Overview

Arsenic Trioxide in Treating Patients With Refractory or Relapsed Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Status:
Withdrawn
Trial end date:
2001-10-01
Target enrollment:
0
Participant gender:
All
Summary
RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of arsenic trioxide in treating patients who have chronic lymphocytic leukemia that has relapsed or has not responded to treatment with fludarabine.
Phase:
Phase 2
Accepts Healthy Volunteers?
No
Details
Lead Sponsor:
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Collaborator:
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Treatments:
Arsenic Trioxide
Criteria
DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
Previously treated with alkylating agent Refractory or intolerant to fludarabine as defined
by: Progressive disease during treatment with fludarabine Stable disease (no partial or
complete response) after at least 2 courses of fludarabine Relapse or progressive disease
within 6 months of treatment with fludarabine Autoimmune hemolytic anemia or idiopathic
thrombocytopenia concurrent with or within 1 month after completion of fludarabine Grade 2
pulmonary toxicity or neurotoxicity that would preclude further treatment with fludarabine
OR Progressive B-cell CLL as defined by at least 1 of the following: Hemoglobin less than
11 g/dL, or progressive decline Platelet count no greater than 100,000/mm3, or progressive
decline Massive (greater than 6 cm below costal margin) or progressive splenomegaly Massive
lymph nodes or clusters or progressive lymphadenopathy At least 10% weight loss in past 6
months Fatigue grade 2-3 Fever (greater than 100.5 F) or night sweats for greater than 2
weeks without evidence of infection Progressive lymphocytosis greater than 50% over 2 month
period, or anticipated doubling time less than 6 months Lymphocyte count greater than
100,000/mm3 No uncontrolled autoimmune hemolytic anemia or idiopathic thrombocytopenia No
other uncontrolled immune phenomena related to CLL No CNS metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 12 and over Performance status: Zubrod 0-2 Life expectancy:
At least 2 years Hematopoietic: See Disease Characteristics Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater
than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (unless due to Gilbert's disease or direct CLL
infiltration of liver) SGOT or SGPT no greater than 2.5 times ULN (unless due to direct CLL
infiltration of liver) No hepatic disease that would preclude study Renal: Creatinine no
greater than 1.5 times ULN OR Creatinine clearance at least 60 mL/min Cardiovascular: No
unstable angina pectoris No cardiac arrhythmia No prior grade III or IV New York Heart
Association cardiac problem No cardiovascular disease that would preclude study Other: No
prior grand mal seizures (infantile febrile seizures allowed) No other active malignancy No
other uncontrolled concurrent medical problem No active uncontrolled infection No prior
hypersensitivity to arsenic trioxide or related drugs No neurologic, endocrine, or other
systemic disease that would preclude study No other condition that would preclude study
compliance Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use
effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No concurrent stem cell transplant
Chemotherapy: See Disease Characteristics At least 14 days since prior chemotherapy and
recovered (unless evidence of disease progression) No concurrent chemotherapy No prior
arsenic treatment Endocrine therapy: No concurrent steroidal or hormonal therapy for cancer
Steroids for adrenal failures and hormones for nondisease conditions allowed Radiotherapy:
At least 14 days since prior radiotherapy and recovered (unless evidence of disease
progression) No concurrent radiotherapy Other: At least 14 days since other investigational
agents and recovered (unless evidence of disease progression) No concurrent other
investigational agents