A Phase I Study of Alisertib + R-EPOCH for Treatment of Myc-Positive Aggressive B-cell Lymphomas
A Phase I Study of Alisertib + R-EPOCH for Treatment of Myc-Positive Aggressive B-cell Lymphomas
This phase I/Ib study is designed to establish the safety and maximum tolerated dose (MTD,
 which will also be the recommended phase II dose (RP2D)) of the aurora kinase A inhibitor
 alisertib when combined with dose-adjusted (DA)-R-EPOCH (rituximab, etoposide, doxorubicin,
 vincristine, cyclophosphamide and prednisone) in patients with CD20-positive diffuse large
 B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), transformed follicular lymphoma or Burkitt lymphoma positive for Myc
 gene rearrangement (Myc+). Filgrastim or peg-filgrastim is also included with each cycle of
 R-EPOCH. Once we identify the MTD, an expansion cohort limited to the Myc+ DLBCL population
 will be opened to further characterize clinical activity and safety.

 Secondary objectives include estimates of complete response rate (CR) and progression free
 survival (PFS). We will also explore for associations between baseline kinome signatures
 and/or RNA sequencing and CR, and identify differential kinome and transcriptome prior to and
 during treatment.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  ≥18 y/o (no upper age limit)

 -  ECOG PS ≤2

 -  Disease - Histologically or cytologically documented newly diagnosed (stages II, III
 or IV) Myc-positive DLBCL, transformed follicular lymphoma, or high-grade
 unclassifiable with features intermediate between DLBCL and Burkitt lymphoma

 -  Myc Positive lymphoma is defined by:

 -  Positive for Myc gene rearrangement by fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH)
 involving various breakpoints (e.g. 8-14, 8-22 and 2-8) AND concurrent gene
 rearrangements in bcl-2 and/or bcl-6 by FISH OR

 -  Myc and Bcl-2 overexpression defined by > 40% Myc and > 70% Bcl-2 expression by
 IHC. Patients may enroll in the study based on the local laboratory evaluation,
 but these should be confirmed by the UNC Hematopathology Laboratory
 retrospectively

 -  Positive for CD20 via immunophenotyping

 -  Prior Treatment: Previously untreated or who received a maximum of one cycle of
 combination chemotherapy (i.e. R-CHOP, R-EPOCH, or R-hyperCVAD) within 4 weeks of
 study entry except patients who require dose reduction after the first cycle of
 off-study R-EPOCH.

 -  Measurable disease as assessed by 2 dimensional measurements by CT (≥ 1.5 cm).

 -  Adequate organ function as demonstrated by:

 -  Bone marrow function (without platelet transfusion or myeloid growth factor
 support within two weeks of screening) as demonstrated by:

 -  Hemoglobin ≥ 8 g/dL

 -  Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1,000 cells/mm3

 -  Platelet count ≥75,000/mm3

 -  And hepatic and renal function as demonstrated by:

 -  Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) ≤2.5 x upper
 limit of normal (ULN); ALT and AST up to 5 x ULN if liver metastases present

 -  Total serum bilirubin ≤1.5 x ULN

 -  Serum creatinine ≤1.5 x ULN or CrCl of ≥ 30

 -  Adequate renal function as defined by: Calculated creatinine clearance must be ≥ 30
 mL/minute based on Cockcroft-Gault formula

 -  Documented negative serologic testing for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV),
 hepatitis B (unless serologically positive due to prior vaccination), and hepatitis C
 within the year prior to enrollment (note: for guidance in defining active infection
 for hepatitis B, please refer to the WHO guidelines. (World Health Organization,
 Global Alert and Response (GAR), Hepatitis B (who.int/csr/disease/hepatitis/
 whocdscsrlyo20022/en/index4.html)

 -  Patient agrees to consume no more than 1 standard unit of alcohol per day during the
 study and for 30 days from the last dose of alisertib. A standard unit of alcohol is
 defined as a 12 oz beer (350 mL), 1.5 oz (45 mL) of 80-proof alcohol, or one 6-oz (175
 mL) glass of wine.

 -  Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) must have negative pregnancy test within 7
 days prior to D1 of treatment

 -  Female subjects must be:

 -  Post-menopausal for at least one year before the screening visit, or

 -  Surgically sterilized, or

 -  Willing to use an acceptable method of birth control (ie, a hormonal
 contraceptive, intra-uterine device, diaphragm with spermicide, condom with
 spermicide, or abstinence) for the duration of the study.

 -  Male subject, even if surgically sterilized (ie, status post-vasectomy), agrees to:

 -  Use an acceptable method for contraception (effective barrier contraception or:

 -  Completely abstain from heterosexual intercourse) during the entire study
 treatment period through 4 months after the last dose of alisertib.

 -  Ability to swallow oral medications

 -  As determined by the enrolling physician or protocol designee, ability of the patient
 to understand and comply with study procedures for the entire length of the study

 -  Sufficient data to calculate the International Prognostic Index (IPI) score at
 baseline:

 -  Age

 -  Stage of Disease

 -  LDH

 -  ECOG performance status

 -  number of extranodal sites

 -  Voluntary written informed consent before performance of any study-related procedure
 not part of normal medical care, with the understanding that consent may be withdrawn
 by the subject at any time without prejudice to future medical care.

 -  Adequate left ventricular function with ejection fraction ≥ 40% by echocardiogram or
 MUGA scan.

 Exclusion Criteria

 -  CNS involvement of DLBCL

 -  Major surgery within 4 weeks prior to entry

 -  Receiving any other concurrent cytotoxic, biologic agent(s) or investigational agent ;
 NOTE: Concurrent intrathecal chemotherapy for CNS prophylaxis allowed per
 institutional standards

 -  Receipt of investigational drugs within 14 days before D1 of alisertib

 -  Prior administration of an Aurora A kinase-targeted agent, including alisertib

 -  Patients with a "currently active" second malignancy other than non-melanoma skin
 cancers, non-invasive bladder cancer, "low risk" adenocarcinoma of the prostate and
 carcinoma in situ of the cervix. Patients are not considered to have a "currently
 active" malignancy if they have completed therapy and are free of disease for ≥ 3
 years.

 -  Treatment with clinically significant enzyme inducers, such as the enzyme-inducing
 antiepileptic drugs phenytoin, carbamazepine or phenobarbital, or rifampin, rifabutin,
 rifapentine or St. John's wort within 14 days prior to the first dose of alisertib and
 during the study.

 -  Radiation therapy to more than 25% of the bone marrow (note: whole pelvic radiation is
 considered to be over 25%)

 -  Prior allogeneic bone marrow or organ transplantation

 -  Known GI disease or GI procedures that could interfere with the oral absorption or
 tolerance of alisertib; examples include, but are not limited to partial gastrectomy,
 history of small intestine surgery, and celiac disease

 -  Known history of uncontrolled sleep apnea syndrome and other conditions that could
 result in excessive daytime sleepiness, such as severe chronic obstructive pulmonary
 disease; requirement for supplemental oxygen

 -  Requirement for constant administration of proton pump inhibitor from 5 days prior to
 D1 of alisertib, and/or requirement for constant administration of H2 antagonist, or
 pancreatic enzymes; intermittent uses of antacids or H2 antagonists are allowed

 -  Requirement for drugs, juices and/or herbs strongly inhibit CYP3A4 from within 7 days
 prior to D1 of alisertib and throughout treatment NOTE: Glucocorticoids are considered
 inducers of CYP3A4. However, their use is allowed if patient has been taking a
 continuous dose of no more than 15 mg/day of prednisone (or its equivalent) for at
 least 1 month prior to D1 of alisertib. In addition, low dose steroid use for the
 control of nausea and vomiting will be allowed. Topical steroid use and inhaled
 steroids are also permitted.

 -  Systemic infection requiring IV antibiotic therapy within 14 days preceding the first
 dose of study drug, or other severe infection

 -  Myocardial infarction within 6 months prior to enrollment or has New York Heart
 Association (NYHA) Class III or IV heart failure, uncontrolled angina, severe
 uncontrolled ventricular arrhythmias, or electrocardiographic evidence of acute
 ischemia or active conduction system abnormalities. Prior to study entry, any ECG
 abnormality at Screening has to be documented by the investigator as not medically
 relevant.

 -  Female subject who is pregnant or breast-feeding; confirmation that the subject is not
 pregnant must be established by a negative serum beta-human chorionic gonadotropin
 (beta-hCG) pregnancy test result obtained during screening (within 7 days prior to D1
 of treatment). Pregnancy testing is not required for post-menopausal or surgically
 sterilized women.

 -  Serious medical or psychiatric illness likely to interfere with participation in this
 clinical study

 -  Other severe acute or chronic medical or psychiatric condition, including uncontrolled
 diabetes, malabsorption, resection of the pancreas or upper small bowel, requirement
 for pancreatic enzymes, any condition that would modify small bowel absorption of oral
 medications, or laboratory abnormality that may increase the risk associated with
 study participation or investigational product administration or may interfere with
 the interpretation of study results and, in the judgment of the investigator, would
 make the patient inappropriate for enrollment in this study.

 -  Inability to swallow oral medication or inability or unwillingness to comply with the
 administration requirements related to alisertib.

 -  Administration of myeloid growth factors or platelet transfusion within 14 days prior
 to the first dose of study treatment