Background:
- Runt-related transcription factor 1 (RUNX1) gene is located on chromosome 21 and
encodes an important regulator of hematopoiesis. People normally inherit one
functional copy from each parent.
- RUNX1 function is highly dose dependent as both too little as well as too much RUNX1
activity is associated with development of hematologic malignancy. The focus of this
protocol is participants with germline RUNX1 mutations resulting in too little RUNX1
activity.
- Germline heterozygous RUNX1 mutations are inherited in an autosomal dominant manner
and cause a disorder called Familial Platelet Disorder with associated Myeloid
Malignancy (FPDMM). Patients with one deleterious germline RUNX1 mutation often have
haploinsufficiency although some mutations are associated with a dominant negative
effect.
- Clinically, patients with germline RUNX1 mutations have aberrant megakaryocytic
development, which often results in quantitative and/or qualitative platelet
defects. Patients often have easy bleeding or bruising, although some cases are
subclinical, and they may present to clinicians with hematologic malignancy.
- Patients with germline RUNX1 mutations have 35-45% lifetime risk of developing
myeloid hematologic malignancies including MDS and AML. Increased risk of B-ALL,
T-ALL and other hematologic malignancies is also associated with deleterious
germline RUNX1 mutations.
- Deleterious RUNX1 mutations are known to be associated with high-risk malignancy
with poor response to upfront chemotherapy and require hematopoietic stem cell
transplantation (HSCT).
- Imatinib is a dual SFK and ABL inhibitor that is FDA approved and indicated for
treatment of CML, ALL, MDS/MPD, aggressive systemic mastocytosis (ASM) as well as
hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) and chronic eosinophilic leukemia (CEL).
- ABL physically associates with RUNX1, phosphorylates key tyrosines within the RUNX1
inhibitory domain and negatively regulates RUNX1 transcriptional activity.
- We hypothesize that imatinib will decrease RUNX1 tyrosine phosphorylation thereby
increasing RUNX1 protein activity to a level closer to that expected for 2 normal
copies of RUNX1. We also hypothesize that normal levels of RUNX1 protein activity
will ameliorate platelet dysfunction and bleeding symptoms via objective measures.
- We expect this study to inform the biologically relevant endpoints for a subsequent
phase II efficacy study, which would also seek to determine if longer term imatinib
administration could prevent malignant transformation.
Objectives:
- To determine the dose of imatinib for dose expansion in participants with pathogenic
or likely pathogenic germline RUNX1 mutations during the dose escalation phase
- To determine the safety of imatinib in participants with pathogenic or likely
pathogenic germline RUNX1 mutations during the dose expansion phase
Eligibility:
- Age >=18 years
- Participants with deleterious germline RUNX1 mutations as defined by ClinGen with
adequate organ function and no history of hematologic malignancy.
Design:
- This is a phase Ib study with 2 cohorts (participants with and without pathogenic or
likely pathogenic RUNX1 mutations) and 3 arms (2 for imatinib administration and 1
for biobanking control).
- A standard 3+3 non-randomized dose-escalation design will be used in the first arm,
with orally administered imatinib tested at 2 dose levels from 300 to 400 mg daily
for 28 days for participants with pathogenic or likely pathogenic germline RUNX1
mutations.
- Participants will have PK/PD evaluations during Arm 2 (expansion phase).
- An expansion cohort will be treated at the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) in Arm 2,
daily for 12 weeks. Participants who are treated on the dose escalation phase may
also be treated in the expansion phase after an appropriate wash out period of 28
days.
- The third arm is for unaffected family control participants with wildtype RUNX1 or
healthy volunteers who may choose to enroll to donate blood or marrow but will not
be treated.
- Up to 13 evaluable participants will be enrolled for dose escalation, 12
participants in the expansion cohort, and up to 25 unaffected controls
contemporaneously whenever feasible.