A good proportion of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) can be managed effectively with palliative chemotherapy. However, there is a group of younger patients with poor risk disease whose life expectancy is significantly reduced. As a result, reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) has been investigated as a potentially curative procedure. Recently, the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) published a set of guidelines suggesting situations where allo-HCT might be considered a therapeutic option for CLL patients. Their conclusions were that allo-HCT was reasonable for younger CLL patients refractory to fludarabine, relapsing within two years of intensive treatment, or with p53 abnormalities requiring treatment. However, the results with RIC allo-HCT are not entirely satisfactory, and progression-free survival after allo-HCT revolves around 35-40% at 3-5 years following allo-HCT. This is due to non-relapse mortality, which is significantly associated with the development of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), but also due to disease relapse. These relapses may occur early in the course of the transplantation, like any other hematological malignancy, but late relapses have also been reported. Several strategies have been tested in order to improve these results. The anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab, given concomitantly with allo-HCT or donor lymphocyte infusions, may reduce graft-versus-host disease and facilitate disease control. This may be due, not only to direct cytotoxicity, but also to modulation of GVHD and the graft-versus CLL effect (GVCLL). Interestingly, rituximab has been shown to promote the cross-presentation of tumor-derived peptides by antigen-presenting cells, thus enhancing the formation of cytotoxic T-cell clones and a GVCLL effect. With the addition of rituximab to the conditioning regimen, rates at 4 years for current progression-free survival (CPFS) and overall survival were 44% and 48%. The investigators hypothesize that ofatumumab, having a more potent anti-CLL activity and complement-dependent cytoxicity than rituximab, could improve disease control and modulate the GVCLL effect more effectively, thus reducing the GVHD rate and subsequently improving the non-relapse mortality and progression-free survival in the long term.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
25
We plan to add five doses of ofatumumab to the standard conditioning regimen (fludarabine + melphalan). Ofatumumab will be administered on days -20 (300 mg), -13 (2000 mg), -6 (2000 mg), +1 (1000 mg) and +8 (1000 mg) of the transplantation (day 0 being the day of the hematopoietic cell infusion). If the patient requires donor lymphocyte infusions within 3 years after the procedure, these infusions will also include one administration of 300 mg of ofatumumab, followed by a 1000 mg dose, 7 days later).
Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol
Badalona, Spain
Hospital de la Santa Creu Sant Pau
Barcelona, Spain
Hospital Vall d'Hebron
Barcelona, Spain
Institut Catala d'Oncologia
L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
Hospital La Princesa
Madrid, Spain
Hospital Puerta de Hierro
Madrid, Spain
Hospital Central de Asturias
Oviedo, Spain
Hospital Clinico
Valencia, Spain
Hospital La Fe
Valencia, Spain
CPFS at 3y
Current progression-free survival (CPFS) at 3 years.
Time frame: At 3 years
CPFS at 5y
Current progression-free survival (CPFS) at 5 years
Time frame: At 5 years
NRM at 1/5 years
Non-relapse mortality at 1 and 5 years
Time frame: At 1 and 5 years
Acute GVHD at 3mo
Incidence of acute graft-versus-host disease, grade II-IV, at 3 months
Time frame: At 3 months
Chronic GVHD at 1/5y
Incidence of extensive chronic graft-versus-host disease at 1 and 5 years
Time frame: At 1 and 5 years
Toxicity criteria
Evaluation of toxicity following common toxicity criteria, release 3.0
Time frame: During all 3 years
OS at 3/5y
Overall survival at 3 and 5 years
Time frame: At 3 and 5 years
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.