Randomized, open-label, parallel-group, multicenter, phase III trial with two arms, one with
acalabrutinib (Arm A) and the other with the standard of care for the management of early
Binet stage A patients "clinical observation (watch & wait)" (Arm B) in patients with
untreated early stage CLL and risk factors for early disease progression. Early risk of
disease progression will be defined by the GCLLSG prognostic index: intermediate (3-5), high
(6-10) or very high (11-14) risk scores are required to be included in the study.
Randomization will be managed through an IRT system:
- Arm A (65 patients): Patients assigned to arm A, will receive acalabrutinib as one
capsule of 100 mg orally twice daily on a continuos schedule until disease progression,
unacceptable toxicity or early withdrawal.
- Arm B (65 patients): Patients assigned to arm B, will remain on the w&w approach until
disease progression or early withdrawal.
The enrolment period is estimated in 24 months. A treatment cycle is defined as lasting 28
days.
The duration of the study will be of 60 months from the inclusion of the first patient to the
last patient has completed the last follow up visit.
1. Periods of patient participation in the study
- Screening Phase: After providing the written Informed Consent Form (ICF) to
participate in the study, patients will be evaluated for eligibility, baseline
characteristics and risk factors, during a screening period up to 28 days prior to
randomization.
- Treatment/Observation Phase: The treatment/observation Phase extends from
randomization until symptomatic disease progression, unacceptable toxicity or early
withdrawal. A treatment cycle is defined as lasting 28 days.
- Suspected Disease Progression Visit: A visit should be performed at any time when
disease progression is suspected. If progression is confirmed, the patient will be
followed every 6 months to assess survival status and receipt of subsequent
antileukemic therapy until death, patient withdrawal, loss to follow-up, or study
termination, whichever comes first. The subsequent treatment decision will be up to
the investigator and should generally follow the routine practice.
- End-of-Treatment/Observation Visit: For patients receiving acalabrutinib, the
End-of-Treatment Visit will be performed within 30 days (± 3 days) after the last
dose of treatment administration or progression. For patients remaining in the w&w
approach, the End-of- Observation Visit will be performed within 30 days of
progression.
- Follow-up for Progression (Pre-PD FU): Patients who discontinue the study treatment
without confirmed progression (according to iwCLL guidelines) will continue to be
followed for progression every 4 months (±7 days) for the first 24 months of study,
then every 6 months (±7 days) until progression or study closure.
Study visits will no longer be carried out for patients who have withdrawn their
informed consent, have died or have been lost to follow-up.
2. Study drug - dosage and administration:
Acalabrutinib is orally administered and is suitable for formulating in capsules.
Acalabrutinib will be supplied by ASTRAZENECA FARMACÉUTICA SPAIN, S.A., on behalf of the
Sponsor, as hard gelatin capsules of 100 mg for oral administration. Acalabrutinib can
be taken with or without food. As acalabrutinib is metabolized by CYP3A, subjects should
be cautioned against using herbal remedies or dietary supplements (in particular, St
John's wort, which is a potent CYP3A inducer). Otherwise, subjects should maintain a
normal diet unless modifications are required to manage an AE such as diarrhea, nausea
or vomiting.
3. Description of Procedures
- Confirmation of Eligibility: Perform all necessary procedures and evaluations to
document that the patient meets each eligibility criterion.
- Medical History: will include concurrent medical signs and symptoms based upon
available documents and patient history.
- Adverse Events: All medical occurrences that meet the accepted regulatory
definition of AE must be recorded from the time the informed consent form is signed
until 30 days after the last dose of study drug (in Arm A) or progression (in both
arms).
- Physical Examination, Vital Signs, Height and Weight, ECOG. This will include the
lymphatic system, spleen and liver examination as well. will be performed at every
visit during the study.
- Clinical Stage Rai/Binet: A Binet or Rai staging system will be used at every study
visit (except on Day 15 Cycle 1 and Day 15 Cycle 2) to stratify patients according
to the disease risk.
- Disease-related symptoms will be assessed and collected at every study visit.
- Electrocardiogram (ECG) done only at Screening.
- Concomitant Medication: All medications from 14 days before the start of study drug
administration through 30 days after the last dose of study drug or progression.
- German CLL Study Group (GCLLSG) prognostic index will be determined for each
patient only at screening.
- Cumulative Illness Rating Scale is a measure of comorbid medical conditions that
help to characterize patients with concomitant morbidity and fit.
- Hepatitis Serologies: Hepatitis serologies include Hepatitis C antibody, Hepatitis
B surface antigen, Hepatitis B surface antibody, and Hepatitis B core antibody.
- Hematology: will be performed at every visit by local laboratory and will include a
complete blood cell count.
- Coagulation Panel: Measurement of prothrombin time /INR, and activated partial
thromboplastin time will be performed at Screening.
- Serum chemistry will be locally performed at every visit (except on Day 15 of
Cycles 1 and 2)
- Creatinine clearance (Cockcroft-Gault) will be evaluated (only at screening) by
local laboratory.
- Cytogenetic, CLL FISH Panel within 90 days prior to the inclusion in the study to
detect abnormalities in chromosomes 13q, 12, 11q, and 17p must be evaluated.
- Blood for immunophenotyping (for diagnosis), IGVH mutation status, and serum
markers (B2-microglobulin and thymidine kinase) will be centralized in the
department of Hematology of the University Hospital of Vall d'Hebron. Blood samples
will be collected for all patients at Screening.
- Serum quantitative immunoglobulin (IgG, IgM, IgA) levels will be evaluated by local
laboratory at screening, on Day 1 of every odd cycle from Cycles 3 through 12, on
Day 1 of every odd cycle (for Cycles 13, 15, 17, 19, 21 and 23), and then every 3
cycles until progression or study closure.
- Coombs test will be performed (only at screening) by local laboratory.
- CT scans of the neck, chest, abdomen, and pelvis.
- Bone Marrow Aspirate and/or Biopsy should be obtained to confirm CR, or confirm
cytopenic progression and distinguish autoimmune versus treatment-related causes.
In addition, a further marrow assessment should be performed at any time during
follow-up when the patient has cleared MRD from the peripheral blood. Marrow
aspirate to confirm CR should have a flow-cytometry-based MRD; MRD should be also
analysed in peripheral blood .
- Overall response assessment will include evaluation of physical exams, recording of
symptoms, and hematological evaluations. OR will be assessed on Day 1 Cycle 2, on
Day 1 of Cycles 3 to 12, and on Day 1 of Cycles 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, and 23, and
then every 3 cycles to disease progression or study closure. For patients in Arm B,
response assessment will be performed on Day 1 of every 3 cycles to progression or
study termination.
- Overall Survival: After progression, patients will be followed every 6 months to
assess survival status and the start of subsequent cancer therapies until death,
patient withdrawal, loss to follow-up, or study termination, whichever comes first.
- Biomarkers: Blood samples will be collected for an exploratory biomarker assessment
at baseline and at progression. Samples at month 3, 6 and 12 will be optional and
will collected in patients who have accepted in the inform consent form.
4. Main Efficacy Evaluations Suspected Disease Progression: should be confirmed with a CT
scan (or MRI, if CT is contraindicated).
Disease Evaluation: Objective response will be categorized as CR, CR with incomplete
bone marrow recovery (CRi), nodular partial remission (nPR), partial response (PR),
stable disease, or progressive disease-all based upon IWCLL criteria (Hallek 2018).
Patients who achieve PR in all parameters except lymphocyte count will be considered a
PR with lymphocytosis, for the purposes of the Protocol. CRs must be confirmed by bone
marrow biopsy/aspirate.
Given the known mechanism of action of BCR-inhibiting agents, including acalabrutinib,
and the treatment-related lymphocytosis frequently observed during treatment with
acalabrutinib, isolated treatment-related lymphocytosis (in absence of other clinical,
CT, or laboratory evidence of disease progression) will not be considered progressive
disease. This approach is supported by the IWCLL guidelines (Hallek 2018).
5. Safety, Monitoring and Reporting: An adverse event (AE) is any untoward medical
occurrence in a patient or clinical investigation subject administered a medicinal
product and which does not necessarily have a causal relationship with the treatment. An
AE can therefore be any unfavourable and unintended sign, symptom, or disease temporally
associated with the use of a medicinal product, whether or not considered related to the
medicinal product.
PETHEMA Foundation has delegated Pharmacovigilance functions to the Pharmacovigilance
Department of the CRO Dynamic Science S.L.
6. Warnings, Precautions, and Adverse Effects: Acalabrutinib is contraindicated in subjects
with clinically significant hypersensitivity to the compound itself or to the excipients
in its formulation.
Hemorrhagic events, including CNS, respiratory, and gastrointestinal hemorrhage, have
been reported in clinical trials with acalabrutinib. The mechanism for hemorrhage is not
well understood.
Serious infections, including fatal events, have been reported in clinical studies with
acalabrutinib. The most frequently reported Grade 3 or 4 infection was pneumonia. Cases
of hepatitis B virus reactivation (resulting in liver failure and death in 1 case) and
cases of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy have occurred in subjects with
hematologic malignancies.
Cytopenias: treatment-emergent Grade 3 or 4 cytopenias including neutropenia, anemia,
and thrombocytopenia have occurred in clinical studies with acalabrutinib.
Events of second primary malignancies, including non-skin carcinomas, have been reported
in clinical studies with acalabrutinib. The most frequently reported was skin cancer.
Events of atrial fibrillation/flutter have been reported in clinical studies with
acalabrutinib, particularly in subjects with cardiac risk factors, hypertension,
diabetes mellitus, acute infections, and a previous history of atrial fibrillation. The
mechanism for atrial fibrillation is not well understood.
Subjects should be managed per institutional guidelines with supportive care and
diagnostic evaluations as clinically indicated.
7. Drug-drug Interactions: Acalabrutinib is partially metabolized by CYP3A; its exposure is
affected when coadministered with strong CYP3A inducers or inhibitors. Consequently, the
concomitant use of strong inhibitors/inducers of CYP3A should be avoided when possible.
Subjects who require therapy with strong inhibitors of CYP3A should not be enrolled into
the study.
Subjects should avoid the use of calcium carbonate containing drugs or supplements for a
period of at least 2 hours before and 2 hours after taking acalabrutinib. Use of
omeprazole, esomeprazole, lansoprazole or any other proton pump inhibitors while taking
acalabrutinib is not recommended due to a potential decrease in study drug exposure. For
subjects who require H2 antagonists, the recommendation is that acalabrutinib is taken
at least 2 hours before the H2 antagonist.
8. Treatment-related lymphocytosis, for the purposes of this Protocol, is defined as an
elevation in blood lymphocyte count of ≥50% compared to baseline. Acalabrutinib
associated treatment-related lymphocytosis generally occurs within the first weeks of
therapy, peaks within the first few months, and resolves slowly. Patients with
treatment-related lymphocytosis should remain on study treatment and continue with all
study-related procedures.
9. Once the complete study is explained, written Informed Consent will be obtained from the
patient, legal guardian or representative before starting participation in the study.
10. In order to respect patient privacy, patients will be identified by patient number in
all case report forms, study drug accountability logs, study reports and communications.
Confidentiality of patients will be kept and their identity will not be disclosed as far
as permitted by the law and relevant regulations. Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the
European Parliament and of the Council, of 27 April 2016, on the protection of natural
persons with regard to the processing of personal data and the free movement of such
data, and Organic Law 3/2018 of December 5, on the Protection or Personal Data and
guarantee of digital rights.
11. Early study discontinuation: This study may be discontinued early if, in the Sponsor's
opinion, there is sufficient reasonable cause.
12. Data registering and storage: The investigator will keep all study records in compliance
with ICH-GCP requirements and current regulations.
13. Responsibility and insurance: The Sponsor has taken out an insurance policy covering, in
its terms and conditions, the liability for damages caused to participants and derived
from this research, performed fully in compliance with both the scientific Protocol and
the applicable law and professional standards.
Inclusion Criteria:
1. Adult patients with previously untreated CLL according to IWCLL criteria (Hallek,
2018).
2. Must understand and voluntarily sign an informed consent form.
3. Age ≥ 18 years at the time of signing the informed consent form and must be able to
adhere to the study visit schedule and other Protocol requirements.
4. Diagnosis of CLL prior to inclusion in the study.
5. Binet clinical stage A and Rai 0 or 1.
6. Absence of criteria for the initiation of chemotherapy, defined by the IWCLL
guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of CLL (Hallek, 2018):
- Evidence of progressive marrow failure as manifested by the development of, or
worsening of, anemia and/or thrombocytopenia.
- Massive (i.e. ≥6 cm below the left costal margin) or progressive or symptomatic
splenomegaly.
- Massive nodes (i.e. ≥10 cm in longest diameter) or progressive or symptomatic
lymphadenopathy.
- Progressive lymphocytosis with an increase of ≥50% over a 2-month period, or
lymphocyte doubling time (LDT) of less than 6 months.
- A minimum of any one of the following disease-related symptoms: unintentional
weight loss ≥10% within the previous 6 months, significant fatigue (i.e., ECOG PS
2 or worse; cannot work or unable to perform usual activities), fevers of ≥38.0°C
for 2 or more weeks without other evidence of infection, or night sweats for more
than 1 month without evidence of infection.
- Autoimmune complications including anemia or thrombocytopenia poorly responsive
to corticosteroids.
- Symptomatic or functional extranodal involvement (e.g., skin, kidney, lung,
spine).
7. GCLLSG prognostic index with intermediate (3-5), high (6-10) or very high (11-14) risk
scores.
8. Must have an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status score of ≤1.
9. All sexually active subjects with the capacity to reproduce (male and female) must use
high-efficacy contraceptive methods during the course of the study. These restrictions
apply for 3 months after the last dose of acalabrutinib. High-efficacy contraceptive
methods include:
- Total abstinence when consistent with the subject's typical and preferred
lifestyle (periodic abstinence [e.g. calendar methods, ovulation, symptothermal
and post-ovulation methods] and the withdrawal method are not acceptable
contraceptive methods).
- Female sterilisation defined as surgical hysterectomy, bilateral oophorectomy, or
tubal ligation at least six weeks prior to the study treatment (a simple
oophorectomy does not meet the definition of female sterilisation).
- Male sterilisation (at least six months before screening). A man who has
undergone a vasectomy must be the only partner who is a study subject.
- Combination of two of the following methods (a+b or a+c or b+c):
1. Use of oral, injected or implanted hormonal contraceptives, or other
hormonal contraceptive methods that have a comparable efficacy (failure rate
< 1%), for example, hormonal vaginal ring or transdermal hormonal
contraceptive. If an oral contraceptive is used, women must use the same
pill for a minimum of three months before taking the study treatment.
2. Placement of an intrauterine device (IUD) or an intrauterine system (IUS).
3. Barrier contraceptive methods: condom or cervical cap (cervical/vault
diaphragm or cap) with foam/gel/film/spermicidal cream/vaginal suppository.
10. Female subjects of childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test at
screening. Females of child bearing potential are defined as sexually mature women
without prior hysterectomy or who have had any evidence of menses in the past 12
months. However, women who have been amenorrheic for 12 or more months are still
considered to be of childbearing potential if the amenorrhea is possibly due to other
causes, including prior chemotherapy, anti-estrogens, or ovarian suppression.
Exclusion Criteria:
1. Prior treatment for CLL.
2. Meets any criteria for the initiation of treatment defined by the IWCLL guidelines for
diagnosis and treatment of CLL (Hallek, 2018).
3. Known Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and/or Hepatitis C
Virus (HCV) infection and/or known history of progressive multifocal
leukoencephalopathy (PML). Subjects who are hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc)
positive and who are surface antigen negative will need to have a negative polymerase
chain reaction (PCR). Those who are hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg) positive or
hepatitis B PCR positive will be excluded. Subjects who are hepatitis C antibody
positive will need to have a negative PCR result. Those who are hepatitis C PCR
positive will be excluded.
4. Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (Cockcroft-Gault Appendix C) ≤ 40 mL/min/1.73m2.
5. Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) < 1.0 X 109/L.
6. Platelet count < 100 X 109/L.
7. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT)
or alanine transaminase (ALT)/serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) >2.5 x
upper limit of normal (ULN).
8. Serum total bilirubin >1.5 x ULN, except in cases of Gilbert's syndrome.
9. Prothrombin time/INR or aPTT (in the absence of Lupus anticoagulant) >2 x ULN.
10. Active bleeding, history of bleeding diathesis (e.g., hemophilia or von Willebrand
disease).
11. Requires treatment with proton pump inhibitors (e.g., omeprazole, esomeprazole,
lansoprazole, dexlansoprazole, rabeprazole, or pantoprazole). Subjects receiving
proton pump inhibitors who switch to H2-receptor antagonists or antacids are eligible
for enrolment to this study.
12. Unable to swallow capsules, or has disease significantly affecting gastrointestinal
function that would limit absorption of oral medication.
13. Currently active, clinically significant cardiovascular disease or a history of
myocardial infarction within 3 months prior to enrolment. Exception: Subjects with
controlled, asymptomatic atrial fibrillation during screening can enrol on study.
14. Requires or receiving anticoagulation with warfarin or equivalent vitamin K
antagonists (e.g., phenprocoumon) within 7 days of first dose of study drug.
15. Systemic infection that has not resolved prior to initiating study treatment in spite
of adequate anti-infective therapy.
16. Pregnant or lactating females.
17. Participation in any clinical study or having taken any investigational therapy within
28 days prior to initiating study therapy.
18. Prior history of malignancies, other than CLL, unless the patient has been free of the
disease for ≥ 3 years. Exceptions include the following:
- Basal cell carcinoma of the skin
- Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin
- Carcinoma in situ of the cervix
- Carcinoma in situ of the breast
- Incidental histologic finding of prostate cancer (TNM stage of T1a or T1b)
19. Presence of autoimmune haemolytic anaemia or autoimmune thrombocytopenia, or a
positive direct antiglobulin test result.
20. Chronic use of steroids in excess of prednisone 20mg/day or its equivalent.
21. Major surgery within the last 28 days prior to registration.
22. History of stroke or intracranial hemorrhage within 6 months prior to enrolment.
23. Requires treatment with strong CYP3A4/5 Inhibitors.
24. Known history of drug-specific hypersensitivity or anaphylaxis to study drug
(including active product or excipient components).
25. Any life-threatening illness, medical condition, or organ system dysfunction which, in
the investigator's opinion, could compromise the subject's safety, interfere with the
absorption or metabolism of acalabrutinib, or put the study outcomes at undue risk.
