Phase I study of bortezomib combined with chemotherapy in children with relapsed childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL): a report from the therapeutic advances in childhood leukemia (TACL) consortium.
BACKGROUND
Outcomes remain poor for children after relapse of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), especially after early marrow relapse. Bortezomib is a proteasome inhibitor with in vitro synergy with corticosteroids and clinical activity in human lymphoid malignancies.


METHODS
This is a Phase I study of escalating doses bortezomib administered days 1, 4, 8, and 11, added to 4-drug induction chemotherapy with vincristine, dexamethasone, pegylated L-asparaginase, and doxorubicin (VXLD) in children with relapsed ALL.


RESULTS
Ten patients were enrolled, five in first marrow relapse, and five in second relapse. Four patients were enrolled at dose level 1 (bortezomib 1 mg/m(2)). One patient was not evaluable for toxicity because of omitted dexamethasone doses. No dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) was observed. Six patients were enrolled at dose level 2 (bortezomib 1.3 mg/m(2)). One patient had dose-limiting hypophosphatemia and rhabdomyolysis after 1 dose of bortezomib, and died from a diffuse zygomyces infection on day 17. Five additional patients were enrolled with no subsequent DLTs. As planned, no further dose escalation was pursued. The regimen had predictable toxicity related to the chemotherapy drugs. Two patients had mild peripheral neuropathy (grades 1 and 2). Six of nine evaluable patients (67%) achieved a complete response (CR), and one had a bone marrow CR with persistent central nervous system leukemia.


CONCLUSIONS
The combination of bortezomib (1.3 mg/m(2)) with VXLD is active with acceptable toxicity in pretreated pediatric patients with relapsed ALL. We are expanding the 1.3 mg/m(2) cohort for a phase II estimate of response. Study registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00440726).
Messinger
Yoav
Y
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota 55102, USA. yoav.messinger@childrensmn.org
Gaynon
Paul
P
Raetz
Elizabeth
E
Hutchinson
Raymond
R
Dubois
Steven
S
Glade-Bender
Julia
J
Sposto
Richard
R
van der Giessen
Jeannette
J
Eckroth
Elena
E
Bostrom
Bruce C
BC
D000293:Adolescent; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D001215:Asparaginase; D001897:Boronic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000633:toxicity; D000069286:Bortezomib; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003907:Dexamethasone; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004317:Doxorubicin; D006801:Humans; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011719:Pyrazines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000633:toxicity; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014750:Vincristine
D001897:Boronic Acids; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D011719:Pyrazines; D014750:Vincristine; D000069286:Bortezomib; D003907:Dexamethasone; D004317:Doxorubicin; D001215:Asparaginase