Study of Veltuzumab and 90Y-Epratuzumab in Relapsed/Refractory, Aggressive NHL

Overview

About this study

The goal of this study is to evaluate a new approach to immunotherapy in NHL by combining two antibodies, veltuzumab and epratuzumab. For treatment, epratuzumab has also been attached to a radioactive isotope called 90yttrium (90Y-epratuzumab). Veltuzumab and 90Y-epratuzumab attack different areas on lymphoma cells. Because of this, treatment with the combination may provide more effective treatment in NHL than either veltuzumab or 90Y-epratuzumab given alone.

Participation eligibility

Participant eligibility includes age, gender, type and stage of disease, and previous treatments or health concerns. Guidelines differ from study to study, and identify who can or cannot participate. There is no guarantee that every individual who qualifies and wants to participate in a trial will be enrolled. Contact the study team to discuss study eligibility and potential participation.

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Male or female, >18 years old
  • Histological diagnosis of CD20+ B-cell NHL, with DLBCL or other aggressive lymphomas by WHO lymphoma criteria including mantle cell lymphoma and transformed follicular lymphoma.
  • Failed at least one prior standard treatment regimen for NHL
  • If DLBCL, either received, ineligible for or refused high-dose chemotherapy with stem cell transplant
  • Measurable NHL disease by CT, with at least one lesion >1.5 cm in one dimension
  • Adequate performance status (>70 Karnofsky scale, 0-1 ECOG)* with an estimated life expectancy of at least 6 months
  • Laboratory parameters:
    • Adequate hematology (Hemoglobin ≥ 10 g/dL, ANC ≥ 1.5 ´ 109/L, platelets ≥100 x 109/L) without ongoing transfusional support
    • Adequate renal and liver function (creatinine and bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x IULN; AST and ALT ≤ 2.5 x IULN)
  • Otherwise,
  • 3 months beyond any prior rituximab or veltuzumab treatment, 12 weeks beyond autologous stem cell transplant and 4 weeks beyond chemotherapy, other experimental treatments, or any radiation therapy to the index lesion(s).
  • Screened for hepatitis B (no time limit) and negative by tests included in NCCN guidelines (hepatitis B surface antigen/antibodies, core antigen/antibodies, hepatitis B e-antigen).
  • Patients of childbearing potential must be willing to practice birth control during the study until at least 12 weeks after last veltuzumab infusion; women of childbearing potential must have a negative urine or serum pregnancy test to enter the study.
  • Ability to provide signed, informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Pregnant or lactating women. Women of childbearing potential are required to have a negative pregnancy test
  • NCI CTC Grade 3 or 4 infusion reaction to prior anti-CD20 antibodies (rituximab, veltuzumab, etc.)
  • A known anti-antibody response to prior antiCD20 antibodies (HACA positive, HAHA positive, etc)
  • Prior radioimmunotherapy, including Zevalin or Bexxar.
  • Prior high-dose chemotherapy with peripheral blood stem cell transplant.
  • Prior therapy with other human or humanized monoclonal antibodies, unless HAHA tested and negative
  • Primary CNS lymphoma, HIV lymphoma or transformed lymphoma, or presence of symptomatic CNS metastases or carcinomatous meningitis.
  • Rituximab or veltuzumab resistant, defined as having progressed during or within 6 months of any prior rituximab or veltuzumab treatment.
  • Bulky disease by CT, defined as any single mass >10 cm in its greatest diameter
  • Bone marrow involvement ≥25%
  • Prior external beam radiation therapy to >30% bone marrow.
  • Pleural effusion with positive cytology for lymphoma
  • Patients known to be HIV positive, hepatitis B positive, or hepatitis C positive
  • Known autoimmune disease or presence of autoimmune phenomena.
  • Evidence of infection or requiring antibiotics within 7 days.
  • Use of systemic corticosteroids within 2 weeks, except low dose regimens (prednisone, <20 mg/day, or equivalent) which may continue if unchanged.
  • Prior malignancies (other than non-melanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix) unless disease free for 5 years.
  • Prior malignancy with less than a 5-year disease-free interval, excluding nonmelanoma skin cancers and carcinoma in situ of the cervix.
  • Other concurrent medical or psychiatric conditions that, in the Investigator's opinion, may be likely to confound study interpretation or prevent completion of study procedures and follow-up examinations

Participating Mayo Clinic locations

Study statuses change often. Please contact the study team for the most up-to-date information regarding possible participation.

Mayo Clinic Location Status Contact

Rochester, Minn.

Mayo Clinic principal investigator

Thomas Witzig, M.D.

Closed for enrollment

Contact information:

Cancer Center Clinical Trials Referral Office

855-776-0015

More information

Publications

  • Fractionated radioimmunotherapy targeting CD22 may substantially improve responses and outcome in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Read More on PubMed
  • Veltuzumab is a humanized, anti-CD20 monoclonal IgG(1) antibody (MAb), constructed recombinantly on the framework regions of epratuzumab, with complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) identical to rituximab, except for a single amino acid in CDR3 of the variable heavy chain. Veltuzumab showed anti-proliferative, apoptotic, and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity effects in vitro similar to rituximab, but with significantly slower off-rates and increased complement-dependent cytotoxicity in several human lymphoma cell lines. In addition, very low doses of veltuzumab, given either intravenously or subcutaneously, depleted B cells in normal cynomolgus monkeys, and controlled tumor growth in mice bearing human lymphomas. Clinically, veltuzumab has been studied in > 150 patients with lymphomas and autoimmune diseases. In non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), infusions of 80-750 mg/m(2) were well tolerated when given once-weekly for four doses, with the only toxicity being transient mild-moderate infusion reactions. Objective tumor responses, including durable complete responses, occurred at all dose levels. Subcutaneous injections of low doses (80-320 mg) have also proved to be safe and pharmacologically active, producing objective responses, including durable complete responses, at rates comparable to those reported with rituximab, in patients with NHL and immune thrombocytopenia. Read More on PubMed
  • This is a multicenter phase I/II dose-finding study in relapsed/refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) evaluating veltuzumab, a humanized anti-CD20 antibody with structure-function differences from chimeric rituximab. Read More on PubMed

Additional contact information

Cancer-related trials contact form

Phone: 855-776-0015 (toll-free)

International patient clinical studies questions