Some kidney transplant candidates have a very low chance of getting a kidney transplant because their immune systems are "highly sensitized" to most kidney donors. Being "highly sensitized" means that they will likely have to wait a long time (more than 5 years) before an acceptable donor is found for them or, they never receive a compatible donor, and die while on the kidney transplant waitlist. The purpose of this study is to find out whether two drugs, carfilzomib (Kyprolis®),and belatacept (Nulojix®), can make these kidney transplant candidates less sensitized, and make it easier and quicker to find a kidney donor for them.
This study enrolled 21 eligible participants, 18 to 65 years of age, with end stage renal failure on dialysis who are on the waiting list for a deceased donor transplant with calculated panel reactive antibodies (cPRA) ≥99.9% or \>98% (with \>5 years of waiting time) or, those with cPRA \>98% and an human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-incompatible approved living donor who have not received a transplant after 1 year in a paired kidney exchange program. The study will evaluate whether the study treatment is safe and can lower the participant's immune system's sensitization to kidney donors, making it easier to find a well-matched kidney for them. Participants in the study were enrolled in two consecutive Cohorts. The total duration of participation in the study will be 76 weeks for Cohort 1 and 68 weeks for Cohort 2. Participants who undergo kidney transplantation while enrolled in the study will have 52 weeks of follow up post-transplant. The duration of participation for living donors is one study visit. Their participation in the study ends upon completion of this study visit.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
21
Administered: Intravenously (IV). Carfilzomib is administered intravenously, on two consecutive days, each week for three weeks per cycle. In this study, subjects will receive 2 cycles of carfilzomib. Dosing for each cycle is based on the recommended dosing for carfilzomib monotherapy in the package insert. Carfilzomib is a proteasome inhibitor indicated for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma. In this study, carfilzomib will be used in highly sensitized subjects without myeloma who are awaiting a kidney transplant.
Administered: Intravenously (IV). Belatacept is indicated for the prophylaxis of organ rejection in adult patients receiving a kidney transplant. In this study, belatacept will be used in highly sensitized subjects who are awaiting a kidney transplant.
Subjects will undergo a bone marrow aspiration prior to starting the study regimen and at 16 weeks after starting the study regimen. In subjects who undergo a kidney transplant during the study, another bone marrow aspiration will be done if it has been \>4 weeks since the previous bone marrow aspiration.
Duke Transplant Center, Duke University Medical Center
Durham, North Carolina, United States
Proportion of subjects who do not meet a stopping rule for safety and remain free of all of the following through 26 weeks (Cohort 1) after starting treatment or until receiving a transplant, whichever occurs earlier.
Proportion of subjects who have not met a subject stopping rule, and remain free of all of the following through Week 26 post treatment initiation or until receiving a transplant, whichever occurs earlier: 1. Grade 3 or higher infusion reaction, 2. Grade 3 or higher infections, and 3. Any malignancy. The study site will grade the severity of adverse events experienced by the study subjects according to the criteria set forth in the National Cancer Institute's Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) Version 5.0 (Published November 27, 2017).
Time frame: Up to 26 weeks post treatment initiation
Proportion of subjects who do not meet a stopping rule for safety and remain free of all of the following through Week 24 (Cohort 2) post treatment initiation or until receiving a transplant, whichever occurs earlier.
Proportion of subjects who have not met a subject stopping rule, and remain free of all of the following through Week 24 post treatment initiation or until receiving a transplant, whichever occurs earlier: 1. Grade 3 or higher infusion reaction, 2. Grade 3 or higher infections, and 3. Any malignancy. The study site will grade the severity of adverse events experienced by the study subjects according to the criteria set forth in the National Cancer Institute's Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) Version 5.0 (Published November 27, 2017).
Time frame: Up to 24 weeks post treatment initiation
Proportion of subjects who achieve any one of the following compared to Baseline - Cohort 1
Proportion of subjects who achieve any one of the following compared to Baseline (Visit 0): 1. Elimination of one human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibody at Week 20 (which is Study Week 24) post treatment initiation, 2. 50% or greater reduction in the mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of at least three HLA antibodies at Week 20 (which is Study Week 24) after starting treatment, and/or 3. Kidney transplant with a previously incompatible donor within 20 weeks after starting treatment without graft loss due to acute antibody mediated rejection occurring within the first four weeks post-transplant and caused by an anamnestic response.
Time frame: Baseline (Visit 0) to Week 20 post treatment initiation
Proportion of subjects who meet any one of the pre-specified events detailed in the outcome description: from Baseline to Week 24 post treatment initiation - Cohort 2
Proportion of subjects who meet any one of the following compared to Baseline (Visit 0): 1. Elimination of one human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibody at Week 24 (which is Study Week 28) post treatment initiation, 2. 50% or greater reduction in the mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of at least three HLA antibodies at Week 24 (which is Study Week 28) after starting treatment, and/or 3. Kidney transplant with a previously incompatible donor within 52 weeks after starting treatment without graft loss due to acute antibody mediated rejection occurring within the first four weeks post-transplant and caused by an anamnestic response.
Time frame: Baseline (Visit 0) to Week 24 post treatment initiation
Proportion of subjects transplanted with a DSA-negative donor to whom DSA was previously positive, within 52 weeks after starting treatment
Clinical outcome measure. Subjects may receive a kidney transplant while in the study, either from a living or deceased donor to whom they were previously compatible, or from a previously incompatible donor in case there is a significant reduction in HLA antibody.
Time frame: Within 52 weeks post treatment initiation
Proportion of subjects with biopsy-proven acute or chronic antibody mediated rejection (AMR) within 52 weeks post-transplant in subjects who undergo a kidney transplant
Clinical outcome measure. Antibody mediated rejection (AMR) is an important cause of graft loss after organ transplantation and is caused by anti-donor-specific antibodies, especially anti- human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibodies.
Time frame: Within 52 weeks post-transplant
Number of biopsy-proven acute or chronic AMR events within 52 weeks post-transplant in subjects who undergo a kidney transplant
Clinical outcome measure. Antibody mediated rejection (AMR) is an important cause of graft loss after organ transplantation and is caused by anti-donor-specific antibodies, especially anti- human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibodies.
Time frame: Within 52 weeks post-transplant
Proportion of subjects with invasive fungal infections, mycobacterial infections or Pneumocystis jirovecii infection within 24 weeks after starting treatment
A measure of infection-related morbidity.
Time frame: Within 24 weeks post treatment initiation
Proportion of subjects with invasive fungal infections, mycobacterial infections or Pneumocystis jirovecii infection within 52 weeks after starting treatment
A measure of infection-related morbidity.
Time frame: Within 52 weeks post treatment initiation
Number of invasive fungal infections, mycobacterial infections, or Pneumocystis jirovecii infection events within 24 weeks after starting treatment
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A measure of infection-related morbidity.
Time frame: Within 24 weeks post treatment initiation
Number of invasive fungal infections, mycobacterial infections, or Pneumocystis jirovecii infection events within 52 weeks after starting treatment
A measure of infection-related morbidity.
Time frame: Within 52 weeks post treatment initiation
Proportion of subjects with cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and disease within 24 weeks after starting treatment
CMV infection confirmed by the presence of detectable CMV in blood by polymerase chain reaction \[PCR\] diagnostic testing, regardless of whether signs or symptoms are present.
Time frame: Within 24 weeks post treatment initiation
Proportion of subjects with cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and disease within 52 weeks after starting treatment
CMV infection confirmed by the presence of detectable CMV in blood by polymerase chain reaction \[PCR\] diagnostic testing, regardless of whether signs or symptoms are present.
Time frame: Within 52 weeks post treatment initiation
Number of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection events within 24 weeks after starting treatment
Time frame: Within 24 weeks post treatment initiation
Number of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection events within 52 weeks after starting treatment
Time frame: Within 52 weeks post treatment initiation
Proportion of subjects with post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) within 52 weeks post-transplant
As per diagnosis by local pathologist and treating physician.
Time frame: Within 52 weeks post-transplant
Number of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) events within 52 weeks post-transplant
Time frame: Within 52 weeks post-transplant
Proportion of subjects transplanted with a donor to whom donor-specific antibody (DSA) was previously positive and reduced by ≥50% at the time of transplant within 52 weeks after starting treatment
Time frame: Within 52 weeks post-transplant
Mean number of Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) antibodies eliminated at 16 weeks compared to Baseline (Cohort 1)
Mechanistic outcome measure focusing on change in donor specific antibodies (DSA).
Time frame: Baseline (Visit 0), Week 16 post treatment initiation
Mean number of Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) antibodies eliminated at 52 weeks compared to Baseline (Cohort 2)
Mechanistic outcome measure focusing on change in donor specific antibodies (DSA).
Time frame: Baseline (Visit 0), Week 52 post treatment initiation
Mean percentage of Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) antibodies eliminated at 16 weeks compared to Baseline (Cohort 1)
Mechanistic outcome measure focusing on change in donor specific antibodies (DSA).
Time frame: Baseline (Visit 0), Weeks 16, and 52 post treatment initiation
Mean percentage of Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) antibodies eliminated at 52 weeks compared to Baseline (Cohort 2)
Mechanistic outcome measure focusing on change in donor specific antibodies (DSA).
Time frame: Baseline (Visit 0), Weeks 16, and 52 post treatment initiation