New cocktail aims to boost remission in rare blood cancer
NCT ID NCT04624906
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Sep 04, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This phase II trial tests whether adding the targeted drug acalabrutinib to standard chemotherapy (bendamustine and rituximab) improves outcomes for people with untreated Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia, a rare blood cancer. About 63 participants will receive the three-drug combo for up to a year. The main goal is to see how many achieve a very good partial response or complete remission.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Acalabrutinib (a targeted cancer drug) combined with bendamustine and rituximab (standard chemotherapy and immunotherapy)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this combination could offer a more effective first-line treatment for Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia, potentially leading to deeper and longer-lasting responses.
- What could go wrong
- This is a phase II trial with only 63 participants and no comparison group, so results are preliminary. The added drug (acalabrutinib) may increase side effects without improving outcomes.
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
-
Phase 2
Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.
- Participants
-
63 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Mar 2021
- Expected to finish
-
Mar 2030
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
-
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
-
18 years and older
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
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. Have biopsy proven Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia, (biopsy from within 3 months (+/- 7 days) prior to Day 1). 2. Have not received any systemic treatment for the disease (plasmapheresis, involved field radiation or corticosteroids (for contrast enhanced studies and to acutely control disease-related symptoms or as chemotherapy premedication)) are allowed. 3. Be willing and able to provide written informed consent for the trial. 4. Male or female \>=18 years of age on day of signing informed consent and of any racial or ethnic group. 5. Have at least one measurable site of disease based on Cheson Criteria (Appendix C) using standard CT imaging or a quantifiable IgM paraprotein that is two times the upper limit of normal. 6. Have symptomatic or impending symptomatic disease or evidence of hematologic or biochemical compromise related to the lymphoma. 7. Have a performance status of 0-2 on the ECOG Performance Scale. 8. Demonstrate adequate organ function as defined in Table 2. Adequate organ function must be confirmed within 72 hours prior to start of treatment. Patients with abnormal liver enzymes of up to 5 times the upper limit of normal and/or reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR) or estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGRF) of ≥ 30 mL/min/1.73 m2can be considered for enrolment. 9. A life expectancy \> 6 months in the opinion of the investigator. 10. Female subject of childbearing potential should have a negative serum pregnancy test within 72 hours prior to receiving the first dose of study medication (day 1). 11. Female subjects of childbearing potential should be willing to use 2 highly effective methods of birth control or be surgically sterile, or abstain from heterosexual activity for the course of the study until 2 days post-last dose of acalabrutinib, 4 weeks post-last dose of bendamustine, and 12 months post-last dose of rituximab. Subjects of childbearing potential are those who have not been surgically sterilized or have not been free from menses for \> 1 year. 12. Male subjects should agree to use a highly-effective method of contraception starting with the first dose of study therapy until 2 days post-last dose of acalabrutinib, 6 months post-last dose of bendamustine, and 12 months post-last dose of rituximab. 13. Ability to comply with protocol requirements. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Previous systemic therapy for WM (other than described in the inclusion criteria). 2. Is currently participating and receiving study therapy or has participated in a study of an investigational agent and received study therapy or used an investigational device within 21 days of the first dose of treatment (SD1). 3. Patient is being planned for consolidative autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT). 4. Is on warfarin anti-coagulation 5. Requires treatment with proton pump inhibitors (eg, omeprazole, esomeprazole, lansoprazole, dexlansoprazole, rabeprazole, or pantoprazole). Subjects receiving proton pump inhibitors who switch to H2-receptor antagonists or antacids 7 days prior to the start of treatment are eligible. 5\. Has clinically significant cardiovascular disease such as uncontrolled or symptomatic arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, or myocardial infarction within 6 months of screening, or any Class 3 or 4 cardiac diseases as defined by the New York Heart Association Functional Classification, or corrected QT interval (QTc) \> 480 msec at screening. Subjects with controlled, asymptomatic atrial fibrillation during screening can enroll on study. 6\. Has clinically significant cardiovascular disease such as uncontrolled or symptomatic arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, or myocardial infarction within 6 months of screening, or any Class 3 or 4 cardiac diseases as defined by the New York Heart Association Functional Classification, or corrected QT interval (QTc) \> 480 msec at screening. Subjects with controlled, asymptomatic atrial fibrillation during screening can enroll on study. 7\. Has hypertension that cannot be controlled with anti-hypertensives. 8. Has a diagnosis of immunodeficiency or is receiving systemic steroid therapy or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 35 days prior to the first dose of trial treatment (SD1), except that used as pre-medication for chemotherapy or contrast-enhanced studies are eligible. Subjects may be on physiologic doses of replacement prednisone or equivalent doses of corticosteroid (\<10 mg daily). 9\. Has a known history of active TB (Bacillus Tuberculosis). 10. Has a known additional malignancy that is progressing or requires active treatment. Exceptions include basal cell carcinoma of the skin or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin that has undergone potentially curative therapy or in situ cervical cancer. 11\. Has known active central nervous system (CNS) metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis. Subjects with previously treated brain metastases may participate provided they are stable (without evidence of progression by imaging for at least four weeks prior to the first dose of trial treatment and any neurologic symptoms have returned to baseline), have no evidence of new or enlarging brain metastases, and are not using steroids for their CNS disease for at least 35 days prior to trial treatment. 12\. Has history of active autoimmune disease that has required systemic immune suppressive treatment in the past 2 years (i.e. with use of disease modifying agents, corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs). Replacement therapy (eg., thyroxine, insulin, or physiologic corticosteroid replacement therapy for adrenal or pituitary insufficiency, etc.) is allowed. 13\. Has known history of, or any evidence of active, non-infectious pneumonitis that has required treatment in the last five years. 14\. Has an active infection requiring systemic therapy. Note: Subjects completing a course of antibiotic for acute infection 7 days prior to SD1 and who do not experience a recurrence of symptoms or fever are eligible. 15\. Has a history or current evidence of any condition, therapy, or laboratory abnormality that might confound the results of the trial, interfere with the subject's participation for the full duration of the trial, or is not in the best interest of the subject to participate, in the opinion of the treating investigator. 16\. Has known psychiatric or substance abuse disorders that would interfere with cooperation with the requirements of the trial. 17\. Is breastfeeding, or expecting to conceive or father children within the projected duration of the trial, starting with screening visit to 2 days post last dose of acalabrutinib, 4 weeks post last dose of bendamustine and 12 months post last dose of rituximab. 18\. Has a known history of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) (HIV 1/2 antibodies). 19\. Has known active Hepatitis B (e.g., HBsAg reactive) or Hepatitis C (e.g., Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) RNA \[qualitative\] is detected). Evidence of Hepatitis B surface antigen or Hepatitis B DNA are exclusion criteria. Participants with positive hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb) can be enrolled only if confirmatory negative Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) DNA levels is obtained by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) AND the patient is on Hepatitis B prophylaxis before the first dose of study drug. 20\. Serious intercurrent chronic or acute illness, such as hepatic disease, or other illness considered by the investigator as an unwarranted high risk for an investigational product. 21\. History of stroke or intracranial hemorrhage within 6 months before first dose of study drug. 22\. History of bleeding diathesis (e.g., hemophilia, von Willebrand disease). 23. Requires treatment with a strong\* cytochrome P450 3A (CYP3A) inhibitor or within 1 week or a strong CYP3A inducer within 3 weeks of the first dose of study drug is prohibited. \*boceprevir, clarithromycin, conivaptin, indinavir, itraconazole, ketoconazole, lopin/ritonavir combination, fluconazole, izavuconazole, mibefradil, nefazodone, nelfinavir, saquinavir, posaconazole, ritonavir, telaprevir, telithromycin, voriconazole, carbamazepine, phenytoin, rifampin or St. John's wort. 24\. Received a live virus vaccination within 28 days of first dose of study drug. 25\. Major surgical procedure within 30 days before the first dose of study drug. Note: if a subject had major surgery, they must have recovered adequately from any toxicity and/or complications from the intervention before the first dose of study drug. 26\. Refractory nausea and vomiting, inability to swallow the formulated product, or malabsorption syndrome; chronic gastrointestinal disease, gastric restrictions, or bariatric surgery such as gastric bypass partial or complete bowel obstruction, or previous significant bowel resection that would preclude adequate absorption, distribution, metabolism, or excretion of study treatment.
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia are added.
Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
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
-
CHU de Quebec - University Laval
Laval, Quebec, Canada
-
Cross Cancer Institute
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
-
Hamilton Health Sciences Centre - Juravinksi
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
-
McGill University Health Centre
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
-
QEII Health Sciences Centre
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
-
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Toronto, Ontario, M4N 3M5, Canada
-
The Ottawa Hospital
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
-
Tom Baker Cancer Centre
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
-
Vancouver General Hospital
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Can engineered immune cells beat tough B-Cell cancers?
- Can a radioactive drug outperform standard therapy in waldenstrom macroglobulinemia?
- Engineered immune cells take aim at Hard-to-Treat lymphomas
- Smartwatches track hidden heart risk in blood cancer patients
- Can a tailored exercise and diet plan beat cancer fatigue?
- Immunotherapy combo shows promise for Tough-to-Treat blood cancers