Phase II study of omacetaxine (OM) and low-dose AraC (LDAC) in older patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).
6592 Background: Treatment of AML in patients (pts) > 70 yrs of age with intensive chemotherapy is associated with high rates of early mortality and little benefit. Newer, lower-intensity approaches with novel mechanisms are needed. OM is a semisynthetic plant alkaloid which has demonstrated activity in AML as a single agent and with chemotherapy. Methods: We studied a low intensity program combining subcutaneous (SQ) OM with SQ LDAC in pts >/= 60 yrs, with AML or MDS, a performance status (PS) of </=2, and adequate organ function. Initially, 6 pts were enrolled at the following doses: OM 1.25 mg/m2 SQ Q12 hrs x 3 days with AraC 20 mg SQ Q12 hrs x 7 days on a 4 week cycle. If safety is confirmed, the phase II portion would commence at the safe dose levels. Up to 12 courses can be given. The primary endpoint was to determine the complete remission (CR) rate. Secondary endpoints were: CR duration, DFS, OS, safety, and early mortality. Results: 17 pts were enrolled on study so far. The median age was 74 yrs (range, 64-81); the median PS was 1 (0-1). The karyotypes in these pts were: diploid in 6 (35%), complex with chromosome (chr) 5 and/or 7 abnormality (abnl) in 4 (24%), complex without chr 5 and/or 7 abnl in 2 (12%), 11q abnl in 1 (6%), poor metaphases in 1 (6%), and other in 3 (18%). Four pts with prior MDS were treated with a median of 2 prior therapies (1-3). Median bone marrow blast % at the start of therapy was 40 (15-87). The median WBC, hemoglobin, and platelets were 2.1 (0.4–24.8), 8.9 (7.7–10.7), and 45 (14–104), respectively. These pts have received a median of 1 (1-3) cycle of therapy. Of the 11 pts evaluable for response, there were 2(18%) CR, 1(9%) CRp, 1(9%) PR for an ORR of 4/11 (36%). Five pts had no response and were taken off study. Two pts died on study: 1 on day 6 and 1 on day 27. Both pts were 74 yrs with a complex karyotype. One died of pneumonia and multi-organ failure and the 2nd died from cardiac arrest. Other than the deaths, serious adverse events included grade 3 transaminitis in 1 and grade 3 heart failure in 1. Conclusions: OM and LDAC appears to be tolerable in older pts with AML. The combination appears to have activity. Stopping boundaries for futility and safety have not been breached. Enrollment is ongoing.