Experimental drug pair targets tough leukemias

NCT ID NCT01139970

Completed Disease control Sponsor: National Cancer Institute (NCI) Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This early-phase trial tested a combination of two drugs—veliparib and temozolomide—in 66 adults with relapsed or refractory acute leukemias. Veliparib blocks a DNA repair enzyme, while temozolomide damages cancer cell DNA. The goal was to find the safest dose and check for side effects. The study is complete, but results are not yet reported.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Veliparib (ABT-888) and temozolomide
What this could lead to: If successful, this combination could offer a new treatment option for patients with hard-to-treat acute leukemias.
What could go wrong: This is an early Phase I trial focused on safety and dosing, not effectiveness. The combination may cause significant side effects and may not shrink tumors.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKEMIA are added.

Our safety recommendation!

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

acute lymphoblastic leukemia acute myeloid leukemia acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes related to alkylating agent acute myeloid leukemia with 11q23 abnormalities acute myeloid leukemia with multilineage dysplasia acute myeloid leukemia, inv(16)(p13.1;q22) acute myeloid leukemia, t(16;16)(p13.1;q22) acute myeloid leukemia, t(8;21)(q22; q22.1) acute promyelocytic leukemia adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia B-cell adult acute lymphocytic leukemia B-lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma with t(9;22)(q34.1;q11.2) Burkitt lymphoma chronic myelomonocytic leukemia leukemia, acute lymphocytic, susceptibility to, 1 Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Acute Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma T-cell adult acute lymphocytic leukemia therapy related acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome therapy-related myeloid neoplasm

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKEMIA ACUTE MYELOID LEUKEMIA ACUTE MYELOID LEUKEMIA ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MYELODYSPLASTIC SYNDROME ADULT ACUTE MYELOID LEUKEMIA WITH INV(16)(P13.1Q22); CBFB-MYH11 ADULT ACUTE MYELOID LEUKEMIA WITH T(16;16)(P13.1;Q22); CBFB-MYH11 ADULT ACUTE MYELOID LEUKEMIA WITH T(8;21); (Q22; Q22.1); RUNX1-RUNX1T1 ADULT ACUTE MYELOID LEUKEMIA WITH T(9;11)(P21.3;Q23.3); MLLT3-KMT2A ADULT ACUTE PROMYELOCYTIC LEUKEMIA WITH T(15;17)(Q24.1;Q21.2); PML-RARA ADULT B ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKEMIA ADULT B ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKEMIA WITH T(9;22)(Q34.1;Q11.2); BCR-ABL1 ADULT T ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKEMIA ALKYLATING AGENT-RELATED ACUTE MYELOID LEUKEMIA CHRONIC MYELOMONOCYTIC LEUKEMIA RECURRENT ADULT ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKEMIA RECURRENT ADULT ACUTE MYELOID LEUKEMIA SECONDARY ACUTE MYELOID LEUKEMIA

Contacts and locations

Locations

Johns Hopkins University/Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center

Baltimore, Maryland, 21287, United States
University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center

Chicago, Illinois, 60637, United States
University of Maryland/Greenebaum Cancer Center

Baltimore, Maryland, 21201, United States

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.