Clofarabine for Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) Patients Who Failed Vidaza Treatment (tx)

Summary

The investigators hypothesize that, in addition to its apoptotic effect, clofarabine induces DNA hypomethylation. If the investigators' hypothesis is correct, findings from the present proposal will not only contribute to information relating to the mechanisms of action of clofarabine but also provide the opportunity for combined epigenetic targeting of MDS using clofarabine with either another hypomethylating agent or a histone deacetylase inhibitor. Clofarabine has demonstrated anti-cancer activity through inhibition of DNA synthesis and repair, induction of apoptosis, and possibly through other mechanisms. Numerous responses have been observed after treatment with clofarabine in heavily pre-treated relapsed/refractory patients with ALL, AML and high risk MDS. In the present proposal, the investigators will study the clinical and laboratory effects of 2 different dosages of clofarabine in patients who have failed the hypomethylating agent, 5-azacytidine. This study will recruit patients who have received at least six cycles of 5-azacytidine without response or whose disease has progressed or relapsed while on 5-azacytidine. The first cohort of patients will receive clofarabine 10 mg/m2/day for five days and the second cohort of patients 5 mg/m2/day for five days, both every four to six weeks. The investigators will determine the frequency of response to the two dosages of nucleoside analog in this group of patients. Measurement of responses will include improvement in the peripheral blood count, reduction in the blood and platelet transfusion need and eradication of cytogenetically abnormal clones. Successful completion of this study will define the position of clofarabine in MDS in the era of epigenetic targeting.

Timeline

Start

2008-03

Primary completion

2010-03

Completion

2010-03

Publications

• Results Hellstrom-Lindberg E. Update on supportive care and new therapies: immunomodulatory drugs, growth factors and epigenetic-acting agents. Hematology Am Soc Hematol Educ Program. 2005:161-6. doi: 10.1182/asheducation-2005.1.161.
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• Results Wang Z, Zhang Y, Ramsahoye B, Bowen D, Lim SH. Sp17 gene expression in myeloma cells is regulated by promoter methylation. Br J Cancer. 2004 Oct 18;91(8):1597-603. doi: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6602160.
• Results Kantarjian H, Gandhi V, Cortes J, Verstovsek S, Du M, Garcia-Manero G, Giles F, Faderl S, O'Brien S, Jeha S, Davis J, Shaked Z, Craig A, Keating M, Plunkett W, Freireich EJ. Phase 2 clinical and pharmacologic study of clofarabine in patients with refractory or relapsed acute leukemia. Blood. 2003 Oct 1;102(7):2379-86. doi: 10.1182/blood-2003-03-0925. Epub 2003 Jun 5.
• Results Reichelova V, Liliemark J, Albertioni F. Liquid chromatographic study of acid stability of 2-chloro-2'-arabino-fluoro-2'-deoxyadenosine, 2-chloro-2'-deoxyadenosine and related analogues. J Pharm Biomed Anal. 1995 Apr;13(4-5):711-4. doi: 10.1016/0731-7085(95)01325-f. No abstract available.
• Results Carson DA, Wasson DB, Esparza LM, Carrera CJ, Kipps TJ, Cottam HB. Oral antilymphocyte activity and induction of apoptosis by 2-chloro-2'-arabino-fluoro-2'-deoxyadenosine. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1992 Apr 1;89(7):2970-4. doi: 10.1073/pnas.89.7.2970.
• Results Lotfi K, Mansson E, Spasokoukotskaja T, Pettersson B, Liliemark J, Peterson C, Eriksson S, Albertioni F. Biochemical pharmacology and resistance to 2-chloro-2'-arabino-fluoro-2'-deoxyadenosine, a novel analogue of cladribine in human leukemic cells. Clin Cancer Res. 1999 Sep;5(9):2438-44.
• Results Parker WB, Shaddix SC, Chang CH, White EL, Rose LM, Brockman RW, Shortnacy AT, Montgomery JA, Secrist JA 3rd, Bennett LL Jr. Effects of 2-chloro-9-(2-deoxy-2-fluoro-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl)adenine on K562 cellular metabolism and the inhibition of human ribonucleotide reductase and DNA polymerases by its 5'-triphosphate. Cancer Res. 1991 May 1;51(9):2386-94.
• Results Genini D, Adachi S, Chao Q, Rose DW, Carrera CJ, Cottam HB, Carson DA, Leoni LM. Deoxyadenosine analogs induce programmed cell death in chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells by damaging the DNA and by directly affecting the mitochondria. Blood. 2000 Nov 15;96(10):3537-43.
• Results Kantarjian HM, Gandhi V, Kozuch P, Faderl S, Giles F, Cortes J, O'Brien S, Ibrahim N, Khuri F, Du M, Rios MB, Jeha S, McLaughlin P, Plunkett W, Keating M. Phase I clinical and pharmacology study of clofarabine in patients with solid and hematologic cancers. J Clin Oncol. 2003 Mar 15;21(6):1167-73. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2003.04.031.
• Results Faderl S, Gandhi V, O'Brien S, Bonate P, Cortes J, Estey E, Beran M, Wierda W, Garcia-Manero G, Ferrajoli A, Estrov Z, Giles FJ, Du M, Kwari M, Keating M, Plunkett W, Kantarjian H. Results of a phase 1-2 study of clofarabine in combination with cytarabine (ara-C) in relapsed and refractory acute leukemias. Blood. 2005 Feb 1;105(3):940-7. doi: 10.1182/blood-2004-05-1933. Epub 2004 Oct 14.
• Results Faderl S, Verstovsek S, Cortes J, Ravandi F, Beran M, Garcia-Manero G, Ferrajoli A, Estrov Z, O'Brien S, Koller C, Giles FJ, Wierda W, Kwari M, Kantarjian HM. Clofarabine and cytarabine combination as induction therapy for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in patients 50 years of age or older. Blood. 2006 Jul 1;108(1):45-51. doi: 10.1182/blood-2005-08-3294. Epub 2006 Jan 10.
• Results Jeha S, Gaynon PS, Razzouk BI, Franklin J, Kadota R, Shen V, Luchtman-Jones L, Rytting M, Bomgaars LR, Rheingold S, Ritchey K, Albano E, Arceci RJ, Goldman S, Griffin T, Altman A, Gordon B, Steinherz L, Weitman S, Steinherz P. Phase II study of clofarabine in pediatric patients with refractory or relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia. J Clin Oncol. 2006 Apr 20;24(12):1917-23. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2005.03.8554.
• Results Jeha S, Gandhi V, Chan KW, McDonald L, Ramirez I, Madden R, Rytting M, Brandt M, Keating M, Plunkett W, Kantarjian H. Clofarabine, a novel nucleoside analog, is active in pediatric patients with advanced leukemia. Blood. 2004 Feb 1;103(3):784-9. doi: 10.1182/blood-2003-06-2122. Epub 2003 Oct 9.
• Results Cheson BD, Greenberg PL, Bennett JM, Lowenberg B, Wijermans PW, Nimer SD, Pinto A, Beran M, de Witte TM, Stone RM, Mittelman M, Sanz GF, Gore SD, Schiffer CA, Kantarjian H. Clinical application and proposal for modification of the International Working Group (IWG) response criteria in myelodysplasia. Blood. 2006 Jul 15;108(2):419-25. doi: 10.1182/blood-2005-10-4149. Epub 2006 Apr 11.
• Results Raj K, John A, Ho A, Chronis C, Khan S, Samuel J, Pomplun S, Thomas NS, Mufti GJ. CDKN2B methylation status and isolated chromosome 7 abnormalities predict responses to treatment with 5-azacytidine. Leukemia. 2007 Sep;21(9):1937-44. doi: 10.1038/sj.leu.2404796. Epub 2007 Jul 5.

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