Acalabrutinib + CAR T-cell Therapy for B-Cell Lymphoma

Overseen By Ajay K. Gopal

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Phase 1 & 2

Sponsor: University of Washington

Must not be taking: Proton pump inhibitors

Disqualifiers: Infections, Brain metastases, Seizure disorder, others

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

Breakthrough Therapy This drug has been fast-tracked for approval by the FDA given its high promise

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

Duration: Up to 3 weeks for acalabrutinib prior to leukapheresis, followed by axicabtagene ciloleucel infusion

50 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This phase I/II trial studies the safety of acalabrutinib and axicabtagene ciloleucel in treating patients with B-cell lymphoma. Acalabrutinib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking key pathways needed for cell growth. Immunotherapy with axicabtagene ciloleucel is engineered to target a specific surface antigen on lymphoma cells. Acalabrutinib may enhance the efficacy of axicabtagene ciloleucel in treating patients with B-cell lymphoma.

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

The trial does not specify if you need to stop all current medications, but you cannot use strong CYP3A inhibitors or inducers within 7 days of starting the study drugs. If you are on a proton pump inhibitor, you may need to switch to a different type of medication.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Acalabrutinib + CAR T-cell Therapy for B-Cell Lymphoma?

Axicabtagene ciloleucel, a component of the treatment, has shown high response rates and a manageable safety profile in patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell malignancies, including large B-cell lymphoma, and is approved by the FDA for such conditions. In a study, it achieved a 78% complete response rate as part of first-line therapy for high-risk large B-cell lymphoma. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

What safety data exists for Acalabrutinib + CAR T-cell Therapy in humans?

Axicabtagene ciloleucel (Yescarta), a CAR T-cell therapy, has been studied for B-cell lymphoma and shows a manageable safety profile. Common side effects include cytokine release syndrome (a condition where the immune system is overly activated) and neurological events, but severe cases are less common. No treatment-related deaths were reported in the studies reviewed. ^{1 3 6 7 8}

How is the treatment Acalabrutinib + CAR T-cell Therapy different for B-Cell Lymphoma?

This treatment combines Acalabrutinib, a drug that targets specific proteins in cancer cells, with Axicabtagene Ciloleucel, a CAR T-cell therapy that uses modified immune cells to attack cancer. This combination is unique because it targets the cancer in two different ways, potentially improving effectiveness for patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell lymphoma who have limited treatment options. ^{1 2 5 9 10}

Research Team

Ajay K. Gopal

Principal Investigator

Fred Hutch/University of Washington Cancer Consortium

Eligibility Criteria

Adults with B-cell lymphoma eligible for axi-cel per FDA, understanding and consenting to the study, ECOG status of 0-1, adequate organ function, no active infections or second cancers needing treatment. Excludes those intolerant to acalabrutinib, with brain metastases or cerebrospinal fluid malignant cells, on strong CYP3A inhibitors/inducers, refractory to BTK inhibition, low blood counts, pregnant/breastfeeding women.

Inclusion Criteria

I have been diagnosed with a specific type of large B-cell lymphoma.

My kidney function is good, with a creatinine clearance over 50 mL/min or serum creatinine <= 2.5.

I breathe well with minimal shortness of breath and my oxygen level is above 92% without assistance.

Exclusion Criteria

I do not have any serious infections that would make treatment risky.

I have not had major surgery in the last 7 days or have fully recovered from it.

I have or had cancer cells in my brain or spinal fluid.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-3 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive acalabrutinib orally every 12 hours and axicabtagene ciloleucel intravenously after lymphodepleting chemotherapy

Up to 3 weeks for acalabrutinib prior to leukapheresis, followed by axicabtagene ciloleucel infusion

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

5 years

Every 3 months

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Acalabrutinib
• Axicabtagene Ciloleucel

Trial Overview The trial is testing the combination of acalabrutinib (a drug that blocks tumor growth pathways) and axicabtagene ciloleucel (a CAR T-cell therapy targeting lymphoma cells). It aims to see if acalabrutinib can boost the effectiveness of the immunotherapy in treating B-cell lymphoma.

Participant Groups

Group I: Treatment (acalabrutinib, axicabtagene ciloleucel) Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Beginning up to 3 weeks and at least 24 hours prior to leukapheresis, patients receive acalabrutinib PO every 12 hours. Treatment continues in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients also receive axicabtagene ciloleucel IV at 36-96 hours after completion of lymphodepleting chemotherapy.

Acalabrutinib is already approved in United States, European Union for the following indications:

Approved in United States as Calquence for:

• Mantle cell lymphoma
• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
• Small lymphocytic lymphoma

Approved in European Union as Calquence for:

• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
• Small lymphocytic lymphoma
• Mantle cell lymphoma

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Washington

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,858

Recruited

2,023,000+

AstraZeneca

Industry Sponsor

Trials

4,491

Recruited

290,540,000+

Sir Pascal Soriot

AstraZeneca

Chief Executive Officer since 2012

Veterinary Medicine from École nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort, MBA from HEC Paris

Dr. Cristian Massacesi

AstraZeneca

Chief Medical Officer since 2021

MD from Marche Polytechnic University, Oncology training at Royal Marsden Hospital, Kaplan Comprehensive Cancer Center, and European Institute of Oncology

Pascal Soriot

AstraZeneca

Chief Executive Officer since 2012

Veterinary Medicine from École nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort, MBA from HEC Paris

Cristian Massacesi

AstraZeneca

Chief Medical Officer since 2021

MD from Marche Polytechnic University, Medical Oncology training at Royal Marsden Hospital, Kaplan Comprehensive Cancer Center, and European Institute of Oncology

Findings from Research

Axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel) demonstrated impressive efficacy in treating relapsed/refractory large B-cell lymphoma, with overall and complete response rates of 83% and 58%, respectively, in the pivotal ZUMA-1 trial with a median follow-up of 27.1 months.

While axi-cel shows promise, it is associated with significant toxicities, including cytokine release syndrome (CRS) in 7% to 14% of patients and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) in 31% to 55%, highlighting the need for careful patient management and monitoring.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Axicabtagene Ciloleucel: Clinical Data for the Use of CAR T-cell Therapy in Relapsed and Refractory Large B-cell Lymphoma. Halford, Z., Anderson, MK., Bennett, LL.[2021]

Axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel) is an effective CAR T-cell therapy targeting CD19, showing high response rates and a manageable safety profile in patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell malignancies, particularly after two or more lines of prior treatment.

Axi-cel is FDA-approved for adult patients with specific types of B-cell lymphomas, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, and is currently being studied for its efficacy in other B-cell malignancies in ongoing clinical trials.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Axicabtagene ciloleucel for the treatment of relapsed/refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Sharma, P., King, GT., Shinde, SS., et al.[2018]

In the ZUMA-12 study involving 40 patients with high-risk large B-cell lymphoma, axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel) demonstrated a high complete response rate of 78% and an overall response rate of 89%, indicating its effectiveness as a first-line treatment.

The safety profile of axi-cel was manageable, with only 8% of patients experiencing severe cytokine release syndrome and 23% experiencing neurological events, and no treatment-related deaths were reported.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Axicabtagene ciloleucel as first-line therapy in high-risk large B-cell lymphoma: the phase 2 ZUMA-12 trial. Neelapu, SS., Dickinson, M., Munoz, J., et al.[2023]

In a phase 2 trial involving 111 patients with refractory large B-cell lymphoma, axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel) demonstrated a high objective response rate of 82%, with 54% achieving a complete response, indicating its efficacy as a treatment option.

The treatment was associated with significant adverse events, including neutropenia in 78% of patients and neurologic events in 28%, highlighting the need for careful monitoring of safety during therapy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Axicabtagene Ciloleucel CAR T-Cell Therapy in Refractory Large B-Cell Lymphoma. Neelapu, SS., Locke, FL., Bartlett, NL., et al.[2023]

In a phase 1 trial involving 12 patients with relapsed/refractory large B-cell lymphoma, the combination of CD19-directed CAR T-cell therapy (axi-cel) and the 4-1BB agonist utomilumab showed a manageable safety profile with no dose-limiting toxicities observed.

The treatment resulted in a high objective response rate of 75%, with 58% of patients achieving a complete response, suggesting that this combination may enhance the efficacy of CAR T-cell therapy in this patient population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Axicabtagene Ciloleucel in Combination with the 4-1BB Agonist Utomilumab in Patients with Relapsed/Refractory Large B-Cell Lymphoma: Phase 1 Results from ZUMA-11. Jain, MD., Miklos, DB., Jacobson, CA., et al.[2023]

Axicabtagene ciloleucel (Yescarta) is an approved second-line treatment for patients with large B-cell lymphoma who do not respond to or relapse within 12 months of initial chemoimmunotherapy.

Patient identity confirmation and premedication to reduce hypersensitivity reactions are essential steps in the administration of this autologous infusion therapy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

New Second-Line Treatment for B-Cell Lymphoma. Aschenbrenner, DS.[2022]

In a study of 122 patients treated with axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel) for relapsed aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, the overall response rate was 70% and the complete response rate was 50%, indicating strong efficacy even in a post-commercial setting with relaxed eligibility criteria.

Patients eligible for the original ZUMA-1 trial had significantly better outcomes, including higher complete response rates (63% vs. 42%) and longer duration of response, progression-free survival, and overall survival, while the rates of severe side effects like cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity were consistent with those observed in clinical trials.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Axicabtagene Ciloleucel in the Non-Trial Setting: Outcomes and Correlates of Response, Resistance, and Toxicity. Jacobson, CA., Hunter, BD., Redd, R., et al.[2022]

Yescarta (axicabtagene ciloleucel) is an engineered T-cell therapy that showed a 66% overall response rate and a 47% complete response rate in treating relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, based on a phase II study with a median follow-up of 15.1 months.

The therapy was associated with manageable adverse events, including cytokine release syndrome and neurological issues, making it a promising option for patients with limited treatment alternatives.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

EMA Review of Axicabtagene Ciloleucel (Yescarta) for the Treatment of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma. Papadouli, I., Mueller-Berghaus, J., Beuneu, C., et al.[2022]

Axicabtagene ciloleucel and tisagenlecleucel are FDA-approved CAR T cell therapies specifically designed to target CD19 in patients with relapsed or refractory aggressive B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, marking a significant advancement in cellular immunotherapy.

Despite their transformative potential, there are ongoing concerns about the appropriate use and potential short- and long-term toxicities of these therapies, prompting expert consensus to guide clinicians in their application.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Use of Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell Therapy in Clinical Practice for Relapsed/Refractory Aggressive B Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: An Expert Panel Opinion from the American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy. Jain, T., Bar, M., Kansagra, AJ., et al.[2020]

CAR T-cell therapy, particularly with anti-CD19 targeting, has shown significant effectiveness in treating aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), leading to long-term remissions in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who have not responded to other treatments.

Two CAR T-cell products, axicabtagene ciloleucel and tisagenlecleucel, have been approved by the FDA for refractory DLBCL, while a third product, liso-cel, is showing promising results in ongoing trials, although potential side effects like cytokine-release syndrome and neurotoxicity are important considerations.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

CAR T-cell therapy for B-cell lymphomas: clinical trial results of available products. Chavez, JC., Bachmeier, C., Kharfan-Dabaja, MA.[2020]

References

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

Axicabtagene Ciloleucel: Clinical Data for the Use of CAR T-cell Therapy in Relapsed and Refractory Large B-cell Lymphoma. [2021]

2. Spain pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Axicabtagene ciloleucel for the treatment of relapsed/refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. [2018]

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

Axicabtagene ciloleucel as first-line therapy in high-risk large B-cell lymphoma: the phase 2 ZUMA-12 trial. [2023]

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

Axicabtagene Ciloleucel CAR T-Cell Therapy in Refractory Large B-Cell Lymphoma. [2023]

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

Axicabtagene Ciloleucel in Combination with the 4-1BB Agonist Utomilumab in Patients with Relapsed/Refractory Large B-Cell Lymphoma: Phase 1 Results from ZUMA-11. [2023]

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

New Second-Line Treatment for B-Cell Lymphoma. [2022]

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

Axicabtagene Ciloleucel in the Non-Trial Setting: Outcomes and Correlates of Response, Resistance, and Toxicity. [2022]

8. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

EMA Review of Axicabtagene Ciloleucel (Yescarta) for the Treatment of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma. [2022]

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

Use of Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell Therapy in Clinical Practice for Relapsed/Refractory Aggressive B Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: An Expert Panel Opinion from the American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy. [2020]

10. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

CAR T-cell therapy for B-cell lymphomas: clinical trial results of available products. [2020]