Phase 1 study to evaluate Crenigacestat (LY3039478) in combination with dexamethasone in patients with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and lymphoma

Cancer. 2021 Feb 1;127(3):372-380. doi: 10.1002/cncr.33188. Epub 2020 Oct 27.

Abstract

Background: Deregulated Notch signaling is implicated in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL)/T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LBL). Crenigacestat (LY3039478) prevents cleavage of Notch proteins and may benefit patients with relapsed/refractory T-ALL/T-LBL.

Methods: JJCB was a multicenter, nonrandomized, open-label, dose-escalation, phase 1 study in adult patients with relapsed/refractory T-ALL/T-LBL. Eligible patients received Crenigacestat orally 3 times per week plus dexamethasone at 24 mg twice daily on days 1 to 5 every other week in a 28-day cycle. The starting level of Crenigacestat was 50 mg, and dose escalation was performed with a modified 3+3 scheme for the estimation of dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) at the recommended dose level.

Results: In total, 36 patients with T-ALL (n = 31 [86.1%]) or T-LBL (n = 5 [13.9%]) were treated with Crenigacestat and dexamethasone. Six patients (16.7%) experienced DLTs: 2 of 12 (16.7%) in the 75-mg cohort (grade 4 gastrointestinal hemorrhage and grade 3 nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea), 1 of 15 (6.7%) in the 100-mg cohort (grade 3 diarrhea), and 3 of 3 (100%) in the 125-mg cohort (grade 3 diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting). The maximum tolerated dosewas 75 mg plus 24 mg of dexamethasone daily on days 1 to 5. Twenty-eight patients (77.8%) experienced 1 or more treatment-emergent adverse events related to the study treatment. The best overall response was a confirmed response, with 1 patient (2.8%) having a duration of response of 10.51 months. Six patients (16.7%) achieved stable disease, and 12 patients (33.3%) experienced progressive disease. The remaining 17 patients (47.2%) were not evaluable. The median event-free survival was 1.18 months (95% confidence interval, 0.76-2.14 months) among all groups. A pharmacodynamic analysis showed decreased plasma amyloid β levels.

Conclusions: Crenigacestat demonstrated limited clinical activity at the recommended dose in adult patients with relapsed/refractory T-ALL/T-LBL.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02518113.

Keywords: Crenigacestat; LY3039478; Notch; T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL); T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LBL).

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial, Phase I
  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Benzazepines / administration & dosage*
  • Benzazepines / adverse effects
  • Benzazepines / pharmacokinetics
  • Dexamethasone / administration & dosage*
  • Dexamethasone / adverse effects
  • Dexamethasone / pharmacokinetics
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / drug therapy*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Benzazepines
  • Dexamethasone
  • crenigacestat

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT02518113