Three Immunosuppressive Treatment Regimens for Severe Aplastic Anemia

NCT ID: NCT00260689

Last Updated: 2017-06-08

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: PHASE2
• Total Enrollment: 136 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2005-11-28
• Study Completion Date: 2016-05-04

Brief Summary

Severe aplastic anemia (SAA) is a life-threatening bone marrow failure disorder characterized by pancytopenia and a hypocellular bone marrow. Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation offers the opportunity for cure in 70% of patients, but most patients are not suitable candidates for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) due to advanced age or lack of a histocompatible donor. For these patients, comparable long term survival is attainable with immunosuppressive treatment with anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) and cyclosporine (CsA). However, of those patients treated with horse ATG(h-ATG)/CsA, one quarter to one third will not respond, and about 50% of responders relapse. Auto-reactive T cells may be resistant to the effect of ATG/CsA (non-responders), while in others residual auto-reactive T cells expand post-treatment, leading to hematopoietic stem cell destruction and recurrent pancytopenia (relapse). As long term survival is correlated to response rates and robustness of hematopoietic recovery, novel immunosuppressive regimens that can achieve hematologic response and decrease relapse rates are needed.

This trial will compare the effectiveness of three immunosuppressive regimens as first line therapies in patients with SAA with early hematologic response as the primary endpoint, as well as assess the role of extended CsA treatment after h-ATG in reducing numbers of late events of relapse and clonal evolution. Randomization is employed to obtain an equal distribution of subject to each arm; comparisons of early hematologic responses will be made among the rates observed among the three concurrent arms (rabbit-ATG [r-ATG] versus standard h-ATG; alemtuzumab vs standard h-ATG). For long course CSA, comparison of primary end points will be to well established historic relapse rate of 38% at 2-3 years and a cumulative rate of clonal evolution of 15%.

Detailed Description

Severe aplastic anemia (SAA) is a life-threatening bone marrow failure disorder characterized by pancytopenia and a hypocellular bone marrow. Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation offers the opportunity for cure in 70% of patients, but most patients are not suitable candidates for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) due to advanced age or lack of a histocompatible donor. For these patients, comparable long term survival is attainable with immunosuppressive treatment with anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) and cyclosporine (CsA). However, of those patients treated with horse ATG(h-ATG)/CsA, one quarter to one third will not respond, and about 50% of responders relapse. Auto-reactive T cells may be resistant to the effect of ATG/CsA (non-responders), while in others residual auto-reactive T cells expand post-treatment, leading to hematopoietic stem cell destruction and recurrent pancytopenia (relapse). As long term survival is correlated to response rates and robustness of hematopoietic recovery, novel immunosuppressive regimens that can achieve hematologic response and decrease relapse rates are needed.

This trial will compare the effectiveness of three immunosuppressive regimens as first line therapies in patients with SAA with early hematologic response as the primary endpoint, as well as assess the role of extended CsA treatment after h-ATG in reducing numbers of late events of relapse and clonal evolution. Randomization is employed to obtain an equal distribution of subject to each arm; comparisons of early hematologic responses will be made among the rates observed among the three concurrent arms (rabbit-ATG [r-ATG] versus standard h-ATG; alemtuzumab vs standard h-ATG). For long course CSA, comparison of primary end points will be to well established historic relapse rate of 38% at 2-3 years and a cumulative rate of clonal evolution of 15%.

In the original design subjects were randomized to one of three different regimens: h-ATG + 6 months CsA followed by an 18 month CsA taper; r-ATG + 6 months CsA; or alemtuzumab (Campath). Subjects failing to respond to r-ATG will be crossed over to alemtuzumab (Campath), and subjects failing alemtuzumab (Campath) will be crossed over to r-ATG. Subjects failing to respond to h-ATG + CsA taper will go off study and be evaluated for eligibility for a second course of immunosuppression on companion protocol 03-H-0249, which similarly randomizes subjects between r-ATG and alemtuzumab (Campath) as salvage therapy.

The Campath arm was closed to new accrual for lack of efficacy on 4/10/2008. Subsequently, new accruals will be randomized to h-ATG + 6 months CsA followed by an 18 month CsA taper or r-ATG + 6 months CsA. Subjects failing to respond to h-ATG + CsA taper will go off study and be evaluated for eligibility for a second course of immunosuppression on companion protocol 03-H-0249, which similarly randomizes subjects between r-ATG and alemtuzumab (Campath ) as salvage therapy. Subjects who fail to respond to r-ATG + 6 months CsA will be offered treatment with h-ATG as salvage therapy or will go off-study to alternative treatments or stem cell transplant (from sibling or unrelated donor).

The primary endpoint will be hematologic response, defined as no longer meeting criteria for SAA, at 6 months. Secondary endpoints are relapse, robustness of hematologic recovery at 6 months, response at 3 and 12 months, survival, clonal evolution to PNH, myelodysplasia and acute leukemia. Long-course CSA will be assessed separately for its efficacy in reducing late events of relapse and evolution by comparison to historical control data.

Conditions

Immunosuppresion; Thrombocytopenia; Pancytopenia; Neutropenia

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Horse ATG/CsA taper

h-ATG (Anti-thymocyte globulin (horse)) + 6 months CsA (Cyclosporine) followed by an 18 month CsA taper

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Anti-thymocyte globulin (horse)

Intervention Type: BIOLOGICAL

Cyclosporine

Intervention Type: DRUG

Rabbit ATG/CsA

r-ATG (Anti-thymocyte globulin (rabbit)) + 6 months CsA (Cyclosporine)

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Anti-thymocyte globulin (rabbit)

Intervention Type: BIOLOGICAL

Cyclosporine

Intervention Type: DRUG

Alemtuzumab

Alemtuzumab administered for 10 days

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Alemtuzumab

Intervention Type: DRUG

Interventions

Anti-thymocyte globulin (rabbit)

Intervention Type: BIOLOGICAL

Anti-thymocyte globulin (horse)

Intervention Type: BIOLOGICAL

Cyclosporine

Intervention Type: DRUG

Alemtuzumab

Intervention Type: DRUG

Other Intervention Names

Campath

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

1. Severe aplastic anemia characterized by bone marrow cellularity less than 30% (excluding lymphocytes) and at least two of the following:

• Absolute neutrophil count less than 500/microliter
• Platelet count less than 20,000/microliter
• Absolute reticulocyte count less than 60,000/microliter

2. Age greater than or equal to 2 years old

3. Weight greater than 12 kg

Exclusion Criteria

1. Diagnosis of Fanconi's anemia

2. Evidence of a clonal disorder on cytogenetics. Patients with super severe neutropenia (ANC less than 200/microliter) will not be excluded initially if cytogenetics are not available or pending. If evidence of a clonal disorder is later identified, the patient will go off study.

3. Prior immunosuppressive therapy with ATG, ALG, alemtuzumab, or high dose cyclophosphamide.

4. Infection not adequately responding to appropriate therapy.

5. Serologic evidence of HIV infection.

6. Failure to discontinue the herbal supplements Echinacea purpurea or Usnea barbata (Old Man's Beard) within 2 weeks of enrollment.

7. Moribund status or concurrent hepatic, renal, cardiac, neurologic, pulmonary, infectious, or metabolic disease of such severity that it would preclude the patient's ability to tolerate protocol therapy, or that death within 7-10 days is likely.

8. Potential subjects with cancer who are on active chemotherapeutic treatment or who take drugs with hematological effects will not be eligible.

9. Current pregnancy, or unwillingness to take oral contraceptives or refrain from pregnancy if of childbearing potential.

10. Not able to understand the investigational nature of the study or give informed consent.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 2 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

NIH

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Danielle M Townsley, M.D.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Locations

National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, 9000 Rockville Pike

Bethesda, Maryland, United States

Countries

United States

References

Young NS, Barrett AJ. The treatment of severe acquired aplastic anemia. Blood. 1995 Jun 15;85(12):3367-77. No abstract available.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 7780125 (View on PubMed)

Young NS, Maciejewski J. The pathophysiology of acquired aplastic anemia. N Engl J Med. 1997 May 8;336(19):1365-72. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199705083361906. No abstract available.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 9134878 (View on PubMed)

Zoumbos NC, Gascon P, Djeu JY, Trost SR, Young NS. Circulating activated suppressor T lymphocytes in aplastic anemia. N Engl J Med. 1985 Jan 31;312(5):257-65. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198501313120501.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 2981406 (View on PubMed)

Feng X, Scheinberg P, Biancotto A, Rios O, Donaldson S, Wu C, Zheng H, Sato K, Townsley DM, McCoy JP, Young NS. In vivo effects of horse and rabbit antithymocyte globulin in patients with severe aplastic anemia. Haematologica. 2014 Sep;99(9):1433-40. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2014.106542. Epub 2014 Jun 6.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 24907357 (View on PubMed)

Scheinberg P, Townsley D, Dumitriu B, Scheinberg P, Weinstein B, Rios O, Wu CO, Young NS. Horse antithymocyte globulin as salvage therapy after rabbit antithymocyte globulin for severe aplastic anemia. Am J Hematol. 2014 May;89(5):467-9. doi: 10.1002/ajh.23669. Epub 2014 Mar 7.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 24415649 (View on PubMed)

Scheinberg P, Nunez O, Weinstein B, Scheinberg P, Wu CO, Young NS. Activity of alemtuzumab monotherapy in treatment-naive, relapsed, and refractory severe acquired aplastic anemia. Blood. 2012 Jan 12;119(2):345-54. doi: 10.1182/blood-2011-05-352328. Epub 2011 Nov 8.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 22067384 (View on PubMed)

Scheinberg P, Nunez O, Weinstein B, Scheinberg P, Biancotto A, Wu CO, Young NS. Horse versus rabbit antithymocyte globulin in acquired aplastic anemia. N Engl J Med. 2011 Aug 4;365(5):430-8. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1103975.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 21812672 (View on PubMed)

Zaimoku Y, Patel BA, Adams SD, Shalhoub R, Groarke EM, Lee AAC, Kajigaya S, Feng X, Rios OJ, Eager H, Alemu L, Quinones Raffo D, Wu CO, Flegel WA, Young NS. HLA associations, somatic loss of HLA expression, and clinical outcomes in immune aplastic anemia. Blood. 2021 Dec 30;138(26):2799-2809. doi: 10.1182/blood.2021012895.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 34724566 (View on PubMed)

Giudice V, Wu Z, Kajigaya S, Fernandez Ibanez MDP, Rios O, Cheung F, Ito S, Young NS. Circulating S100A8 and S100A9 protein levels in plasma of patients with acquired aplastic anemia and myelodysplastic syndromes. Cytokine. 2019 Jan;113:462-465. doi: 10.1016/j.cyto.2018.06.025. Epub 2018 Jun 27.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 29958797 (View on PubMed)

Giudice V, Banaszak LG, Gutierrez-Rodrigues F, Kajigaya S, Panjwani R, Ibanez MDPF, Rios O, Bleck CK, Stempinski ES, Raffo DQ, Townsley DM, Young NS. Circulating exosomal microRNAs in acquired aplastic anemia and myelodysplastic syndromes. Haematologica. 2018 Jul;103(7):1150-1159. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2017.182824. Epub 2018 Apr 19.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 29674506 (View on PubMed)

Hosokawa K, Kajigaya S, Feng X, Desierto MJ, Fernandez Ibanez MD, Rios O, Weinstein B, Scheinberg P, Townsley DM, Young NS. A plasma microRNA signature as a biomarker for acquired aplastic anemia. Haematologica. 2017 Jan;102(1):69-78. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2016.151076. Epub 2016 Sep 22.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 27658437 (View on PubMed)

Related Links

https://clinicalstudies.info.nih.gov/cgi/detail.cgi?B_2006-H-0034.html

NIH Clinical Center Detailed Web Page

Other Identifiers

06-H-0034

Identifier Type: OTHER

Identifier Source: secondary_id

060034

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id