Study for Patients With Newly Diagnosed, High-risk Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia

NCT ID: NCT02688140

Last Updated: 2025-02-26

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: PHASE3
• Total Enrollment: 135 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2016-06-30
• Study Completion Date: 2025-01-20

Brief Summary

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a rare subtype of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) characterized by consistent clinical, morphologic, and genetic features. According to the FAB classification APL is designated as"M3 leukemia" and assigned to the WHO defined type of AML with recurrent cytogenetic abnormalities, "acute promyelocytic leukemia with t(15;17)(q22;q12), (PML/RARα) and variants".

Despite the dramatic progress achieved in frontline therapy of APL with ATRA plus anthracycline-based regimens, relapses still occur in approximately 20% of patients. Moreover, these regimens are associated with significant toxicities due to severe myelosuppression frequently associated with life-threatening infections and potentially serious late effects including development of secondary MDS/AML. In a recent randomized clinical trial in low/intermediate-risk APL (WBC ≤ 10 GPt/l APL0406 trial) a combination of arsenic trioxide (ATO) and ATRA has been shown to result into better survival with significantly lower toxicity rates compared to the standard ATRA + idarubicin (AIDA) therapy. Inspired by the results of this trial the investigators intend to perform a randomized study in high-risk APL (WBC at diagnosis > 10 GPt/l) comparing standard AIDA-based treatment with ATO/ATRA combination including low-doses idarubicin during induction. The investigators propose a modified ATO/ATRA protocol with the addition of two doses of IDA (50% compared to standard AIDA induction) for induction because of the anticipated need of adding anthracyclines to control hyperleukocytosis and to achieve long-term disease control in this high-risk APL population. This is followed by 4 cycles of ATO/ATRA consolidation therapy. As in the APL0406 study for low/intermediate-risk patients the investigators expect less severe hematologic toxicity and treatment-related mortality resulting in an improved outcome for patients in the experimental arm. Furthermore, from the start of consolidation, these patients (in contrast to the standard arm) can be treated on an outpatient basis, which is also considered to be associated with an improved quality of life. The study will be conducted as a European intergroup study.

Conditions

Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia

Study Design

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

Study Groups

Arm A

Induction therapy: Patients receive idarubicin i.v. over 20 minutes on day 1 and 3, oral tretinoin twice daily on day 1-28 (max. up to day 60) and arsenic trioxide i.v. over 2 hours on day 5-28 (max. up to day 60).

In case of morphological CR and regenerated blood counts, consolidation therapy should be started within 2-4 weeks after documented CR.

Consolidation therapy: Patients receive oral tretinoin twice daily on day 1-14. Treatment with tretinoin repeats every 4 weeks for up to 7 courses. Patients also receive arsenic trioxide i.v. over 2 hours on days 1-5 in week 1-4. Treatment with arsenic trioxide repeats every 8 weeks for up to 4 courses.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Arsenic trioxide

Intervention Type: DRUG

Idarubicin

Intervention Type: DRUG

Tretinoin

Intervention Type: DRUG

Arm B (standard chemotherapy)

Induction therapy: Patients receive idarubicin i.v. over 20 minutes on day 1,3,5 and 7, oral tretinoin twice daily on day 1-28 (max. up to day 60).

In case of morphological CR and regenerated blood counts, consolidation therapy should be started within 2-4 weeks after documented CR.

Consolidation I:

IDA 5 mg/m2 i.v. day 1-4 Ara-C 1000 mg/m2/3h i.v. day 1-4 ATRA 45 mg/m2 p.o. day 1-15

Consolidation II:

MTZ 10 mg/m2 i.v. day 1-5 ATRA 45 mg/m2 p.o. day 1-15

Consolidation III:

IDA 12 mg/m2 i.v. day 1 Ara-C 150 mg/m2 every 8h i.v. day 1-5 ATRA 45 mg/m2 p.o. day 1-15

Maintenance (duration 7 cycles = 2 years; one cycle lasts 106 days):

6-MP 50 mg/m2 p.o. Cycle 1-7: day 1-91 (followed by 15 days of ATRA on days 92-106)

MTX 15mg/m2 i.m./p.o. Cycle 1-7: once weekly for 91 days (followed by 15 days of ATRA on days 92-106)

ATRA 45 mg/m2 p.o. Cycle 1-6: day 92-106 Cycle 7: without ATRA Administration

(treatment break of 6-MP and MTX during ATRA administration)

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Idarubicin

Intervention Type: DRUG

Cytarabine

Intervention Type: DRUG

Tretinoin

Intervention Type: DRUG

Mitoxantrone

Intervention Type: DRUG

Mercaptopurine

Intervention Type: DRUG

Methotrexate

Intervention Type: DRUG

Interventions

Arsenic trioxide

Intervention Type: DRUG

Idarubicin

Intervention Type: DRUG

Cytarabine

Intervention Type: DRUG

Tretinoin

Intervention Type: DRUG

Mitoxantrone

Intervention Type: DRUG

Mercaptopurine

Intervention Type: DRUG

Methotrexate

Intervention Type: DRUG

Other Intervention Names

ATO; Trisenox (R); As2O3; IDA; Ara-C; all-trans retinoic acid; ATRA; MTZ; 6-Mercaptopurine; 6-MP; MTX

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Informed consent
• Women or men with a newly diagnosed APL by cytomorphology, confirmed by molecular analysis*
• Age ≥ 18 and ≤ 65 years
• ECOG performance status 0-3
• WBC at diagnosis > 10 GPt/l
• Serum total bilirubin ≤ 3.0 mg/dl (≤ 51 µmol/l)
• Serum creatinine ≤ 3.0 mg/dl (≤ 260 µmol/l)
• Women must fulfill at least one of the following criteria in order to be eligible for trial inclusion:
• Post-menopausal (12 months of natural amenorrhea or 6 months of amenorrhea with Serum FSH > 40 U/ml)
• Postoperative (i.e. 6 weeks) after bilateral ovariectomy with or without hysterectomy
• Continuous and correct application of a contraception method with a Pearl Index of <1% (e.g. implants, depots, oral contraceptives, -intrauterine device - IUD)
• Sexual abstinence
• Vasectomy of the sexual partner

• The confirmation of diagnosis at genetic level (microspeckled PML nuclear distribution by PGM3 monoclonal antibody and/or PML/RARa fusion by RT-PCR or fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and/or demonstration of t(15;17) at karyotyping) will be mandatory for patient eligibility. However, in order to avoid delay in treatment initiation, patients can be randomized on the basis of morphologic diagnosis only and before the results of genetic tests are available

Exclusion Criteria

• Patients who are not eligible for chemotherapy as per discretion of the treating physician
• APL secondary to previous radio- or chemotherapy for non-APL disease
• Other active malignancy at time of study entry (exception: basal-cell carcinoma)
• Lack of diagnostic confirmation at genetic level
• Significant arrhythmias, ECG abnormalities:
• Congenital long QT syndrome;
• History or presence of significant ventricular or atrial tachyarrhythmia;
• Clinically significant resting bradycardia (<50 beats per minute)
• QTc >500msec on screening ECG for both genders (using the QTcF formula detailed on protocol)
• Right bundle branch block plus left anterior hemiblock, bifascicular block
• Other cardiac contraindications for intensive chemotherapy (L-VEF <50%)
• Uncontrolled, life-threatening infections
• Severe non controlled pulmonary or cardiac disease
• Severe hepatic or renal dysfunction
• HIV and/or active hepatitis C infection
• Pregnant or breast-feeding patients
• Allergy to trial medication or excipients in study medication
• Substance abuse; medical, psychological or social conditions that may interfere with the patients participation in the study or evaluation of the study results
• Use of other investigational drugs at the time of enrolment or within 30 days before study entry

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 65 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Gruppo Italiano Malattie EMatologiche dell'Adulto

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Groupe Francophone des Myelodysplasies

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

HOVON - Dutch Haemato-Oncology Association

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Programa para el Tratamiento de Hemopatías Malignas

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role: collaborator

German Federal Ministry of Education and Research

OTHER_GOV

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Teva Pharmaceuticals Europe

INDUSTRY

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Technische Universität Dresden

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Uwe Platzbecker, Prof. Dr.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Technische Universität Dresden (TUD)

Locations

French-Belgian-Swiss APL study group

Multiple Locations, , France

AML-CG study group

Multiple Locations, , Germany

AML-SG study group

Multiple Locations, , Germany

OSHO study group

Multiple Locations, , Germany

SAL study group

Multiple Locations, , Germany

GIMEMA study group

Multiple Locations, , Italy

HOVON study group

Multiple Locations, , Netherlands

PETHEMA study group

Multiple Locations, , Spain

Countries

France; Germany; Italy; Netherlands; Spain

References

Platzbecker U, Ades L, Montesinos P, Ammatuna E, Fenaux P, Baldus C, Bernardi M, Berthon C, Bocchia M, Bonmati C, Borlenghi E, Bornhauser M, Carp D, Chantepie S, Crea E, Divona M, Dohner H, Ehninger G, Esteve Reyner J, Frayfer J, Garrido Diaz A, Gil C, Guarnera L, Hamm AF, Heiblig M, Heidenreich D, Kramer AJ, Ledoux MP, Lunghi M, Mancini V, Metzeler K, Miggiano MC, Muller-Tidow C, Peterlin P, Piciocchi A, Rieger K, Rollig C, Rossi G, Sanz MA, Serve H, Sohne M, Spiekermann K, Tavernier-Tardy E, Thiede C, Vives Polo S, Vogel W, Zappasodi P, Ziller-Walter P, Voso MT; SAL, AMCL-CG, AML-SG, OSHO, PETHEMA, HOVON and GIMEMA study groups. Arsenic Trioxide and All-Trans Retinoic Acid Combination Therapy for the Treatment of High-Risk Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia: Results From the APOLLO Trial. J Clin Oncol. 2025 Oct 10;43(29):3160-3169. doi: 10.1200/JCO-25-00535. Epub 2025 Aug 18.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 40825164 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

TUD-APOLLO-064

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id