New drug cocktail aims to stop leukemia relapse after transplant
NCT ID NCT04128501
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Sep 15, 2026 · Updated 3 times
Summary
This phase 2 trial tests whether combining venetoclax and azacitidine after a stem cell transplant can prevent leukemia from returning in high-risk patients. About 100 adults aged 18-75 with certain types of acute leukemia who are in remission after transplant will receive the drugs. The main goal is to see how long patients stay cancer-free.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- venetoclax and azacitidine
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this combination could help prevent leukemia from returning after a stem cell transplant, improving long-term survival.
- What could go wrong
- This is a mid-stage trial with only 100 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The drugs can cause serious infections and other side effects.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 2
Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.
- Participants
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100 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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May 2020
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2026
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 75 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Participants 18 to 75 years of age. 2. English and non-English speaking patients are eligible. 3. Disease diagnosis with one of the hematological malignancies listed below and who are in morphological remission after allogeneic stem cell transplantation with PBSCs or bone marrow. 1. AML if they had at least one of the following disease characteristics: * Therapy related AML. * Cytogenetics and molecular features consistent with adverse risk group by European LeukemiaNet classification for AML (see Appendix A.). * Primary induction failure defined as absence of complete remission after two different lines of anti-leukemia therapy following diagnosis. * Presence of minimal residual disease by multi-color flow cytometry or cytogenetics or molecular studies at the time of HSCT. * Presence of active disease defined as bone marrow blast count \>5% at the time of HSCT. * Participants transplanted beyond first remission. OR 2. Biphenotypic or bilineage leukemia (including a myeloid component) OR mixed phenotype acute leukemia (MPAL) OR 3. Participants with acute lymphoblastic leukemia; B cell or T cell in original. 4. Participants in morphological remission with no detectable minimal residual disase (MRD) after transplant 5. Participants who are in remission with no detectable minimal residual disease (MRD) after allogeneic stem cell transplant should have: 1. Adequate engraftment within 14 days prior to starting study drug: 2. Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \>/= 1.0 x 109/L without daily use of myeloid growth factor (G-CSF) for at least 7 days; and, 3. Platelet \>/= 30 x 109/L without platelet transfusion within 1 week 4. Be able to start the drug therapy between 42 to 100 days following HSCT. 6. Use of one of the conditioning regimens as part of allogeneic stem cell transplant listed below: 1. Reduced intensity regimen with fludarabine/melphalan (100-140 mg/m2) with or without TBI with post-transplant Cytoxan OR 2. Myeloablative regimens including: * Busulfan (AUC at or greater than 4000)/fludarabine with post-transplant Cytoxan or total body irradiation (TBI)/etoposide with any graft versus host disease (GVHD) regimen OR * Total body irradiation (TBI)/etoposide with any graft versus host disease (GVHD) regimen. 7. Participants on clinical trials investigating different conditioning regimens (with the above described backbone) with investigational agents will be allowed to enroll. 8. ECOG performance status of 0, 1, or 2. 9. Serum creatinine \</=1.5 mg/dL or creatinine clearance greater or equal than 40 cc/min as defined by the Cockcroft-Gault Equation\* 10. Serum bilirubin \</= 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN). 11. Aspartate transaminase (AST) or alanine transaminase (ALT) \</= 2.5 x ULN. 12. Alkaline phosphatase \</= 2.5 x UL. 13. Capable of understanding the investigational nature, potential risks and benefits of the study, and able to provide valid informed consent. 14. Negative serum or urine pregnancy test for women with reproductive potential. The only subjects who will be exempt from this criterion are postmenopausal women (defined as women who have been amenorrheic for \> 12 months) or subjects who have been surgically sterilized or otherwise proven sterile. 3.1.2. For cohort #3 and cohort #4 patients (MRD positive cohort): <!-- --> 1. Participants 18 to 75 years of age. 2. English and non-English speaking patients are eligible. 3. Disease diagnosis with one of the hematological malignancies listed below and who are in morphological remission after allogeneic stem cell transplantation with PBSCs or bone marrow. a. AML OR b. Biphenotypic or bilineage leukemia (including a myeloid component) or mixed phenotype acute leukemia (MPAL) OR c. Participants with acute lymphoblastic leukemia; B cell or T cell in original. 4. Persistence or reappearance of MRD by flow cytometry or cytogenetic or molecular testing while being in morphological remission after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. 1. When MRD is detected by flow cytometry, disease level at or above the sensitivity level of the test will be required. • MRD level at or above 0.01% for B cell ALL and T cell ALL. • MRD level at or above 0.1% for AML and mixed phenotype acute leukemia. 2. When MRD is detected by cytogenetics, disease level at or above the sensitivity level of the test will be required. • The limited of detection is about 0.25% for males and 0.44% for females. 3. When MRD is detected by molecular testing, disease level at or above the sensitivity level of the test will be required. • The limited of detection is 0.01% 5. Use of one of the conditioning regimens as part of allogeneic stem cell transplant listed below: a. Reduced intensity regimen with fludarabine/melphalan (100-140 mg/m2) with or without TBI with post-transplant Cytoxan OR b. Myeloablative regimens including: • Busulfan (AUC at or greater than 4000)/fludarabine with post-transplant Cytoxan or total body irradiation (TBI)/etoposide with any graft versus host disease (GVHD) regimen OR * Total body irradiation (TBI)/etoposide with any graft versus host disease (GVHD) regimen. 6. Participants on clinical trials investigating different conditioning regimens (with the above described backbone) with investigational agents will be allowed to enroll. 7. ECOG performance status of 0, 1, or 2. 8. Serum creatinine \</=1.5 mg/dL or creatinine clearance greater or equal than 40 cc/min as defined by the Cockcroft-Gault Equation\* 9. Serum bilirubin \</= 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN). 10. Aspartate transaminase (AST) or alanine transaminase (ALT) \</= 2.5 x ULN. 11. Alkaline phosphatase \</= 2.5 x UL. 12. Capable of understanding the investigational nature, potential risks and benefits of the study, and able to provide valid informed consent. 13. Negative serum or urine pregnancy test for women with reproductive potential. The only participants who will be exempt from this criterion are postmenopausal women (defined as women who have been amenorrheic for \> 12 months) or subjects who have been surgically sterilized or otherwise proven sterile. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Active acute GVHD grade II or higher. 2. Active chronic GVHD that is extensive (see Appendix C.). 3. Uncontrolled GVHD (see Appendix C.). 4. Concurrent use of systemic immune suppressive other than calcineurin inhibitors, sirolimus and steroids 5. Active uncontrolled systemic fungal, bacterial or viral infection. 6. Active bleeding. 7. Symptomatic or uncontrolled arrhythmias. 8. Significant active cardiac disease within the previous 6 months, including: 1. New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III or IV congestive heart failure see Appendix C.). Unstable angina or angina requiring surgical or medical intervention, and/or b. Myocardial infarction. 9. Known active viral infection with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) or Hepatitis C Virus (HCV). 10. Prior history of malignancies, other than leukemia, unless the subject has been free of the disease for \>/= 1 year. However, participants with the following history/concurrent conditions are allowed: 1. Basal or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin; 2. Carcinoma in situ of the cervix; 3. Carcinoma in situ of the breast; 4. Incidental histologic finding of prostate cancer (T1a or T1b using the tumor, node, metastasis \[TNM\] clinical staging system). 11. Participants with cognitive impairments and/or any serious unstable pre-existing medical condition or psychiatric disorder that can interfere with safety or with obtaining informed consent or compliance with study procedures.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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M D Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, Texas, 77030, United States
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