE WITH AMENDMENT #1A): (\< 21 years old): This is a dose-escalation study of temsirolimus. Patients receive vincristine sulfate intravenously (IV) over 1 minute on day 1 of weeks 1-13, 16, 17, 19, 20, 22-26, 28, 31-34, 37, 38, and 40, dactinomycin IV over 1-5 or 10-15 minutes on day 1 of weeks 1, 7, 13, 22, 28, 34, and 40, cyclophosphamide IV over 60 minutes on day 1 of weeks 1, 7, 13, 22, 28, 34, and 40, irinotecan hydrochloride IV over 90 minutes on days 1-5 of weeks 4, 10, 16, 19, 25, 31, and 37, and temsirolimus IV over 30-60 minutes on days 1, 8, and 15. Patients also undergo radiation therapy (RT) beginning week 13 for up to 6.5 weeks. Courses with temsirolimus repeat every 21 days for 12 weeks in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. EFFICACY PHASE: Patients are randomized to Regimen A or B. Patients with disease that is ARMS FOXO1 fusion negative (stage I, group I/II, stage 1, group III \[orbit\] or stage II, group I/II) are assigned to Regimen C. REGIMEN A (VAC/VI): Patients receive vincristine sulfate IV over 1 minute on day 1 of weeks 1-13, 16, 17, 19, 20, 22-26, 28, 31-34, 37, 38, and 40, dactinomycin IV over 1-5 or 10-15 minutes on day 1 of weeks 1, 7, 13, 22, 28, 34, and 40, cyclophosphamide IV over 60 minutes on day 1 of weeks 1, 7, 13, 22, 28, 34, and 40, irinotecan hydrochloride IV over 90 minutes on days 1-5 of weeks 4, 10, 16, 19, 25, 31, and 37. Patients also undergo primary site RT beginning at week 13 or metastatic site RT beginning at week 43 for up to 6.5 weeks. Treatment continues in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients then receive vinorelbine IV over 6-10 minutes on days 1, 8, and 15 and cyclophosphamide orally (PO) once daily (QD) on days 1-28. Cycles repeats every 28 days for 24 weeks in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. REGIMEN B (VAC/VI TEMSIROLIMUS): Patients receive vincristine sulfate IV over 1 minute on day 1 of weeks 1-13, 16, 17, 19, 20, 22-26, 28, 31-34, 37, 38, and 40, dactinomycin IV over 1-5 or 10-15 minutes on day 1 of weeks 1, 7, 13, 22, 28, 34, and 40, cyclophosphamide IV over 60 minutes on day 1 of weeks 1, 7, 13, 22, 28, 34, and 40, irinotecan hydrochloride IV over 90 minutes on days 1-5 of weeks 4, 10, 16, 19, 25, 31, and 37 and temsirolimus IV over 30-60 minutes on day 1 of weeks 1-12 and 21-42. Patients also undergo RT as in Regimen A. Treatment continues in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients then receive vinorelbine IV over 6-10 minutes on days 1, 8, and 15 and cyclophosphamide PO QD on days 1-28. Cycles repeats every 28 days for 24 weeks in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. MAINTENANCE PHASE (Patients in Regimen A or Regimen B): Patients receive vinorelbine IV over 6-10 minutes on days 1, 8, and 15 and cyclophosphamide orally (PO) once daily (QD) on days 1-28. Treatment repeats every 28 days for up to 6 cycles. REGIMEN C (FOXO1 FUSION NEGATIVE): Patients receive vincristine sulfate IV over 1 minute on day 1 of weeks 1-10 and 13-22, dactinomycin IV over 1-5 or 10-15 minutes on day 1 of weeks 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, and 22, cyclophosphamide IV over 60 minutes on day 1 of weeks 1, 4, 7, and 10. Patients undergo RT beginning at week 13 for up to 6.5 weeks. Treatment continues in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up every 3 months for 1 year, every 4 months for 2 years, every 6 months for 1 year, and then annually for up to 10 years.

Interventions

DRUGCyclophosphamide

Given IV and PO

BIOLOGICALDactinomycin

Given IV

DRUGIrinotecan Hydrochloride

Given IV

OTHERLaboratory Biomarker Analysis

Correlative studies

OTHERQuestionnaire Administration

Ancillary studies

RADIATIONRadiation Therapy

Undergo RT

DRUGTemsirolimus

Given IV

DRUGVincristine Sulfate

Given IV

DRUGVinorelbine

Given IV

Sponsors

National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Lead SponsorNIH

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
No minimum to 40 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Feasibility Phase: Patients must be \< 21 years of age at the time of enrollment; please note: the feasibility phase is complete, effective with amendment #1 * Efficacy Phase: Patients must be =\< 40 years of age at the time of enrollment * Patients with newly diagnosed RMS of any subtype, except adult-type pleomorphic, based upon institutional histopathologic classification, are eligible to enroll on the study based upon stage, group, and age, as below * RMS types included under embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (ERMS) include those classified in the 1995 International Classification of Rhabdomyosarcoma (ICR) as ERMS (classic, spindle cell, and botryoid variants), which are reclassified in the 2013 World Health Organization (WHO) classification as ERMS (classic, dense and botryoid variants) and spindle cell/sclerosing RMS (encompassing the historical spindle cell ERMS variant and the newly recognized sclerosing RMS variant); classification of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS) in the 2013 WHO classification is the same as in the ICR and includes classic and solid variants * ERMS * Stage 1, group III (non-orbit) * Stage 3, group I/II * Stage 2/3, group III * Stage 4, group IV, \< 10 years old * ARMS: * Stages 1-3, groups I-III * Specimen Submission: Patients must have sufficient tissue available for the required biology study * Lansky performance status score \>= 50 for patients =\< 16 years of age; Karnofsky performance status score \>= 50 for patients \> 16 years of age * Peripheral absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \>= 750/uL * Platelet count \>= 75,000/uL * Creatinine clearance or radioisotope glomerular filtration rate (GFR) \>= 70 mL/min/1.73 m\^2 or a serum creatinine based on age/gender as follows: * 1 month to \< 6 months old: 0.4 mg/dl (male), 0.4 mg/dl (female) * 6 months to \< 1 year old: 0.5 mg/dl (male), 0.5 mg/dl (female) * 1 to \< 2 years old: 0.6 mg/dl (male), 0.6 mg/dl (female) * 2 to \< 6 years old: 0.8 mg/dl (male), 0.8 mg/dl (female) * 6 to \< 10 years old: 1 mg/dl (male), 1 mg/dl (female) * 10 to \< 13 years old: 1.2 mg/dl (male), 1.2 mg/dl (female) * 13 to \< 16 years old: 1.5 mg/dl (male), 1.4 mg/dl (female) * \>= 16 years old: 1.7 mg/dl (male), 1.4 mg/dl (female) * Patients with an elevated serum creatinine due to obstructive hydronephrosis secondary to tumor are still eligible; however, patients with urinary tract obstruction by tumor must have unimpeded urinary flow established via diversion (i.e. percutaneous nephrostomies or ureteric stents) of the urinary tract * Total bilirubin =\< 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) for age * All patients and/or their parents or legal guardians must sign a written informed consent. * All institutional, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and National Cancer Institute (NCI) requirements for human studies must be met.

Exclusion criteria

* Patients who have previously received temsirolimus, another mTOR inhibitor, or any other investigational agent * Patients who have received any chemotherapy (excluding steroids) and/or RT prior to this enrollment * Patients with uncontrolled hyperglycemia * Patients with uncontrolled hyperlipidemia * Sexually active patients of reproductive potential who have not agreed to use an effective contraceptive method for the duration of their study participation and for at least 3 months after treatment is completed * Female patients who are pregnant are not eligible since fetal toxicities or teratogenic effects have been noted for several of the study drugs; Note: A pregnancy test is required for female patients of childbearing potential prior to study entry * Lactating females who plan to breastfeed their infants are not eligible

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Event-free Survival (EFS)Up to 3 years from study entryThe Kaplan-Meier method will used to estimate 3-year EFS between the randomized treatment groups (Regimen A (VAC/VI) vs. Regimen B (VAC/VI/Temsirolimus)) using the log-rank test. EFS event is defined as the time from study entry until first occurrence of progression, relapse, second malignancy, or death.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Overall Survival (OS)Up to 3 years from study entryThe Kaplan-Meier method will used to estimate 3-year OS between the randomized treatment groups (Regimen A (VAC/VI) vs. Regimen B (VAC/VI/Temsirolimus)) using the log-rank test. OS event is defined as the time from study entry until death.

Countries

Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, United States

Contacts

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORAbha A Gupta

Children's Oncology Group

Participant flow

Recruitment details

This study was opened for enrollment on May 23, 2016, and was temporarily closed to accrual on September 23, 2016 for feasibility review. The study was re-opened for enrollment on January 2, 2018. The study was temporarily closed again on August 22, 2018 and re-opened on December 31, 2018 with the addition of maintenance therapy. The study is closed to accrual since 1/6/2022.

Pre-assignment details

Among the 325 patients that enrolled, 4 patients were ineligible, 11 eligible patients were enrolled onto the feasibility phase (with 1 transferred to Regimen C), and 310 eligible patients were randomized and enrolled onto the efficacy phase (with 2 transferred to Regimen C). 13 randomized eligible patients were not analyzed (not evaluable due to FOXO1 diagnosis or amendment after study activated).

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Regimen A (VAC/VI)
Patients receive vincristine sulfate IV over 1 minute on day 1 of weeks 1-13, 16, 17, 19, 20, 22-26, 28, 31-34, 37, 38, and 40, dactinomycin IV over 1-5 or 10-15 minutes on day 1 of weeks 1, 7, 13, 22, 28, 34, and 40, cyclophosphamide IV over 60 minutes on day 1 of weeks 1, 7, 13, 22, 28, 34, and 40, irinotecan hydrochloride IV over 90 minutes on days 1-5 of weeks 4, 10, 16, 19, 25, 31, and 37. Patients also undergo primary site RT beginning at week 13 or metastatic site RT beginning at week 43 for up to 6.5 weeks. Treatment continues in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients then receive vinorelbine IV over 6-10 minutes on days 1, 8, and 15 and cyclophosphamide PO QD on days 1-28. Cycles repeats every 28 days for 24 weeks in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
156
Regimen B (VAC/VI/Temsirolimus)
Patients receive vincristine sulfate IV over 1 minute on day 1 of weeks 1-13, 16, 17, 19, 20, 22-26, 28, 31-34, 37, 38, and 40, dactinomycin IV over 1-5 or 10-15 minutes on day 1 of weeks 1, 7, 13, 22, 28, 34, and 40, cyclophosphamide IV over 60 minutes on day 1 of weeks 1, 7, 13, 22, 28, 34, and 40, irinotecan hydrochloride IV over 90 minutes on days 1-5 of weeks 4, 10, 16, 19, 25, 31, and 37 and temsirolimus IV over 30-60 minutes on day 1 of weeks 1-12 and 21-42. Patients also undergo RT as in Regimen A. Treatment continues in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients then receive vinorelbine IV over 6-10 minutes on days 1, 8, and 15 and cyclophosphamide PO QD on days 1-28. Cycles repeats every 28 days for 24 weeks in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
156
Regimen C (FOXO1 Fusion Negative, VAC/VA)
Patients receive vincristine sulfate IV over 1 minute on day 1 of weeks 1-10 and 13-22, dactinomycin IV over 1-5 or 10-15 minutes on day 1 of weeks 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, and 22, cyclophosphamide IV over 60 minutes on day 1 of weeks 1, 4, 7, and 10. Patients undergo RT beginning at week 13 for up to 6.5 weeks. Treatment continues in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
3
Feasibility (VAC/VI/Temsirolimus)
Patients receive vincristine sulfate IV over 1 minute on day 1 of weeks 1-13, 16, 17, 19, 20, 22-26, 28, 31-34, 37, 38, and 40, dactinomycin IV over 1-5 or 10-15 minutes on day 1 of weeks 1, 7, 13, 22, 28, 34, and 40, cyclophosphamide IV over 60 minutes on day 1 of weeks 1, 7, 13, 22, 28, 34, and 40, irinotecan hydrochloride IV over 90 minutes on days 1-5 of weeks 4, 10, 16, 19, 25, 31, and 37 and temsirolimus IV over 30-60 minutes on day 1 of weeks 1-12 and 21-42. Patients also undergo RT as in Regimen A. Treatment continues in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients then receive vinorelbine IV over 6-10 minutes on days 1, 8, and 15 and cyclophosphamide PO QD on days 1-28. Cycles repeats every 28 days for 24 weeks in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
10
Total325

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicRegimen A (VAC/VI)Regimen B (VAC/VI/Temsirolimus)Regimen C (FOXO1 Fusion Negative, VAC/VA)Feasibility (VAC/VI/Temsirolimus)Total
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
145 Participants140 Participants3 Participants10 Participants298 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
11 Participants16 Participants0 Participants0 Participants27 Participants
Age, Continuous6.57 years6.05 years5.71 years4.59 years6.34 years
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
29 Participants17 Participants2 Participants1 Participants49 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
113 Participants117 Participants1 Participants9 Participants240 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
14 Participants22 Participants0 Participants0 Participants36 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
2 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants2 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
5 Participants4 Participants0 Participants0 Participants9 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
20 Participants16 Participants0 Participants1 Participants37 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
3 Participants3 Participants0 Participants1 Participants7 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants1 Participants0 Participants0 Participants1 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
27 Participants26 Participants1 Participants0 Participants54 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
99 Participants106 Participants2 Participants8 Participants215 Participants
Region of Enrollment
Australia
6 participants11 participants0 participants0 participants17 participants
Region of Enrollment
Canada
6 participants9 participants0 participants0 participants15 participants
Region of Enrollment
New Zealand
3 participants1 participants0 participants0 participants4 participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
141 participants135 participants3 participants10 participants289 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
71 Participants55 Participants0 Participants3 Participants129 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
85 Participants101 Participants3 Participants7 Participants196 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
33 / 15533 / 1530 / 34 / 10
other
Total, other adverse events
139 / 155141 / 1531 / 38 / 10
serious
Total, serious adverse events
17 / 15577 / 1530 / 36 / 10

Outcome results

Primary

Event-free Survival (EFS)

The Kaplan-Meier method will used to estimate 3-year EFS between the randomized treatment groups (Regimen A (VAC/VI) vs. Regimen B (VAC/VI/Temsirolimus)) using the log-rank test. EFS event is defined as the time from study entry until first occurrence of progression, relapse, second malignancy, or death.

Time frame: Up to 3 years from study entry

Population: As pre-specified in the protocol, patients randomized to Regimen A (VAC/VI) and Regimen B (VAC/VI/Temsirolimus) were included in this analysis. The data was analyzed with revised intention-to-treat approach. Following patients were excluded 4 ineligible patients, 11 feasibility patients and 13 inevaluable patients (due to FOXO1 results or who did not receive maintenance therapy due to an amendment added during the study) .

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Regimen A (VAC/VI)Event-free Survival (EFS)64.80 Percentage of participants
Regimen B (VAC/VI/Temsirolimus)Event-free Survival (EFS)66.80 Percentage of participants
p-value: 0.44Log Rank
Secondary

Overall Survival (OS)

The Kaplan-Meier method will used to estimate 3-year OS between the randomized treatment groups (Regimen A (VAC/VI) vs. Regimen B (VAC/VI/Temsirolimus)) using the log-rank test. OS event is defined as the time from study entry until death.

Time frame: Up to 3 years from study entry

Population: As pre-specified in the protocol, patients randomized to Regimen A (VAC/VI) and Regimen B (VAC/VI/Temsirolimus) were included in this analysis. The data was analyzed with revised intention-to-treat approach. Following patients were excluded 4 ineligible patients, 11 feasibility patients and 13 inevaluable patients (due to FOXO1 results or who did not receive maintenance therapy due to an amendment added during the study) .

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Regimen A (VAC/VI)Overall Survival (OS)78.70 Percentage of participants
Regimen B (VAC/VI/Temsirolimus)Overall Survival (OS)77.80 Percentage of participants
p-value: 0.56Log Rank
Other Pre-specified

Frequency of Circulating Tumor DNA (ctDNA) at Diagnosis and Subsequent Time-points

Will determine the frequency with which of ctDNA is detected in patients with intermediate-risk (IR) rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) at diagnosis and how these levels change over time with. In addition, the level of ctDNA as a percent of total cell-free DNA will be summarized by reporting the median and range. Since no prior data are available on the rate of positivity nor the change over time, the analysis will be purely descriptive. Changes over time will be plotted to visually determine and compare the trajectories of ctDNA during the early and late stages of therapy.

Time frame: Up to 10 years

Other Pre-specified

Patient Outcome Based on Their [F18]-Fluorodeoxy-D-glucose-positron Emission Tomography (FDG-positron Emission Tomography [PET]) Response

Assessed by Deauville Criteria (5-point).

Time frame: At week 9

Other Pre-specified

Patient Outcome Based on Their Forkhead Box O1 Protein (FOXO1) Partner, by Evaluating PAX3 vs. PAX7 in All Patients Found to be FOXO1 Fusion Positive

Time frame: Up to 10 years

Other Pre-specified

Patient Outcomes Based on (Vincristine, Dactinomycin, and Cyclophosphamide [VAC]/Vincristine and Irinotecan [VI] With or Without Temsirolimus) Who Have Received Maintenance Therapy on ARST1431 to Those Who Received VAC/VI on ARST0531

The two-sample log-rank test will be performed.

Time frame: Up to 10 years

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Aug 29, 2026