This phase II trial tests the effects of ruxolitinib in combination with a de-intensified HLH-94 drug regimen has on patients with newly diagnosed hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a disorder caused by dysregulated immune responses (that is, immune responses that are too strong and cause inflammatory damage to normal tissues). The therapy used for HLH decreases the activity of the immune system. Ruxolitinib is a type of drug called a kinase inhibitor. It works by blocking the signals that cause inflammatory cells to multiply. De-intensified HLH-94 is a treatment regimen that includes 4 weeks of dexamethasone with the dose being decreased each week, and up to 4 weeks of etoposide. This combination is commonly used to treat HLH. Dexamethasone is a steroid medication that works by fighting inflammation. Etoposide is in a class of medications known as podophyllotoxin derivatives. It blocks a certain enzyme needed for cell division and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) repair and may kill cancer cells and is used to kill the types of white blood cells in HLH that are attacking the body. Giving ruxolitinib in combination with a de-intensified HLH-94 drug regimen may reduce toxic exposure to therapy while maintaining efficacy in patients with HLH.
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: I. To evaluate the efficacy of ruxolitinib with de-intensified HLH-94 (dHLH-94; 4 weeks of dexamethasone and etoposide) for newly diagnosed adults with HLH. SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: I. To describe the toxicities of ruxolitinib in combination with de-intensified HLH-94 for the treatment of adult HLH. II. To evaluate best response, time to best response, and duration of response stratified by mHLH and nmHLH. III. To evaluate the progression-free survival (PFS) of using ruxolitinib in combination with dHLH-94 for the treatment of adult HLH, stratified by malignancy-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (mHLH) and non-malignancy-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (nmHLH). IV. To evaluate the overall survival (OS) when using ruxolitinib in combination with de-intensified HLH-94 for the treatment of adult HLH, stratified by mHLH and nmHLH. V. To evaluate the time to cancer diagnosis for HLH, among those ultimately diagnosed with mHLH. VI. To evaluate the time to cancer-directed therapy from the diagnosis of mHLH. VII. To describe the practice patterns of adjunctive therapies (i.e., rituximab, intravenous immunoglobulin therapy (IVIG), anakinra) for HLH. EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVES: I. To identify T cell subsets that are differentially increased in adult HLH (comparing mHLH and nmHLH). II. To evaluate the association of CD8+ T cell subsets expressing CD4dim/CD38+/HLA-DR+ ("activated T cells") with clinical deterioration. III. To evaluate the relationship between the peripheral blood cytokine microenvironment (e.g., Interleukin 1b (IL-1b), Interleukin 2 (IL-2), Interleukin 6 (IL-6), Interleukin 10 (IL-10), Interleukin 18 (IL-18), Interferon gamma (IFN-gamma), Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF alpha), laboratory parameters (ferritin, blood counts, liver function, fibrinogen), and response to ruxolitinib. OUTLINE: During induction therapy, participants receive ruxolitinib plus de-intensified HLH-94 induction with dexamethasone and etoposide and then based on response, another 2 weeks of treatment will be given in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. After induction therapy, participants receive continuation therapy with ruxolitinib for a total of up to 6 months after first administration of study drug in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. After completion of study treatment, participants are followed up at 30 days and then at 3, 6, and 12 months
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
36
Administered Orally (PO)
Administered IV
Administered PO or IV
Participants undergo abdominal ultrasound and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Bone marrow biopsy and lymph node biopsy will be obtained during screening and as clinically indicated throughout the trial.
Undergo blood sample collection
University of California, Irvine
Irvine, California, United States
RECRUITINGUniversity of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, California, United States
RECRUITINGOverall response rate (ORR)
The proportion of responder (complete response (CR), complete response with incomplete hematologic recovery, or partial response (PR)) or non-responder at the end of induction using a physician developed response criteria will be reported. Those with non-malignant HLH (nmHLH) will be assessed for response, defined as complete response (CR) + partial response (PR) at 4 weeks. Participants diagnosed with a malignant trigger are recommended to undergo cancer-directed therapy once acute hypercytokinemia improves. The primary endpoint for malignant HLH (mHLH) is achievement of PR or better and initiation of cancer-directed therapy (non-HLH specific therapy) by 4 weeks.
Time frame: 4 weeks
Proportion of participants reporting high-grade adverse events
Safety analyses will be descriptive and performed based on the safety population, defined as patients who received at least one dose of study drug. Serious adverse events (SAEs), adverse events (AEs) ≥ grade 3, and AEs resulting in discontinuation of treatment, withdrawal from the study, and deaths on-study will be tabulated.
Time frame: Up to 1 year
Best Response Rate
The proportion of responders by best response defined as a complete response (CR), complete response with incomplete hematologic recovery, partial response (PR) or stable disease (SD)) using a physician developed response criteria will be reported.
Time frame: Up to 1 year
Median Time to Best Response
The median time in months from the time of treatment initiation until participants best response at 12 months after the end of continuation therapy will be reported.
Time frame: Up to 12 months after the end of continuation therapy, approximately 2 years total
Median Duration of Best Response
The median time in months from the participants obtained a best response from until 12 months after the end of continuation therapy, participant withdrawal, or death will be reported.
Time frame: Up to 12 months after the end of continuation therapy, approximately 2 years total
Median progression free survival (PFS)
PFS is defined as the median number of months from first dose to disease relapse, progression, or death, whichever occurs first using using Kaplan-Meier methods.
Time frame: Up to 1 year
Median overall survival (OS)
OS is defined as the median number of months from first dose to until death or study discontinuation, whichever occurs first using using Kaplan-Meier methods.
Time frame: Up to 1 year
Median time from the diagnosis of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) to diagnosis of cancer
The duration of time in days from the diagnosis of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) to the diagnosis of cancer will be reported.
Time frame: Up to 1 year
Median time from diagnosis of malignancy-associated HLH to initiation of cancer-directed therapy
The duration of time in days from the diagnosis of malignancy-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis to the initiation of cancer-directed therapy will be reported using Kaplan-Meier methods.
Time frame: Up to 1 year
Number of different adjunctive therapies
The number of adjunctive therapies for HLH will be reported by type, frequency, and indication.
Time frame: Up to 2 years
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