Phase II Trial of Alemtuzumab (Campath) and Dose-Adjusted EPOCH-Rituximab (DA-EPOCH-R) in Relapsed or Refractory Diffuse Large B-Cell and Hodgkin Lymphomas

Overview[ - collapse ][ - ]

Purpose Background: - Studies conducted at the National Cancer Institute suggest that certain chemotherapy drugs may be more effective if given by continuous infusion into the vein rather than by the standard method of rapid intravenous injection. One combination of six chemotherapy drugs, known as EPOCH-R, has had a high degree of effectiveness in people with certain kinds of cancer. - Recent evidence also indicates that the effects of chemotherapy may be improved by combining the treatment with monoclonal antibodies, which are purified proteins that are specially made to attach to foreign substances such as cancer cells. A monoclonal antibody called campath (alemtuzumab) has been manufactured to attach to a protein called CD52 that may target tumor cells or the surrounding inflammatory cells. - Researchers are interested in developing new treatments for large B-cell lymphoma or Hodgkin lymphoma that can best be treated with chemotherapy. This protocol is specifically for people with diffuse large B-cell or Hodgkin lymphomas that have not responded to standard treatments. Objectives: - To test whether giving campath (alemtuzumab) in combination with continuous infusion EPOCH-R chemotherapy will improve the outcome of lymphoma treatment. Eligibility: - Individuals 18 years of age and older who have large B-cell lymphoma or Hodgkin lymphoma that has not responded well to standard treatments. Design: - During the study, patients will receive standard EPOCH-R chemotherapy, which includes the following drugs: etoposide, prednisone, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and rituximab. The additional drug, campath, will be given by IV infusion on the first day of treatment over several hours. - When the campath IV infusion and rituximab IV infusion are complete, the drugs doxorubicin, etoposide, and vincristine will each be given by continuous IV infusion over the next 4 days (that is, continuously for a total of 96 hours). Cyclophosphamide will be given by IV infusion over several hours on Day 5. Prednisone will be given by mouth twice each day for 5 days. - Patients may be given other drugs to treat the side effects of chemotherapy, to prevent possible infections, and to improve white blood cell counts. - The campath-EPOCH-R therapy will be repeated every 21 days, as a cycle of therapy, for a total of 6 cycles. Following the fourth and sixth treatment cycles (approximately weeks 12 and 18) of campath-EPOCH-R treatment, study researchers will perform blood tests and CT/MRI scans on all patients to assess their response to the treatment.
ConditionHodgkin Lymphoma
Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma
InterventionDrug: Cylcophosphamide
Drug: Etoposide
Drug: Alemtuzumab
Drug: Doxorubicin
Drug: Prednisone
Drug: Filgrastim
Drug: Rituximab
Drug: Vincristine
PhasePhase 2
SponsorNational Cancer Institute (NCI)
Responsible PartyNational Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)
ClinicalTrials.gov IdentifierNCT01030900
First ReceivedDecember 11, 2009
Last UpdatedMarch 26, 2014
Last verifiedFebruary 2014

Tracking Information[ + expand ][ + ]

First Received DateDecember 11, 2009
Last Updated DateMarch 26, 2014
Start DateOctober 2009
Estimated Primary Completion DateSeptember 2014
Current Primary Outcome MeasuresAssess response, progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in relapsed/refractory DLBCL and Hodgkin lymphoma. [Time Frame: 5 years] [Designated as safety issue: No]
Current Secondary Outcome MeasuresCorrelate clinical outcomes with microenvironment/stromal molecular signatures by gene expression profiling and immunohistochemistry on study and at relapse after DA-EPOCH-RC. [Time Frame: 5 years] [Designated as safety issue: No]

Descriptive Information[ + expand ][ + ]

Brief TitlePhase II Trial of Alemtuzumab (Campath) and Dose-Adjusted EPOCH-Rituximab (DA-EPOCH-R) in Relapsed or Refractory Diffuse Large B-Cell and Hodgkin Lymphomas
Official TitlePhase II Trial of Alemtuzumab (Campath) and Dose-Adjusted EPOCH-Rituximab (DA-EPOCH-R) in Relapsed or Refractory Diffuse Large B-Cell and Hodgkin Lymphomas
Brief Summary
Background:

- Studies conducted at the National Cancer Institute suggest that certain chemotherapy
drugs may be more effective if given by continuous infusion into the vein rather than
by the standard method of rapid intravenous injection. One combination of six
chemotherapy drugs, known as EPOCH-R, has had a high degree of effectiveness in people
with certain kinds of cancer.

- Recent evidence also indicates that the effects of chemotherapy may be improved by
combining the treatment with monoclonal antibodies, which are purified proteins that
are specially made to attach to foreign substances such as cancer cells. A monoclonal
antibody called campath (alemtuzumab) has been manufactured to attach to a protein
called CD52 that may target tumor cells or the surrounding inflammatory cells.

- Researchers are interested in developing new treatments for large B-cell lymphoma or
Hodgkin lymphoma that can best be treated with chemotherapy. This protocol is
specifically for people with diffuse large B-cell or Hodgkin lymphomas that have not
responded to standard treatments.

Objectives:

- To test whether giving campath (alemtuzumab) in combination with continuous infusion
EPOCH-R chemotherapy will improve the outcome of lymphoma treatment.

Eligibility:

- Individuals 18 years of age and older who have large B-cell lymphoma or Hodgkin lymphoma
that has not responded well to standard treatments.

Design:

- During the study, patients will receive standard EPOCH-R chemotherapy, which includes
the following drugs: etoposide, prednisone, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin,
and rituximab. The additional drug, campath, will be given by IV infusion on the first
day of treatment over several hours.

- When the campath IV infusion and rituximab IV infusion are complete, the drugs
doxorubicin, etoposide, and vincristine will each be given by continuous IV infusion
over the next 4 days (that is, continuously for a total of 96 hours). Cyclophosphamide
will be given by IV infusion over several hours on Day 5. Prednisone will be given by
mouth twice each day for 5 days.

- Patients may be given other drugs to treat the side effects of chemotherapy, to prevent
possible infections, and to improve white blood cell counts.

- The campath-EPOCH-R therapy will be repeated every 21 days, as a cycle of
therapy, for a total of 6 cycles. Following the fourth and sixth treatment cycles
(approximately weeks 12 and 18) of campath-EPOCH-R treatment, study researchers will
perform blood tests and CT/MRI scans on all patients to assess their response to the
treatment.
Detailed Description
Background:

Two signatures of the microenvironment were recently identified that are predictive of
outcome in patients with newly diagnosed DLBCL treated with R-CHOP. These signatures, called
stromal 1 and stromal 2 , are associated with genes expressed by infiltrating
mononuclear cells. The stromal 2 signature, which includes genes associated with
angiogenesis, is predictive of an inferior outcome. Based on these observations, we are
interested in targeting the reactive cells in the microenvironment as a therapeutic strategy
in patients with relapsed and refractory DLBCL. Along the same principles, we are also
including patients with relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). The surrounding reactive cells
around Hodgkin Reed Sternberg (HRS) cells are now not thought to be bystander cells and they
appear to provide important survival signals to HRS cells.

- CD52 is one such promising target that is highly expressed in most of these
infiltrating cells and on most DLBCL although not on HRS cells specifically. Anti-CD52
antibodies may have therapeutic value by depleting reactive B and T cells, and
monocytes from the microenvironment.

- The dose of alemtuzumab in combination with DA-EPOCH is 30 mg IV, as determined by a
prior study done in patients with untreated peripheral T-cell lymphoma. The main
toxicities of this combination are myelosuppression and opportunistic infections.

- An important component of this study will be to obtain tumor tissue for gene expression
profiling and to assess microenvironment signatures and look at other molecular
signatures and targets before treatment and in patients who progress and ultimately
correlate response and outcome with these various end-points.

Objectives:

- Assess response, progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in
relapsed/refractory DLBCL and Hodgkin Lymphoma.

- Correlate outcome with gene expression profiling and immunohistochemistry of tumor
tissue (in particular looking at microenvironment/stromal molecular signatures).

Eligibility:

- Previously treated orrefractory classical large B-cell lymphomas, Grey-zone lymphoma
and Hodgkin lymphoma, including Lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin Lymphoma (LPHL).

- Age greater than or equal to 18 years with adequate organ functions.

- HIV negative and no active CNS lymphoma.

Study Design:

- Patients will receive 30mg of Alemtuzumab on day 1 of therapy, followed by Rituximab on
day 1 and dose-adjusted EPOCH chemotherapy days 1-5, up to six cycles of therapy.

- Tumor biopsies will be done before treatment, after 1 cycle of therapy and at relapse.

- It is anticipated that up to 10-15 patients per year may be enrolled onto this trial.
Thus, accrual of up to 44 evaluable patients is expected to require approximately 3-4
years.
Study TypeInterventional
Study PhasePhase 2
Study DesignAllocation: Non-Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment, Masking: Open Label, Primary Purpose: Treatment
Condition
  • Hodgkin Lymphoma
  • Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma
InterventionDrug: Cylcophosphamide
750 mg/m2 day 5 each cycle
Drug: Etoposide
50 mg/m2 days 1-4 each cycle
Drug: Alemtuzumab
30 mg day 1 each cycle
Drug: Doxorubicin
10 mg/m2/day days 1-4 each cycle
Drug: Prednisone
60 mg/m2 BID days 1-5 each cycle
Drug: Filgrastim
480 mcg/day for approx. 10 days each cycle
Drug: Rituximab
375 mg/m2 day 1 each cycle
Drug: Vincristine
0.4 mg/m2/day days 1-4 each cycle
Study Arm (s)Active Comparator: Group 1

Recruitment Information[ + expand ][ + ]

Recruitment StatusRecruiting
Estimated Enrollment47
Estimated Completion DateSeptember 2014
Estimated Primary Completion DateSeptember 2014
Eligibility Criteria
- INCLUSION CRITERIA:

1. Previously treated orrefractory classical large B-cell lymphomas, Grey-zone
lymphoma and Hodgkin lymphoma, including Lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin Lymphoma
(LPHL).

2. Confirmed pathological diagnosis by the Laboratory of Pathology, NCI.

3. Age greater than or equal to 18 years.

4. ECOG performance 0-2

5. Laboratory tests: ANC greater than or equal to 1000/mm(3), platelet greater than
or equal to 75,000/mm(3). Creatinine less than or equal to 1.5 mg/dL or
creatinine clearance greater than or equal to 60 ml/min; AST and ALT less than
or equal to 5 times the ULN. Total bilirubin < 2.0 mg/dl except < 5mg/dL in
patients with Gilbert s (as defined as > 80% unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia
without other known cause); unless impairment due to organ involvement by
lymphoma.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

1. Active symptomatic ischemic heart disease, myocardial infarction or congestive heart
failure within the past year. If ECHO is obtained, the LVEF should exceed 40%.

2. HIV positive, because of the unknown effects of combined therapy with chemotherapy
and an immunosuppressive agent on HIV progression.

3. Female subject of child-bearing potential not willing to use an acceptable method of
birth control (i.e. a hormonal contraceptive, intrauterine device, diaphragm with
spermicide, condom with spermicide, or abstinence) for the duration of the study and
two years beyond treatment completion.

4. Female subject pregnant or breast-feeding. Confirmation that the subject is not
pregnant must be established by a negative serum beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin
(beta-hCG) pregnancy test result obtained during screening. Pregnancy testing is not
required for women without childbearing potential.

5. Male subject unwilling to use an acceptable method for contraception for the duration
of the study and one year beyond treatment completion.

6. Invasive or active malignancy in past 2 years.

7. Serious concomitant medical illnesses that would jeopardize the patient s ability
to receive the regimen with reasonable safety.

8. Active CNS lymphoma. These patient have a poor prognosis and because they frequently
develop progressive neurological dysfunction that would confound the evaluation of
neurological and other adverse events.

9. Systemic cytotoxic therapy within 3 weeks of treatment.
GenderBoth
Ages18 Years
Accepts Healthy VolunteersNo
ContactsContact: Margaret Shovlin, R.N.
(301) 594-6597
mshovlin@mail.nih.gov
Location CountriesUnited States

Administrative Information[ + expand ][ + ]

NCT Number NCT01030900
Other Study ID Numbers100011
Has Data Monitoring CommitteeNot Provided
Information Provided ByNational Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)
Study SponsorNational Cancer Institute (NCI)
CollaboratorsNot Provided
Investigators Principal Investigator: Wyndham H Wilson, M.D. National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Verification DateFebruary 2014

Locations[ + expand ][ + ]

National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, 9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20892
Contact: For more information at the NIH Clinical Center contact National Cancer Institute Referral Office | (888) NCI-1937
Recruiting