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Apixaban in Preventing Secondary Cancer Related Venous Thrombosis in Cancer Patients Who Have Completed Anticoagulation Therapy

A Phase III, Randomized, Controlled, Double-Blind Study Evaluating the Safety of Two Doses of Apixaban for Secondary Prevention of Cancer Related Venous Thrombosis in Subjects Who Have Completed at Least Six Months of Anticoagulation Therapy

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03080883
Enrollment
370
Registered
2017-03-15
Start date
2017-07-14
Completion date
2025-05-09
Last updated
2025-05-18

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

Conditions

Cerebral Vein Thrombosis, Deep Vein Thrombosis, Hematopoietic and Lymphoid Cell Neoplasm, Malignant Solid Neoplasm, Metastatic Malignant Solid Neoplasm, Pulmonary Embolism, Splanchnic Vein Thrombosis

Brief summary

This randomized phase III trial studies the best dose of apixaban and how well it works in preventing secondary cancer related venous thrombosis in cancer patients who have completed anticoagulation therapy. Apixaban may help in prevention by blocking some of the enzymes needed for venous thrombosis.

Detailed description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: I. Any episode of major bleeding including fatal bleeding or clinically relevant non-major bleeding. SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: I. The proportion of patients who experienced at least one such bleeding event within 6 months of beginning treatment. II. Venous thromboembolism (VTE) recurrence including deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), fatal PE, or arterial thromboembolism. OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 groups. GROUP I: Patients receive lower dose apixaban orally (PO) twice daily (BID) for 365 days. GROUP II: Patients receive higher dose apixaban PO BID for 365 days. After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up for 30 days.

Interventions

DRUGApixaban

Given PO

Sponsors

National Cancer Institute (NCI)
CollaboratorNIH
Academic and Community Cancer Research United
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Investigator)

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

* Confirmed acute index (original venous thrombotic) event: lower extremity or upper extremity (jugular, innominate, subclavian, axillary, brachial) DVT, PE, splanchnic (hepatic, portal, splenic, mesenteric, renal, gonadal), or cerebral vein thrombosis for which the patient has received \>= 180 days (but =\< 365 days) of anticoagulant therapy prior to registration; the date, imaging modality, and location of index event will be required; the date of initiation and specific type of anticoagulants used will also be required * Active cancer defined as metastatic disease and/or any evidence of cancer on cross-sectional or positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, cancer related surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy within the past 6 months; Note: non-melanoma skin cancer does not meet the cancer requirement * Life expectancy \>= 6 months * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) of 0, 1, or 2 * Hemoglobin \>= 8 g/dL obtained =\< 30 days prior to registration * Platelet count \>= 50,000/mm\^3 obtained =\< 30 days prior to registration * Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or aspartate transaminase (AST) =\< 3 x upper limit of normal (ULN) obtained =\< 30 days prior to registration * Calculated creatinine clearance must be \>= 30 ml/min using the Cockcroft-Gault formula obtained =\< 30 days prior to registration * Negative serum or urine pregnancy test done =\< 7 days prior to registration, for women of childbearing potential only; * Note: a woman of childbearing potential (WOCBP) is defined as any female who has experienced menarche and who has not undergone surgical sterilization (hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy) and is not postmenopausal; menopause is defined as 12 months of amenorrhea in a woman over age 45 years in the absence of other biological or physiological causes * Ability to provide informed written consent * Willing to undergo monthly follow-up assessment, either in person at the enrolling institution or by telephone

Exclusion criteria

* Any of the following because this study involves an investigational agent whose genotoxic, mutagenic and teratogenic effects on the developing fetus and newborn are unknown: * Pregnant women * Nursing women * Men or women of childbearing potential who are unwilling to employ adequate contraception * Note: women of child bearing potential must agree to follow instructions for method(s) of contraception for the duration of treatment with study drug (s) plus 33 days after finishing the last dose * Males who are sexually active with WOCBP must agree to follow instructions for method(s) of contraception for the duration of treatment with study drug (s) plus 93 days after finishing the last dose * Azoospermic males and WOCBP who are continuously not heterosexually active are exempt from contraceptive requirements; however they must still undergo pregnancy testing as described in this section; note: investigators shall counsel WOCBP and male subjects who are sexually active with WOCBP on the importance of pregnancy prevention and the implications of an unexpected pregnancy; investigators shall advise WOCBP and male subjects who are sexually active with WOCBP on the use of highly effective methods of contraception; highly effective methods of contraception have a failure rate of \< 1% when used consistently and correctly; at a minimum, subjects must agree to the use of one method of highly effective contraception as listed below: * Male condoms with spermicide * Hormonal methods of contraception including combined oral contraceptive pills, vaginal ring, injectables, implants and intrauterine devices (IUDs) such as Mirena by WOCBP subject or male subject's WOCBP partner * Female partners of male subjects participating in the study may use hormone based contraceptives as one of the acceptable methods of contraception * IUDs, such as ParaGard * Tubal ligation * Vasectomy * Complete abstinence * Complete abstinence is defined as complete avoidance of heterosexual intercourse and is an acceptable form of contraception for all study drugs; acceptable alternate methods of highly effective contraception must be discussed in the event that the subject chooses to forego complete abstinence * Active major bleeding * Severe hypersensitivity reaction to apixaban (e.g., anaphylactic reactions) * Current use of strong CYP3A4 inducers or inhibitors * NOTE: patients may be eligible if they transition to an alternative agent or are able to stop CYP3A4 inducer or inhibitor * Current use of thienopyridine therapy (clopidogrel, prasugrel, or ticagrelor) that will be continued on study * Severe liver disease (known cirrhosis Childs Pugh class B or C), or active hepatitis * Documented venous thromboembolism while on therapeutic anticoagulation (anticoagulation failure) * Mechanical heart valve * Documented hemorrhagic tendencies (e.g., hemophilia) * Bacterial endocarditis * Any of the following conditions: * Intracranial bleeding =\< 6 months prior to randomization * Intraocular bleeding =\< 6 months prior to randomization * Gastrointestinal bleeding and/or endoscopically proven ulcer =\< 6 months prior to randomization * Head trauma or major trauma =\< 1 month prior to randomization * Neurosurgery =\< 2 weeks prior to randomization * Major surgery =\< 1 week prior to randomization * Gross hematuria at the time of randomization

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
CIF of Major or Clinically Relevant Non-major Bleeding Combined With Death as Competing Risk12 monthsIncidence of major bleeding and clinically relevant non-major bleeding will be estimated using the cumulative incidence function (CIF) with death without major bleeding or clinically relevant non-major bleeding and with adverse events that results in termination of treatment (including vascular events) as competing risks. The time to event is defined as the time from randomization to the first occurrence of a major bleeding, a clinically relevant non-major bleeding, death without major bleeding or clinically relevant non-major bleeding, or an adverse event that results in termination of treatment. Patients who were lost to follow-up, who withdrew informed consent before the end of the predefined study duration will be censored at the last day the patient had a complete assessment for study outcomes within the intended study period. The difference in the incidences of the combined endpoint at 12 months between treatment arms will be estimated along with a 95% confidence interval

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Proportion of Patients Who Experienced at Least One Bleeding Event6 monthsIncidence of major bleeding and clinically relevant non-major bleeding will be estimated using the cumulative incidence function (CIF) with death without major bleeding or clinically relevant non-major bleeding and with adverse events that results in termination of treatment (including vascular events) as competing risks. The time to event is defined as the time from randomization to the first occurrence of a major bleeding, a clinically relevant non-major bleeding, death without major bleeding or clinically relevant non-major bleeding, or an adverse event that results in termination of treatment. Patients who were lost to follow-up, who withdrew informed consent before the end of the predefined study duration will be censored at the last day the patient had a complete assessment for study outcomes within the intended study period. The difference in the incidences of the combined endpoint at 6 months between treatment arms will be estimated along with a 95% confidence interval.
Cumulative Incidence Function of DVT/PE Treating Death or AE Resulting in End of Treatment as Competing Risk by Study Arm12 monthsFor the secondary outcome analysis, the time from starting treatment to the first event of the composite deep vein thrombosis (DVT)/pulmonary embolism (PE) outcome will be analyzed using the same method described in the section for primary outcome plan. For this outcome, death without DVT/PE and adverse events leading to termination of treatment will be treated as the competing risks.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Recruitment details

5 patients enrolled in arm 1 and 5 patients enrolled in arm 2 did not begin treatment and therefore are not included in the participant flow table.

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Group I (2.5mg Dose Apixaban)
Patients receive lower dose apixaban PO BID for 365 days.\> \> Apixaban: Given PO
179
Group II (5mg Dose Apixaban)
Patients receive higher dose apixaban PO BID for 365 days.\> \> Apixaban: Given PO
181
Total360

Withdrawals & dropouts

PeriodReasonFG000FG001
Overall StudyAdverse Event2222
Overall StudyAlternative Therapy03
Overall StudyDeath2116
Overall StudyDisease Progression28
Overall StudyLost to Follow-up11
Overall StudyOther Complicating Disease95
Overall StudyPhysician Decision22
Overall StudyWithdrawal by Subject1115

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicGroup I (2.5mg Dose Apixaban)Group II (5mg Dose Apixaban)Total
Age, Continuous63.6 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 10.96
64.3 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 10.72
64.0 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 10.83
ECOG Performance Status
0
97 Participants96 Participants193 Participants
ECOG Performance Status
1
73 Participants80 Participants153 Participants
ECOG Performance Status
2
9 Participants5 Participants14 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
5 Participants2 Participants7 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
171 Participants176 Participants347 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
3 Participants3 Participants6 Participants
Location of Initial Thrombosis
Deep-vein thrombosis (including atypical VTE)
82 Participants86 Participants168 Participants
Location of Initial Thrombosis
Pulmonary embolism
97 Participants95 Participants192 Participants
Primary Tumor Site
Brain/CNS
3 Participants5 Participants8 Participants
Primary Tumor Site
Breast
10 Participants25 Participants35 Participants
Primary Tumor Site
Colon/rectum/pancreas/stomach
44 Participants45 Participants89 Participants
Primary Tumor Site
ENT
0 Participants1 Participants1 Participants
Primary Tumor Site
Genitourinary
0 Participants3 Participants3 Participants
Primary Tumor Site
Gynecologic
19 Participants17 Participants36 Participants
Primary Tumor Site
Kidney/bladder
8 Participants9 Participants17 Participants
Primary Tumor Site
Liver/bile duct
6 Participants3 Participants9 Participants
Primary Tumor Site
Lung/bronchus
26 Participants17 Participants43 Participants
Primary Tumor Site
Lymphoma/Myeloma/Leukemia
34 Participants16 Participants50 Participants
Primary Tumor Site
Melanoma
1 Participants0 Participants1 Participants
Primary Tumor Site
Other
4 Participants3 Participants7 Participants
Primary Tumor Site
Prostate
5 Participants6 Participants11 Participants
Primary Tumor Site
Sarcoma
5 Participants4 Participants9 Participants
Primary Tumor Site
Skin
1 Participants3 Participants4 Participants
Primary Tumor Site
Thyroid
2 Participants3 Participants5 Participants
Primary Tumor Site
Tongue/mouth/pharynx
0 Participants2 Participants2 Participants
Primary Tumor Site
Upper Gastrointestinal
3 Participants2 Participants5 Participants
Primary Tumor Site
Uterine cervix/corpus
8 Participants17 Participants25 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
1 Participants1 Participants2 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants1 Participants1 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
7 Participants9 Participants16 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
1 Participants0 Participants1 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
2 Participants1 Participants3 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
168 Participants169 Participants337 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
179 participants181 participants360 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
92 Participants107 Participants199 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
87 Participants74 Participants161 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
26 / 17922 / 181
other
Total, other adverse events
93 / 17975 / 181
serious
Total, serious adverse events
70 / 17969 / 181

Outcome results

Primary

CIF of Major or Clinically Relevant Non-major Bleeding Combined With Death as Competing Risk

Incidence of major bleeding and clinically relevant non-major bleeding will be estimated using the cumulative incidence function (CIF) with death without major bleeding or clinically relevant non-major bleeding and with adverse events that results in termination of treatment (including vascular events) as competing risks. The time to event is defined as the time from randomization to the first occurrence of a major bleeding, a clinically relevant non-major bleeding, death without major bleeding or clinically relevant non-major bleeding, or an adverse event that results in termination of treatment. Patients who were lost to follow-up, who withdrew informed consent before the end of the predefined study duration will be censored at the last day the patient had a complete assessment for study outcomes within the intended study period. The difference in the incidences of the combined endpoint at 12 months between treatment arms will be estimated along with a 95% confidence interval

Time frame: 12 months

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Group I (2.5mg Dose Apixaban)CIF of Major or Clinically Relevant Non-major Bleeding Combined With Death as Competing Risk9.6 proportion of participants
Group II (5mg Dose Apixaban)CIF of Major or Clinically Relevant Non-major Bleeding Combined With Death as Competing Risk13.5 proportion of participants
p-value: 0.311795% CI: [0.38, 1.37]Gray Test P-value
Secondary

Cumulative Incidence Function of DVT/PE Treating Death or AE Resulting in End of Treatment as Competing Risk by Study Arm

For the secondary outcome analysis, the time from starting treatment to the first event of the composite deep vein thrombosis (DVT)/pulmonary embolism (PE) outcome will be analyzed using the same method described in the section for primary outcome plan. For this outcome, death without DVT/PE and adverse events leading to termination of treatment will be treated as the competing risks.

Time frame: 12 months

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Group I (2.5mg Dose Apixaban)Cumulative Incidence Function of DVT/PE Treating Death or AE Resulting in End of Treatment as Competing Risk by Study Arm5.8 proportion of participants
Group II (5mg Dose Apixaban)Cumulative Incidence Function of DVT/PE Treating Death or AE Resulting in End of Treatment as Competing Risk by Study Arm7.1 proportion of participants
Secondary

Proportion of Patients Who Experienced at Least One Bleeding Event

Incidence of major bleeding and clinically relevant non-major bleeding will be estimated using the cumulative incidence function (CIF) with death without major bleeding or clinically relevant non-major bleeding and with adverse events that results in termination of treatment (including vascular events) as competing risks. The time to event is defined as the time from randomization to the first occurrence of a major bleeding, a clinically relevant non-major bleeding, death without major bleeding or clinically relevant non-major bleeding, or an adverse event that results in termination of treatment. Patients who were lost to follow-up, who withdrew informed consent before the end of the predefined study duration will be censored at the last day the patient had a complete assessment for study outcomes within the intended study period. The difference in the incidences of the combined endpoint at 6 months between treatment arms will be estimated along with a 95% confidence interval.

Time frame: 6 months

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Group I (2.5mg Dose Apixaban)Proportion of Patients Who Experienced at Least One Bleeding Event4.9 proportion of participants
Group II (5mg Dose Apixaban)Proportion of Patients Who Experienced at Least One Bleeding Event5.8 proportion of participants
p-value: 0.99795% CI: [0.4, 2.53]Gray Test P-value

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