Clinical Trial: Campath-1H for Treating Adult T-Cell Leukemia/Lymphoma

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: Phase II Study of the Efficacy and Toxicity of Campath-1H in the Therapy of Adult T-Cell Leukemia

Brief Summary:

This study will examine the safety and effectiveness of Alemtuzumab (Campath-1H) for treating patients with adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL). ATL is caused by a virus called human T-cell lymphotrophic virus type-1 (HTLV-1) that infects lymphocytes (white blood cells) called T-cells. Cancerous cells can be found not only in the blood, but also in the skin, lungs, lymph nodes, liver, bone, bone marrow, spleen, and meninges (tissues covering the brain). There are four categories of ATL, based on the aggressiveness of disease-smoldering, chronic, lymphoma, and acute. Campath-1H is a monoclonal antibody that attaches to and kills normal and cancerous lymphocytes, including T cells. Although Campath-1H is an experimental drug for treating ATL, it is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treating chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Patients 18 years of age and older with any type of ATL except smoldering may be eligible for this study. Candidates are screened with a medical history and physical examination, photos of skin lesions, measurement of lesions such as lymph nodes and skin nodules, blood and urine tests, electrocardiogram (EKG), chest x-ray, computed tomography (CT) scan or ultrasound of the abdomen, skin biopsy, bone marrow aspirate and biopsy, skin test, and lumbar puncture (spinal tap). Participants undergo treatment in two phases, as follows:

  • Dose escalation phase: Patients receive an infusion of Campath-1H daily for three days. The initial dose is low and is increased daily as long as there are no side effects, or only mild reactions, until the patient is receiving the maximum dose of 30 milligrams per day.
  • Stable dose phase: Patients receive infusions of Campath-1H 30 mg three times a week for up to 12 weeks.

Background:

Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) is an aggressive lymphoproliferative disorder caused by an infection with the human T-cell lymphotrophic virus type-1 (HTLV-1).

ATL is characterized by rapidly rising peripheral blood leukemia cell counts, lymphadenopathy, lytic bone lesions, hepatosplenomegaly, and skin and solid organ involvement by tumor.

Chemotherapy has shown modest activity and the treatment of ATL has remained largely undefined and the survival of ATL patients poor.

The CD52 surface glycoantigen is overexpressed on ATL cells.

Alemtuzumab (Campath-1H) is a humanized rat monoclonal antibody that binds to CD52 and is cytotoxic.

In preclinical models, Campath-1H inhibited tumor growth and improved the survival of Non-obese diabetic (NOD)/severe combined immune deficiency (SCID) mice injected with human MET-1 ATL cells.

Objectives:

To determine the efficacy of Campath-1H in the treatment of ATL.

To define the time course of Campath-1H saturation in patients with ATL.

To define the toxicity of Campath-1H in patients with ATL.

Eligibility:

Patients with HTLV-I-associated adult T-cell leukemia.

More than 10% of the malignant cells must express CD52 and CD25.

Patients must have measurable disease.

  • Overall Response Rate [ Time Frame: 60 months ]

    Overall response rate is defined as the percentage of participants with response and utilizes the International Standardized workshop definition.

    Complete response(CR)-Complete disappearance of all detectable clinical and radiographic evidence of disease and disappearance of all disease related symptoms if present before therapy and normalization of those biochemical abnormalities (for example LDH) definitely assignable to the lymphoma.

    Please see the protocol Link module for the full criteria if desired.

  • Overall Survival [ Time Frame: 60 months ]
    Time between the first day of treatment to the day of death.
  • Time to Progression [ Time Frame: 60 months ]
    Time between the first day of treatment to the day of disease progression which is defined as a persistent (at least two determinations) doubling of the peripheral blood leukemic cell count, the development of new lesions, or Ca elevations that are uncontrolled by conventional therapeutic procedures.


    • Original Primary Outcome:

    Current Secondary Outcome:

    • Cell Surface Expression of CD52 on Tumor Cells [ Time Frame: 6 months ]
      The CD52 antibody-binding capacity (ABC) value is the measurement of the mean value of the maximum capacity of each cell to bind the anti-CD52 and when determined under conditions of saturating levels of antibody measures number of mean surface CD52 antigens per cell. CD52 ABC is negative when 100% saturation by therapeutic antibody is achieved.
    • The Number of Participants With Adverse Events [ Time Frame: 18 months ]
      Here are the total number of participants with adverse events. For the detailed list of adverse events see the adverse event module.


    Original Secondary Outcome:

    Information By: National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)

    Dates:
    Date Received: May 20, 2003
    Date Started: May 2003
    Date Completion:
    Last Updated: October 26, 2012
    Last Verified: October 2012