Venetoclax + Azacitidine for Myelodysplastic Syndrome

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Phase 1 & 2

Sponsor: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Must not be taking: BCL2 inhibitors

Disqualifiers: Low-risk MDS, Pregnant, Cognitively impaired, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 4-8 weeks per cycle

116 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Do I need to stop my current medications for the trial?

The trial protocol does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications. However, hydroxyurea is allowed to lower white cell count before starting venetoclax.

What data supports the effectiveness of the drug combination Venetoclax and Azacitidine for Myelodysplastic Syndrome?

Research shows that the combination of Venetoclax and Azacitidine has been effective in treating acute myeloid leukemia, improving remission rates and survival. In patients with relapsed or refractory myelodysplastic syndromes, this combination has shown promising results, including complete remission and improved overall survival. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

What safety data exists for Venetoclax in humans?

In a study involving Venetoclax for a specific type of blood disorder, serious side effects were reported in 19% of patients, with 7% experiencing infections. This suggests that while Venetoclax can be effective, it may also lead to significant adverse effects in some individuals. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

How is the drug combination of Venetoclax and Azacitidine unique for treating myelodysplastic syndrome?

The combination of Venetoclax and Azacitidine is unique for treating myelodysplastic syndrome because it offers a new option for patients who have not responded to previous treatments, providing meaningful benefits like improved blood counts and independence from blood transfusions, which are not standard outcomes with existing therapies. ^{1 2 3 4 11}

What is the purpose of this trial?

This phase I/II trial studies the side effects and best dose of venetoclax when given together with azacitidine in treating patients with high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome that has come back (recurrent) or does not respond to treatment (refractory). Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as venetoclax and azacitidine, work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading.

Research Team

Guillermo Garcia-Manero

Principal Investigator

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for adults with high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome that's either come back or isn't responding to treatment. They should have normal bilirubin and creatinine levels, not be pregnant or breastfeeding, and agree to use contraception. People who've had BCL2 inhibitor therapy or have low-risk MDS aren't eligible.

Inclusion Criteria

Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) < 4 x ULN unless considered due to leukemic involvement

For phase II, patients will be divided into 2 cohorts: Cohort A: patients with HMA-naive high-risk MDS (Int-2 or high risk by the IPSS with overall score >= 1.5) with excess blasts > 5%. Cohort B: patients with relapsed/refractory MDS post-HMA failure (defined as prior receipt of 4 cycles of HMA therapy with failure to attain a response, or progression of disease or relapse at any time after prior response to HMA therapy) with > 5% blasts are eligible. Note: Patients with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) and therapy-related MDS are eligible. Hydroxyurea is allowed to lower the white cell count =< 10,000/ul prior to initiation of venetoclax

Total bilirubin < 3 x upper limit of normal (ULN) unless increase is due to Gilbert's disease or leukemic involvement

Exclusion Criteria

My MDS is classified as low or intermediate-1 risk.

I have cognitive impairment.

I have previously received BCL2 inhibitor therapy.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive venetoclax orally once daily on days 1-7 or 1-14 and azacitidine subcutaneously or intravenously over 15 minutes on days 1-5. Cycles repeat every 4-8 weeks in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

4-8 weeks per cycle

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment completion, with follow-up at 30 days and then every 3-6 months for up to 5 years.

Up to 5 years

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Azacitidine
• Venetoclax

Trial Overview The trial is testing the combination of two chemotherapy drugs, Venetoclax and Azacitidine, to find the safest dose and see how well they work together in treating patients with aggressive forms of myelodysplastic syndrome.

Participant Groups

Group I: Treatment (venetoclax, azacitidine) Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Patients receive venetoclax orally PO QD on days 1-7 or 1-14 and azacitidine SC or IV over 15 minutes on days 1-5. Cycles repeat every 4-8 weeks in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

Azacitidine is already approved in European Union, United States, Canada, Japan for the following indications:

Approved in European Union as Vidaza for:

• Acute myeloid leukemia
• Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia
• Myelodysplastic syndromes

Approved in United States as Vidaza for:

• Myelodysplastic syndromes
• Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia

Approved in Canada as Vidaza for:

• Myelodysplastic syndromes
• Acute myeloid leukemia

Approved in Japan as Vidaza for:

• Myelodysplastic syndromes
• Acute myeloid leukemia

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

3,107

Recruited

1,813,000+

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Collaborator

Trials

14,080

Recruited

41,180,000+

Findings from Research

In a phase 1b study involving 44 patients with relapsed/refractory higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), the combination of venetoclax and azacitidine demonstrated significant activity, with a median overall survival of 12.6 months after prior treatment failure with hypomethylating agents.

The treatment resulted in hematological improvements, including complete remission in 7% of patients and transfusion independence in 36%, indicating that venetoclax plus azacitidine can provide meaningful clinical benefits for patients with limited options.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A phase 1b study of venetoclax and azacitidine combination in patients with relapsed or refractory myelodysplastic syndromes. Zeidan, AM., Borate, U., Pollyea, DA., et al.[2023]

In a study of 13 patients with acute leukemia treated with venetoclax and azacitidine, 46% developed COVID-19, highlighting a significant risk associated with this treatment during the pandemic.

The study found that 33% of those who contracted COVID-19 died from the virus, indicating that COVID-19 can lead to severe outcomes in patients receiving AZA-VEN therapy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Patients Treated with Azacitidine and Venetoclax for Acute Leukemia: A Report of a Case Series Treated in a Single Institution. Drozd-Sokołowska, J., Mądry, K., Barankiewicz, J., et al.[2023]

In a phase 1/2 study involving six Japanese patients aged 60 and older with acute myeloid leukaemia, the combination of venetoclax and azacitidine demonstrated a high response rate, with 83% of patients achieving a response, including three complete remissions.

The treatment was generally well tolerated, with a median overall survival of 15.7 months, although some patients experienced serious adverse events, including grade 3 fungal pneumonia, which required treatment adjustments.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Venetoclax in combination with azacitidine in Japanese patients with acute myeloid leukaemia: phase 1 trial findings. Taniguchi, S., Yamauchi, T., Choi, I., et al.[2021]

In a phase II study involving 60 older or unfit patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the combination of venetoclax with cladribine and low-dose cytarabine alternating with venetoclax and 5-azacitidine resulted in a high composite complete response rate of 93%.

The treatment showed promising overall survival and disease-free survival rates, with only one death occurring within 4 weeks, indicating that this regimen is effective and has a favorable safety profile for this patient population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Phase II Study of Venetoclax Added to Cladribine Plus Low-Dose Cytarabine Alternating With 5-Azacitidine in Older Patients With Newly Diagnosed Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Kadia, TM., Reville, PK., Wang, X., et al.[2023]

In a Japanese subgroup of the phase 3 VIALE-A trial, venetoclax-azacitidine significantly improved overall survival rates compared to placebo-azacitidine, with 67% of patients alive at 12 months versus 46% in the placebo group.

The treatment also resulted in a high complete response (CR) and CR with incomplete hematologic recovery (CRi) rate of 67%, while maintaining a safety profile similar to the global study, indicating it is a viable first-line treatment for Japanese patients with acute myeloid leukemia ineligible for intensive chemotherapy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Venetoclax plus azacitidine in Japanese patients with untreated acute myeloid leukemia ineligible for intensive chemotherapy. Yamamoto, K., Shinagawa, A., DiNardo, CD., et al.[2023]

In a study of 43 patients with light-chain amyloidosis (AL) treated with venetoclax, the overall hematologic response rate was 68%, with 63% achieving very good partial response (VGPR) or complete response (CR), indicating that venetoclax is an effective treatment option for AL.

Patients with the t(11;14) genetic alteration had significantly better outcomes, with an 81% hematologic response rate and a median progression-free survival (PFS) that was not reached, compared to 40% response and a median PFS of 6.7 months for those without this alteration.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Venetoclax induces deep hematologic remissions in t(11;14) relapsed/refractory AL amyloidosis. Premkumar, VJ., Lentzsch, S., Pan, S., et al.[2021]

Irinotecan (CPT-11) has demonstrated a broad range of antitumor activity across various cancer types, including lymphoma, leukemia, and several solid tumors, although most studies have focused on colorectal and gastrointestinal cancers.

Preliminary results indicate that irinotecan shows modest but reproducible activity in multiple cancers, suggesting the need for further well-designed clinical trials to better understand its efficacy and optimal use in combination therapies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Irinotecan in lymphoma, leukemia, and breast, pancreatic, ovarian, and small-cell lung cancers. Rosen, LS.[2018]

In a rat model, combining thalidomide with irinotecan (CPT-11) significantly reduced the dose-limiting toxicities such as diarrhea and blood cell count decreases associated with CPT-11 treatment.

Thalidomide altered the pharmacokinetics of CPT-11, increasing its plasma concentration while decreasing the levels of its toxic metabolite SN-38, suggesting that thalidomide may help mitigate the harmful effects of CPT-11 through pharmacokinetic modulation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Pharmacokinetic mechanisms for reduced toxicity of irinotecan by coadministered thalidomide. Yang, XX., Hu, ZP., Chan, SY., et al.[2019]

Irinotecan, a water-soluble analogue of camptothecin, effectively targets DNA topoisomerase I to induce cancer cell death, showing activity against various cancers including leukemia and colorectal cancer, with a dose-response relationship observed in phase I trials.

The drug's pharmacokinetics reveal significant interpatient variability, with adverse effects like neutropenia and diarrhea correlating with plasma concentrations of irinotecan and its active metabolite SN-38, highlighting the importance of monitoring these levels to optimize treatment and minimize toxicity.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Clinical pharmacokinetics of irinotecan. Chabot, GG.[2018]

A 71-year-old patient with recurrent cervical cancer who is a compound heterozygote for UGT1A1*6 and UGT1A1*28 experienced significant hematotoxicity (grade 4 neutropenia, grade 3 anemia, and grade 4 thrombocytopenia) while receiving irinotecan hydrochloride (CPT-11) at a dose of 60 mg/m², indicating potential risks associated with this treatment in similar patients.

Despite the absence of previous case reports linking serious adverse events to CPT-11 in this genetic context, the observed severe side effects suggest that careful monitoring and dose adjustments are necessary for patients with these UGT1A1 variants undergoing combined chemotherapy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Recurrent cervical cancer in a patient who was compound heterozygous for UGT1A1*6 and UGT1A1*28 presenting with serious adverse events during irinotecan hydrochloride/nedaplatin therapy. Takatori, E., Shoji, T., Miura, Y., et al.[2018]

In patients with newly diagnosed unfit acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the combination of azacitidine and venetoclax is a standard first-line treatment.

However, patients with TP53-mutated AML and poor-risk cytogenetics do not benefit from adding venetoclax to azacitidine, suggesting that alternative treatment regimens should be considered for these individuals.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

TP53 or Not TP53: That Is the Question. Green, SD., Zeidner, JF.[2023]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A phase 1b study of venetoclax and azacitidine combination in patients with relapsed or refractory myelodysplastic syndromes. [2023]

2. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Patients Treated with Azacitidine and Venetoclax for Acute Leukemia: A Report of a Case Series Treated in a Single Institution. [2023]

3. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Venetoclax in combination with azacitidine in Japanese patients with acute myeloid leukaemia: phase 1 trial findings. [2021]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Phase II Study of Venetoclax Added to Cladribine Plus Low-Dose Cytarabine Alternating With 5-Azacitidine in Older Patients With Newly Diagnosed Acute Myeloid Leukemia. [2023]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Venetoclax plus azacitidine in Japanese patients with untreated acute myeloid leukemia ineligible for intensive chemotherapy. [2023]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Venetoclax induces deep hematologic remissions in t(11;14) relapsed/refractory AL amyloidosis. [2021]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Irinotecan in lymphoma, leukemia, and breast, pancreatic, ovarian, and small-cell lung cancers. [2018]

8. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Pharmacokinetic mechanisms for reduced toxicity of irinotecan by coadministered thalidomide. [2019]

9. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Clinical pharmacokinetics of irinotecan. [2018]

10. Australia pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Recurrent cervical cancer in a patient who was compound heterozygous for UGT1A1*6 and UGT1A1*28 presenting with serious adverse events during irinotecan hydrochloride/nedaplatin therapy. [2018]

11. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

TP53 or Not TP53: That Is the Question. [2023]