Testing the Addition of the Anti-Cancer Drug Venetoclax And/Or the Anti-Cancer Immunotherapy Blinatumomab to the Usual Chemotherapy Treatment for Infants With Newly Diagnosed Kmt2A-Rearranged or Kmt2A-Non-Rearranged Leukemia

Investigating Additional Treatments for Infant Blood Cancer

A
Amanda J. Saraf, DO

Primary Investigator

Enrolling By Invitation
1 year or below
All
Phase 2
1 participants needed
1 Location

Brief description of study

This phase II trial tests the addition of venetoclax and/or blinatumomab to usual chemotherapy for treating infants with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with a KMT2A gene rearrangement (KMT2A-rearranged [R]) or without a KMT2A gene rearrangement (KMT2A-germline [G]). Venetoclax is in a class of medications called B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) inhibitors. It may stop the growth of cancer cells by blocking Bcl-2, a protein needed for cancer cell survival. Blinatumomab is a monoclonal antibody that may interfere with the ability of cancer cells to grow and spread. Chemotherapy drugs work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Adding venetoclax and/or blinatumomab to standard chemotherapy may be more effective at treating patients with ALL than standard chemotherapy alone, but it may also cause more side effects. This clinical trial evaluates the safety and effectiveness of adding venetoclax and/or blinatumomab to chemotherapy for the treatment of infants with KMT2A-R or KMT2A-G ALL.

THIS STUDY IS ENROLLING BY INVITATION ONLY - Consistent with most oncology trials, patients are not actively “recruited,” but are screened by their physician for appropriate clinical trial(s) at the time of their routine clinic visit. Occasionally, a patient may be a self-referral or physician referral, but are still screened for appropriate clinical trials at the time of their routine clinic visit. PI and staff may send copies of relevant consent forms to these patients to look over prior to actually consenting or enrolling them. This may take place at the patient's visit at which the consent is presented or the patient's next visit to the outpatient hematology/oncology clinic. 

Interested in participating? For more information about this research study or other cancer-related clinical trials at IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, please contact:

IU Clinical Trials Office 

Email: iutrials@iu.edu 

Phone: (317) 278-5632

Detailed description of study

STEROID PREPHASE: All patients receive prednisone or prednisolone orally (PO) or nasogastrically (NG) three times daily (TID) or methylprednisolone intravenously (IV) TID for 7 days prior to the start of induction therapy (on days 1-7).

Patients who are KMT2A gene rearrangement positive are assigned to the safety phase cohort during the safety phase of the study, or randomized between Arm A and Arm B during the expansion phase of the study. Patients who are KMT2A gene rearrangement negative are assigned to Arm C.

SAFETY PHASE COHORT:

INDUCTION: Patients receive venetoclax PO or NG once daily (QD) on days 1-7, 1-10, or 1-14, daunorubicin IV over 1-15 minutes on days 1 and 2, vincristine IV on days 1, 8, 15, and 22, dexamethasone PO, NG, or IV TID on days 1-28, calaspargase pegol IV over 1-2 hours on day 4, and intrathecal therapy (methotrexate, hydrocortisone, cytarabine) intrathecally (IT) on days 1, 15, and 29 or days 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29. Patients with = 500/uL and platelets >= 50,000/uL. Patients with >= 5% blasts by morphology in the bone marrow at the end of induction proceed to blinatumomab block 1 as soon as marrow results are known, irrespective of ANC or platelet values.

BLINATUMOMAB BLOCK 1: Patients receive dexamethasone PO, NG, or IV on day 1 or days 1 and 8, blinatumomab IV on days 1-28, 1-7, or 8-28, and intrathecal therapy IT on days 15 and 29. Patients who are MRD >= 1% or who have residual non-central nervous system (CNS) extramedullary disease at the end of blinatumomab block 1 (day 35) discontinue protocol therapy. All other patients proceed directly to consolidation on the next day or when peripheral counts recover to ANC >= 500/uL and platelets >= 50,000/uL.

CONSOLIDATION: Patients receive cyclophosphamide IV over 30-60 minutes on days 1 and 29, cytarabine subcutaneously (SC) QD or IV over 15-30 minutes on days 1-4, 8-11, 29-32, and 36-39, mercaptopurine PO or NG QD on days 1-14 and 29-42, and intrathecal therapy IT on day 29. Patients who are MRD >= 0.01% at the end of consolidation therapy (day 56) discontinue protocol therapy. All other patients proceed directly to MARMA the next day or when peripheral counts recover to ANC >= 750/uL and platelets >= 75,000/uL.

MARMA: Patients receive mercaptopurine PO or NG QD on days 1-14, high dose methotrexate IV over 24 hours on days 1 and 8, leucovorin PO, NG, or IV or levoleucovorin IV on days 3-4 and 10-11, intrathecal therapy IT on days 1 and 8, high dose cytarabine IV over 3 hours on days 22-23 and 29-30, and recombinant crisantaspase IM or crisantaspase IM or IV over 1-2 hours on days 23 and 30. At the end of MARMA (day 49), all patients proceed directly to blinatumomab block 2 the next day or when peripheral counts recover to ANC >= 500/uL and platelets >= 50,000/uL.

BLINATUMOMAB BLOCK 2: Patients receive blinatumomab IV on days 1-28 and intrathecal therapy IT on days 1 and 15. At the end of blinatumomab block 2 (day 35), all patients proceed directly to delayed intensification the next day or when peripheral counts recover to ANC >= 750/uL and platelets >= 75,000/uL.

DELAYED INTENSIFICATION: Patients receive calaspargase pegol IV over 1-2 hours on day 1, dexamethasone PO, NG, or IV TID on days 1-21, thioguanine PO or NG on days 1-28 and 36-49, vincristine IV on days 1, 8, 15, and 22, daunorubicin IV over 1-15 minutes on days 1, 8, 15, and 22, cytarabine SC or IV over 15-30 minutes on days 2-5, 9-12, 16-19, 23-26, 37-40, and 44-47, cyclophosphamide IV over 15-30 minutes on days 36 and 50, and intrathecal therapy IT on days 1 and 15. At the end of delayed intensification (day 63), all patients proceed directly to maintenance the next day or when peripheral counts recover to ANC >= 500/uL and platelets >= 50,000/uL.

MAINTENANCE: Patients receive mercaptopurine PO or NG on days 1-84 of each cycle, methotrexate PO, NG, or IV on days 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 36, 43, 50, 57, 64, 71, and 78 of each cycle, and intrathecal therapy IT on day 1 of cycles 1-3. Cycles repeat every 12 weeks (84 days) for up to 2 years from the start of MARMA in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

EXPANSION PHASE: After completion of Safety phase, patients who are KMT2A gene rearrangement positive are randomized to Arm A or Arm B.

ARM A:

INDUCTION: Patients receive daunorubicin IV over 1-15 minutes on days 1 and 2, cytarabine SC or IV over 15-30 minutes on days 1-14, vincristine IV on days 1, 8, 15, and 22, dexamethasone PO, NG, or IV TID on days 1-28, calaspargase pegol IV over 1-2 hours on day 4, and intrathecal therapy IT on days 1, 15, and 29, or days 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29. Patients with = 500/uL and platelets >= 50,000/uL. Patients with >= 5% blasts by morphology in the bone marrow at the end of induction proceed to blinatumomab block 1 as soon as marrow results are known, irrespective of ANC or platelet values.

BLINATUMOMAB BLOCK 1: Patients receive dexamethasone PO, NG, or IV on day 1 or days 1 and 8, blinatumomab IV on days 1-28, 1-7, or 8-28, and intrathecal therapy IT on days 15 and 29. Patients who are MRD >= 1% or who have residual non-CNS extramedullary disease at the end of blinatumomab block 1 (day 35) discontinue protocol therapy. All other patients proceed directly to consolidation on the next day or when peripheral counts recover to ANC >= 500/uL and platelets >= 50,000/uL.

CONSOLIDATION: Patients receive cyclophosphamide IV over 30-60 minutes on days 1 and 29, cytarabine SC QD or IV over 15-30 minutes on days 1-4, 8-11, 29-32, and 36-39, mercaptopurine PO or NG QD on days 1-14 and 29-42, and intrathecal therapy IT on day 29. Patients who are MRD >= 0.01% at the end of consolidation therapy (day 56) discontinue protocol therapy. All other patients proceed directly to MARMA the next day or when peripheral counts recover to ANC >= 750/uL and platelets >= 75,000/uL.

MARMA: Patients receive mercaptopurine PO or NG QD on days 1-14, high dose methotrexate IV over 24 hours on days 1 and 8, leucovorin PO, NG, or IV or levoleucovorin IV on days 3-4 and 10-11, intrathecal therapy IT on days 1 and 8, high dose cytarabine IV over 3 hours on days 22-23 and 29-30, and recombinant crisantaspase IM or crisantaspase IM or IV over 1-2 hours on days 23 and 30. At the end of MARMA (day 49), all patients proceed directly to blinatumomab block 2 the next day or when peripheral counts recover to ANC >= 500/uL and platelets >= 50,000/uL.

BLINATUMOMAB BLOCK 2: Patients receive blinatumomab IV on days 1-28 and intrathecal therapy IT on days 1 and 15. At the end of blinatumomab block 2 (day 35), all patients proceed directly to delayed intensification the next day or when peripheral counts recover to ANC >= 750/uL and platelets >= 75,000/uL.

DELAYED INTENSIFICATION: Patients receive calaspargase pegol IV over 1-2 hours on day 1, dexamethasone PO, NG, or IV TID on days 1-21, thioguanine PO or NG on days 1-28 and 36-49, vincristine IV on days 1, 8, 15, and 22, daunorubicin IV over 1-15 minutes on days 1, 8, 15, and 22, cytarabine SC or IV over 15-30 minutes on days 2-5, 9-12, 16-19, 23-26, 37-40, and 44-47, cyclophosphamide IV over 15-30 minutes on days 36 and 50, and intrathecal therapy IT on days 1 and 15. At the end of delayed intensification (day 63), all patients proceed directly to maintenance the next day or when peripheral counts recover to ANC >= 500/uL and platelets >= 50,000/uL.

MAINTENANCE: Patients receive mercaptopurine PO or NG on days 1-84 of each cycle, methotrexate PO, NG, or IV on days 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 36, 43, 50, 57, 64, 71, and 78 of each cycle, and intrathecal therapy IT on day 1 of cycles 1-3. Cycles repeat every 12 weeks (84 days) for up to 2 years from the start of MARMA in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

ARM B: Patients are assigned to 1 of 4 cohorts.

COHORT 1:

INDUCTION + VENETOCLAX: Patients receive venetoclax PO or NG QD, daunorubicin IV over 1-15 minutes on days 1 and 2, vincristine IV on days 1, 8, 15, and 22, dexamethasone PO, NG, or IV TID on days 1-28, calaspargase pegol IV over 1-2 hours on day 4, and intrathecal therapy IT on days 1, 15, and 29 or days 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29. Patients with = 500/uL and platelets >= 50,000/uL. Patients with >= 5% blasts by morphology in the bone marrow at the end of induction proceed to blinatumomab block 1 as soon as marrow results are known, irrespective of ANC or platelet values.

BLINATUMOMAB BLOCK 1: Patients receive dexamethasone PO, NG, or IV on day 1 or days 1 and 8, blinatumomab IV on days 1-28, 1-7, or 8-28, and intrathecal therapy IT on days 15 and 29. Patients who are MRD >= 1% or who have residual non-CNS extramedullary disease at the end of blinatumomab block 1 (day 35) discontinue protocol therapy. All other patients proceed directly to consolidation on the next day or when peripheral counts recover to ANC >= 500/uL and platelets >= 50,000/uL.

CONSOLIDATION: Patients receive cyclophosphamide IV over 30-60 minutes on days 1 and 29, cytarabine SC QD or IV over 15-30 minutes on days 1-4, 8-11, 29-32, and 36-39, mercaptopurine PO or NG QD on days 1-14 and 29-42, and intrathecal therapy IT on day 29. Patients who are MRD >= 0.01% at the end of consolidation therapy (day 56) discontinue protocol therapy. All other patients proceed directly to MARMA the next day or when peripheral counts recover to ANC >= 750/uL and platelets >= 75,000/uL.

MARMA + VENETOCLAX: Patients receive mercaptopurine PO or NG QD on days 1-14, high dose methotrexate IV over 24 hours on days 1 and 8, leucovorin PO, NG, or IV or levoleucovorin IV on days 3-4 and 10-11, intrathecal therapy IT on days 1 and 8, venetoclax PO or NG QD, high dose cytarabine IV over 3 hours on days 22-23 and 29-30, and recombinant crisantaspase IM or crisantaspase IM or IV over 1-2 hours on days 23 and 30. At the end of MARMA (day 49), all patients proceed directly to blinatumomab block 2 the next day or when peripheral counts recover to ANC >= 500/uL and platelets >= 50,000/uL.

BLINATUMOMAB BLOCK 2: Patients receive blinatumomab IV on days 1-28 and intrathecal therapy IT on days 1 and 15. At the end of blinatumomab block 2 (day 35), all patients proceed directly to delayed intensification the next day or when peripheral counts recover to ANC >= 750/uL and platelets >= 75,000/uL.

DELAYED INTENSIFICATION: Patients receive calaspargase pegol IV over 1-2 hours on day 1, dexamethasone PO, NG, or IV TID on days 1-21, thioguanine PO or NG on days 1-28 and 36-49, vincristine IV on days 1, 8, 15, and 22, daunorubicin IV over 1-15 minutes on days 1, 8, 15, and 22, cytarabine SC or IV over 15-30 minutes on days 2-5, 9-12, 16-19, 23-26, 37-40, and 44-47, cyclophosphamide IV over 15-30 minutes on days 36 and 50, and intrathecal therapy IT on days 1 and 15. At the end of delayed intensification (day 63), all patients proceed directly to maintenance the next day or when peripheral counts recover to ANC >= 500/uL and platelets >= 50,000/uL.

MAINTENANCE: Patients receive mercaptopurine PO or NG on days 1-84 of each cycle, methotrexate PO, NG, or IV on days 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 36, 43, 50, 57, 64, 71, and 78 of each cycle, and intrathecal therapy IT on day 1 of cycles 1-3. Cycles repeat every 12 weeks (84 days) for up to 2 years from the start of MARMA in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

COHORT 2:

INDUCTION + VENETOCLAX: Patients receive venetoclax PO or NG QD, daunorubicin IV over 1-15 minutes on days 1 and 2, vincristine IV on days 1, 8, 15, and 22, dexamethasone PO, NG, or IV TID on days 1-28, calaspargase pegol IV over 1-2 hours on day 4, and intrathecal therapy IT on days 1, 15, and 29 or days 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29. Patients with = 500/uL and platelets >= 50,000/uL. Patients with >= 5% blasts by morphology in the bone marrow at the end of induction proceed to blinatumomab block 1 as soon as marrow results are known, irrespective of ANC or platelet values.

BLINATUMOMAB BLOCK 1: Patients receive dexamethasone PO, NG, or IV on day 1 or days 1 and 8, blinatumomab IV on days 1-28, 1-7, or 8-28, and intrathecal therapy IT on days 15 and 29. Patients who are MRD >= 1% or who have residual non-CNS extramedullary disease at the end of blinatumomab block 1 (day 35) discontinue protocol therapy. All other patients proceed directly to consolidation on the next day or when peripheral counts recover to ANC >= 500/uL and platelets >= 50,000/uL.

CONSOLIDATION + VENETOCLAX: Patients receive venetoclax PO or NG QD, cyclophosphamide IV over 30-60 minutes on days 1 and 29, cytarabine SC QD or IV over 15-30 minutes on days 1-4, 8-11, 29-32, and 36-39, mercaptopurine PO or NG QD on days 1-14 and 29-42, and intrathecal therapy IT on day 29. Patients who are MRD >= 0.01% at the end of consolidation therapy (day 56) discontinue protocol therapy. All other patients proceed directly to MARMA the next day or when peripheral counts recover to ANC >= 750/uL and platelets >= 75,000/uL.

MARMA: Patients receive mercaptopurine PO or NG QD on days 1-14, high dose methotrexate IV over 24 hours on days 1 and 8, leucovorin PO, NG, or IV or levoleucovorin IV on days 3-4 and 10-11, intrathecal therapy IT on days 1 and 8, high dose cytarabine IV over 3 hours on days 22-23 and 29-30, and recombinant crisantaspase IM or crisantaspase IM or IV over 1-2 hours on days 23 and 30. At the end of MARMA (day 49), all patients proceed directly to blinatumomab block 2 the next day or when peripheral counts recover to ANC >= 500/uL and platelets >= 50,000/uL.

BLINATUMOMAB BLOCK 2: Patients receive blinatumomab IV on days 1-28 and intrathecal therapy IT on days 1 and 15. At the end of blinatumomab block 2 (day 35), all patients proceed directly to delayed intensification the next day or when peripheral counts recover to ANC >= 750/uL and platelets >= 75,000/uL.

DELAYED INTENSIFICATION: Patients receive calaspargase pegol IV over 1-2 hours on day 1, dexamethasone PO, NG, or IV TID on days 1-21, thioguanine PO or NG on days 1-28 and 36-49, vincristine IV on days 1, 8, 15, and 22, daunorubicin IV over 1-15 minutes on days 1, 8, 15, and 22, cytarabine SC or IV over 15-30 minutes on days 2-5, 9-12, 16-19, 23-26, 37-40, and 44-47, cyclophosphamide IV over 15-30 minutes on days 36 and 50, and intrathecal therapy IT on days 1 and 15. At the end of delayed intensification (day 63), all patients proceed directly to maintenance the next day or when peripheral counts recover to ANC >= 500/uL and platelets >= 50,000/uL.

MAINTENANCE: Patients receive mercaptopurine PO or NG on days 1-84 of each cycle, methotrexate PO, NG, or IV on days 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 36, 43, 50, 57, 64, 71, and 78 of each cycle, and intrathecal therapy IT on day 1 of cycles 1-3. Cycles repeat every 12 weeks (84 days) for up to 2 years from the start of MARMA in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

COHORT 3:

INDUCTION + VENETOCLAX: Patients receive venetoclax PO or NG QD, daunorubicin IV over 1-15 minutes on days 1 and 2, vincristine IV on days 1, 8, 15, and 22, dexamethasone PO, NG, or IV TID on days 1-28, calaspargase pegol IV over 1-2 hours on day 4, and intrathecal therapy IT on days 1, 15, and 29 or days 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29. Patients with = 500/uL and platelets >= 50,000/uL. Patients with >= 5% blasts by morphology in the bone marrow at the end of induction proceed to blinatumomab block 1 as soon as marrow results are known, irrespective of ANC or platelet values.

BLINATUMOMAB BLOCK 1: Patients receive dexamethasone PO, NG, or IV on day 1 or days 1 and 8, blinatumomab IV on days 1-28, 1-7, or 8-28, and intrathecal therapy IT on days 15 and 29. Patients who are MRD >= 1% or who have residual non-CNS extramedullary disease at the end of blinatumomab block 1 (day 35) discontinue protocol therapy. All other patients proceed directly to consolidation on the next day or when peripheral counts recover to ANC >= 500/uL and platelets >= 50,000/uL.

CONSOLIDATION + VENETOCLAX: Patients receive venetoclax PO or NG QD, cyclophosphamide IV over 30-60 minutes on days 1 and 29, cytarabine SC QD or IV over 15-30 minutes on days 1-4, 8-11, 29-32, and 36-39, mercaptopurine PO or NG QD on days 1-14 and 29-42, and intrathecal therapy IT on day 29. Patients who are MRD >= 0.01% at the end of consolidation therapy (day 56) discontinue protocol therapy. All other patients proceed directly to MARMA the next day or when peripheral counts recover to ANC >= 750/uL and platelets >= 75,000/uL.

MARMA + VENETOCLAX: Patients receive mercaptopurine PO or NG QD on days 1-14, high dose methotrexate IV over 24 hours on days 1 and 8, leucovorin PO, NG, or IV or levoleucovorin IV on days 3-4 and 10-11, intrathecal therapy IT on days 1 and 8, venetoclax PO or NG QD, high dose cytarabine IV over 3 hours on days 22-23 and 29-30, and recombinant crisantaspase IM or crisantaspase IM or IV over 1-2 hours on days 23 and 30. At the end of MARMA (day 49), all patients proceed directly to blinatumomab block 2 the next day or when peripheral counts recover to ANC >= 500/uL and platelets >= 50,000/uL.

BLINATUMOMAB BLOCK 2: Patients receive blinatumomab IV on days 1-28 and intrathecal therapy IT on days 1 and 15. At the end of blinatumomab block 2 (day 35), all patients proceed directly to delayed intensification the next day or when peripheral counts recover to ANC >= 750/uL and platelets >= 75,000/uL.

DELAYED INTENSIFICATION: Patients receive calaspargase pegol IV over 1-2 hours on day 1, dexamethasone PO, NG, or IV TID on days 1-21, thioguanine PO or NG on days 1-28 and 36-49, vincristine IV on days 1, 8, 15, and 22, daunorubicin IV over 1-15 minutes on days 1, 8, 15, and 22, cytarabine SC or IV over 15-30 minutes on days 2-5, 9-12, 16-19, 23-26, 37-40, and 44-47, cyclophosphamide IV over 15-30 minutes on days 36 and 50, and intrathecal therapy IT on days 1 and 15. At the end of delayed intensification (day 63), all patients proceed directly to maintenance the next day or when peripheral counts recover to ANC >= 500/uL and platelets >= 50,000/uL.

MAINTENANCE: Patients receive mercaptopurine PO or NG on days 1-84 of each cycle, methotrexate PO, NG, or IV on days 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 36, 43, 50, 57, 64, 71, and 78 of each cycle, and intrathecal therapy IT on day 1 of cycles 1-3. Cycles repeat every 12 weeks (84 days) for up to 2 years from the start of MARMA in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

COHORT 4:

INDUCTION + VENETOCLAX: Patients receive venetoclax PO or NG QD, daunorubicin IV over 1-15 minutes on days 1 and 2, vincristine IV on days 1, 8, 15, and 22, dexamethasone PO, NG, or IV TID on days 1-28, calaspargase pegol IV over 1-2 hours on day 4, and intrathecal therapy IT on days 1, 15, and 29 or days 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29. Patients with = 500/uL and platelets >= 50,000/uL. Patients with >= 5% blasts by morphology in the bone marrow at the end of induction proceed to blinatumomab block 1 as soon as marrow results are known, irrespective of ANC or platelet values.

BLINATUMOMAB BLOCK 1: Patients receive dexamethasone PO, NG, or IV on day 1 or days 1 and 8, blinatumomab IV on days 1-28, 1-7, or 8-28, and intrathecal therapy IT on days 15 and 29. Patients who are MRD >= 1% or who have residual non-CNS extramedullary disease at the end of blinatumomab block 1 (day 35) discontinue protocol therapy. All other patients proceed directly to consolidation on the next day or when peripheral counts recover to ANC >= 500/uL and platelets >= 50,000/uL.

CONSOLIDATION: Patients receive cyclophosphamide IV over 30-60 minutes on days 1 and 29, cytarabine SC QD or IV over 15-30 minutes on days 1-4, 8-11, 29-32, and 36-39, mercaptopurine PO or NG QD on days 1-14 and 29-42, and intrathecal therapy IT on day 29. Patients who are MRD >= 0.01% at the end of consolidation therapy (day 56) discontinue protocol therapy. All other patients proceed directly to MARMA the next day or when peripheral counts recover to ANC >= 750/uL and platelets >= 75,000/uL.

MARMA: Patients receive mercaptopurine PO or NG QD on days 1-14, high dose methotrexate IV over 24 hours on days 1 and 8, leucovorin PO, NG, or IV or levoleucovorin IV on days 3-4 and 10-11, intrathecal therapy IT on days 1 and 8, high dose cytarabine IV over 3 hours on days 22-23 and 29-30, and recombinant crisantaspase IM or crisantaspase IM or IV over 1-2 hours on days 23 and 30. At the end of MARMA (day 49), all patients proceed directly to blinatumomab block 2 the next day or when peripheral counts recover to ANC >= 500/uL and platelets >= 50,000/uL.

BLINATUMOMAB BLOCK 2: Patients receive blinatumomab IV on days 1-28 and intrathecal therapy IT on days 1 and 15. At the end of blinatumomab block 2 (day 35), all patients proceed directly to delayed intensification the next day or when peripheral counts recover to ANC >= 750/uL and platelets >= 75,000/uL.

DELAYED INTENSIFICATION: Patients receive calaspargase pegol IV over 1-2 hours on day 1, dexamethasone PO, NG, or IV TID on days 1-21, thioguanine PO or NG on days 1-28 and 36-49, vincristine IV on days 1, 8, 15, and 22, daunorubicin IV over 1-15 minutes on days 1, 8, 15, and 22, cytarabine SC or IV over 15-30 minutes on days 2-5, 9-12, 16-19, 23-26, 37-40, and 44-47, cyclophosphamide IV over 15-30 minutes on days 36 and 50, and intrathecal therapy IT on days 1 and 15. At the end of delayed intensification (day 63), all patients proceed directly to maintenance the next day or when peripheral counts recover to ANC >= 500/uL and platelets >= 50,000/uL.

MAINTENANCE: Patients receive mercaptopurine PO or NG on days 1-84 of each cycle, methotrexate PO, NG, or IV on days 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 36, 43, 50, 57, 64, 71, and 78 of each cycle, and intrathecal therapy IT on day 1 of cycles 1-3. Cycles repeat every 12 weeks (84 days) for up to 2 years from the start of MARMA in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

ARM C:

INDUCTION: Patients receive daunorubicin IV over 1-15 minutes on days 1 and 2, cytarabine SC or IV over 15-30 minutes on days 1-14, vincristine IV on days 1, 8, 15, and 22, dexamethasone PO, NG, or IV TID on days 1-28, calaspargase pegol IV over 1-2 hours on day 4, and intrathecal therapy IT on days 1, 15, and 29, or days 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29. Patients with = 500/uL and platelets >= 50,000/uL. Patients with >= 5% blasts by morphology in the bone marrow at the end of induction proceed to blinatumomab block 1 as soon as marrow results are known, irrespective of ANC or platelet values.

BLINATUMOMAB BLOCK 1: Patients receive dexamethasone PO, NG, or IV on day 1 or days 1 and 8, blinatumomab IV on days 1-28, 1-7, or 8-28, and methotrexate IT on days 15 and 29. Patients who are MRD >= 1% or who have residual non-CNS extramedullary disease at the end of blinatumomab block 1 (day 35) discontinue protocol therapy. All other patients proceed directly to consolidation on the next day or when peripheral counts recover to ANC >= 750/uL and platelets >= 75,000/uL.

CONSOLIDATION: Patients receive cyclophosphamide IV over 30-60 minutes on days 1 and 29, cytarabine SC QD or IV over 15-30 minutes on days 1-4, 8-11, 29-32, and 36-39, mercaptopurine PO or NG QD on days 1-14 and 29-42, methotrexate IT on days 8, 15, and 22, vincristine IV on days 15, 22, 43, and 50, and calaspargase pegol IV over 1-2 hours on days 15 and 43. Patients who are MRD >= 0.01% at the end of consolidation therapy (day 56) discontinue protocol therapy. All other patients proceed directly to interim maintenance 1 the next day or when peripheral counts recover to ANC >= 750/uL and platelets >= 75,000/uL.

INTERIM MAINTENANCE 1: Patients receive vincristine IV on days 1, 15, 29, and 43, high dose methotrexate IV over 24 hours on days 1, 15, 29, and 43, mercaptopurine PO or NG on days 1-14, 15-28, 29-42, and 43-56, methotrexate IT on days 1 and 29, and leucovorin PO or NG or IV or levoleucovorin IV on days 3-4, 17-18, 31-32, and 45-46. At the end of interim maintenance 1 (day 63), all patients proceed directly to blinatumomab block 2 the next day or when peripheral counts recover to ANC >= 500/uL and platelets >= 50,000/uL.

BLINATUMOMAB BLOCK 2: Patients receive blinatumomab IV on days 1-28, and methotrexate IT on days 1 and 15. At the end of blinatumomab block 2 (day 35), all patients proceed directly to delayed intensification the next day or when peripheral counts recover to ANC >= 750/uL and platelets >= 75,000/uL.

DELAYED INTENSIFICATION: Patients receive methotrexate IT on days 1, 29, and 36, dexamethasone PO, NG, or IV TID on days 1-7 and 15-21, vincristine IV on days 1, 8, 15, 43, and 50, doxorubicin IV over 3-15 minutes on days 1, 8, and 15, calaspargase pegol IV over 1-2 hours on days 4 and 43, cyclophosphamide IV over 30-60 minutes on day 29, thioguanine PO or NG on days 29-42, and cytarabine SC or IV over 15-30 minutes on days 29-32 and 36-39. At the end of delayed intensification (day 63), all patients proceed directly to interim maintenance 2 the next day or when peripheral counts recover to ANC >= 750/uL and platelets >= 75,000/uL.

INTERIM MAINTENANCE 2: Patients receive vincristine IV on days 1, 11, 21, 31, and 41, methotrexate IV push over 2-5 minutes of IV over 10-15 minutes on days 1, 11, 21, 31, and 41, methotrexate IT on days 1 and 31, and calaspargase pegol IV over 1-2 hours on days 2 and 23. At the end of interim maintenance 2 (day 56), all patients proceed directly to maintenance the next day or when peripheral counts recover to ANC >= 750/uL and platelets >= 75,000/uL.

MAINTENANCE: Patients receive methotrexate IT on day 1 of each cycle, vincristine IV on day 1 of each cycle, prednisone or prednisolone PO or NG BID or methylprednisolone IV BID on days 1-5 of each cycle, mercaptopurine PO or NG on days 1-84 of each cycle, and methotrexate PO, NG, or IV on days 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 36, 43, 50, 57, 64, 71, and 78 of each cycle. Cycles repeat every 12 weeks (84 days) for up to 2 years from the start of interim maintenance 1 in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

All patients undergo bone marrow aspiration, collection of blood samples and echocardiography (ECHO) or multigated acquisition scan (MUGA) throughout the trial. Patients may undergo computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), fludeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET), and/or lumbar puncture if clinically indicated.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up for up to 3 years.

Eligibility of study

You may be eligible for this study if you meet the following criteria:

  • Conditions: Acute Leukemia of Ambiguous Lineage B, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Cancer, Riley
  • Age: 1 year or below
  • Gender: All

Inclusion Criteria:

  • All patients must be enrolled on APEC14B1 and consented to eligibility screening (part A) prior to treatment and enrollment on AALL2321
  • Infants (aged 365 days or less) on the date of diagnosis are eligible; infants must be > 36 weeks gestational age at the time of enrollment
  • Patients must have newly diagnosed B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL, 2017 World Health Organization [WHO] classification), also termed B-precursor ALL, or acute leukemia of ambiguous lineage (ALAL), which includes mixed phenotype acute leukemia. For patients with ALAL, the immunophenotype of the leukemia must comprise at least 50% B lineage
    • Diagnostic immunophenotype: Leukemia cells must express CD19

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with Down Syndrome
  • Patients with secondary B-ALL that developed after treatment of a prior malignancy with cytotoxic chemotherapy
  • Patients must not have received any cytotoxic chemotherapy for either the current diagnosis of infant ALL or for any cancer diagnosis prior to the initiation of protocol therapy, with the exception of:
    • Steroid pretreatment:
      • PredniSONE, prednisoLONE, or methylPREDNISolone for ≤ 72 hours (3 days) in the 7 days prior to enrollment. The dose of predniSONE, prednisoLONE or methylPREDNISolone does not affect eligibility
      • Inhaled and topical steroids are not considered pretreatment
      • Note: Pretreatment with dexamethasone in the 28 days prior to initiation of protocol therapy is not allowed with the exception of a single dose of dexamethasone used during or within 6 hours prior to or after sedation to prevent or treat airway edema. However, prior exposure to ANY steroids that occurred > 28 days before enrollment does not affect eligibility
    • Intrathecal cytarabine or methotrexate:
      • An intrathecal dose of cytarabine or methotrexate in the 7 days prior to enrollment does not affect eligibility
      • Note: The preference is to defer the diagnostic lumbar puncture with intrathecal chemotherapy to day 1 of induction to allow for cytoreduction of circulating blasts and decrease the potential for central nervous system (CNS) contamination due to a traumatic tap. If done prior to day 1 of induction, these results will be used to determine CNS status
    • Hydroxyurea:
      • Pretreatment with ≤ 72 hours (3 days) of hydroxyurea in the 7 days prior to enrollment does not affect eligibility
  • All patients and/or their parents or legal guardians must sign a written informed consent
  • All institutional, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and National Cancer Institute (NCI) requirements for human studies must be met

This study investigates the addition of investigational medication and investigational immunotherapy to the usual chemotherapy for infants with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). ALL is a type of cancer where the bone marrow makes too many immature lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell). In this study, the researchers want to see if adding these new treatments to the standard care will work better for infants with a specific gene change called KMT2A or without this gene change.

In this study, infants will receive different treatments depending on their specific condition. Some will get a mix of investigational medication and chemotherapy, while others will receive investigational immunotherapy. The study will involve several phases, starting with a prephase where infants take steroids, followed by induction, consolidation, and maintenance phases. These treatments involve taking medicines by mouth, through a tube, or by injection to help fight cancer cells.

  • Who can participate: Infants who are 365 days old or younger at diagnosis and have newly diagnosed B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) are eligible. They must not have Down Syndrome or secondary B-ALL from previous cancer treatments.
  • Study details: Participants will take investigational medication or immunotherapy along with standard chemotherapy. A placebo, an inactive substance that looks like the investigational medicine but does not contain any medicine, is not used in this study.
  • Study timelines: The study will last up to 2 years.
Updated on 26 Jan 2026. Study ID: PHO-COG-AALL2321, 27969
Please visit our main page to search for other studies you may be interested in. If you need help finding a study or have any questions, please contact us at inhealth@iu.edu

Interested in the study?

This study is accepting only persons who receive care at a certain clinic or doctor or who are part of an invited group. Questions about this study can be directed to the study team listed in the description or contact your doctor to see if you are eligible.

Accepting Referrals by Invitation Only