This phase II trial studies the effects of minimal residual disease (MRD) adapted therapy with venetoclax, obinutuzumab, and acalabrutinib in treating patients with high- or immediate-risk chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) that has come back (relapsed) or has not responded to treatment (refractory). Venetoclax is a targeted therapy drug that works by blocking a protein called Bcl-2 in cancer cells. Bcl-2 helps cancer cells survive and resist the effects of cancer treatments. By blocking Bcl-2, venetoclax may kill cancer cells and/or make them more open to the effects of other cancer treatments. Obinutuzumab is a monoclonal antibody that targets a protein called CD20, which is found on the surface of B cells. When obinutuzumab attaches to CD20, it directly both destroys the B cells and makes them more “visible” to the immune system. Acalabrutinib works by blocking Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) signaling. This helps stop cancerous B cells from surviving and multiplying, which may slow the spread of cancer. This trial also checks for MRD after treatment with obinutuzumab and venetoclax. MRD is a molecular test, which can detect whether there is any evidence of CLL or SLL in the blood or bone marrow. MRD testing determines eligibility for the addition of acalabrutinib to obinutuzumab and venetoclax. Giving venetoclax and obinutuzumab together, and using MRD testing to determine acalabrutinib addition, might be an effective treatment for patients with CLL or SLL.
Study sponsor and potential other locations can be found on ClinicalTrials.gov for NCT04560322.
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:
I. To determine the frequency of undetectable minimal residual disease (uMRD) in both peripheral blood (PB) and bone marrow (BM) at <10^-5 (Adaptive ClonoSEQ) at best response.
SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:
I. To determine the frequency of overall response and complete response at 1 year in patients with relapsed/refractory CLL treated with venetoclax and obinutuzumab.
II. To determine the frequency of BM uMRD at 1 year at <10^-5 by Adaptive ClonoSEQ in patients with relapsed/refractory CLL treated with venetoclax and obinutuzumab.
III. For patients who do not achieve BM uMRD (including those who remain MRD detectable at >10^-5 by Adaptive ClonoSEQ as well as those who progress on venetoclax with/without obinutuzumab), to determine the frequency of conversion to uMRD following treatment with acalabrutinib.
IV. For patients who progress on venetoclax with/without obinutuzumab, to determine the frequency of response following addition of acalabrutinib.
V. To determine the frequency of overall response, complete response, bone marrow uMRD response, and MRD kinetics based on BALL risk.
VI. To determine the frequency of overall response, complete response, bone marrow uMRD response, and MRD kinetics in ibrutinib-naïve versus (vs) ibrutinib-exposed patients.
VII. To determine the frequency of bone marrow uMRD response, posttreatment MRD outcomes and response duration based on MRD kinetics (delta-MRD400).
VIII. To assess safety and tolerability.
OUTLINE:
Patients receive obinutuzumab intravenously (IV) over 3 hours on days 1, 2, 8, and 15 of cycle 1 and on day 1 on cycles 2-6. Patients also receive venetoclax orally (PO) daily on day 22 of cycle 1 and on days 1-28 of subsequent cycles. Treatment repeats every 28 days for up to 12 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
Patients who have an uMRD at less than 10^-5 after the initial 12 cycles of obinutuzumab and venetoclax receive an additional 12 cycles of venetoclax in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
Patients who have detectable MRD at greater than 10^-5 after the initial 12 cycles of obinutuzumab and venetoclax receive an additional 12 cycles of venetoclax and acalabrutinib PO twice daily in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
Patients undergo echocardiography or multigated acquisition (MUGA) scan during screening, and bone marrow biopsy and aspiration, computed tomography (CT) scan, and blood sample collection throughout the study.
After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up every 24 weeks for 2 years after the last enrolled patient completes treatment or until death, whichever occurs first.
Lead OrganizationDana-Farber Harvard Cancer Center
Principal InvestigatorJacob D. Soumerai