Recruiting
Phase 2

Asparaginase Erwinia Chrysanthemi

Sponsor:

City of Hope Medical Center

Code:

NCT06918431

Conditions

B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Philadelphia Chromosome Negative

Lymphoblastic Lymphoma

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 54

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Asparaginase Erwinia chrysanthemi

Biospecimen Collection

Bone Marrow Aspiration

Bone Marrow Biopsy

Computed Tomography

Study Details

Brief summary:

This phase II trial tests the safety, side effects, and effectiveness of asparaginase Erwinia chrysanthemi during induction chemotherapy followed by consolidation chemotherapy in treating high-risk adults with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia or lymphoblastic lymphoma. Asparaginase Erwinia chrysanthemi, a type of protein synthesis inhibitor, is a drug that is made up of the enzyme asparaginase, which comes from the bacterium Erwinia chrysanthemi, and is used with other drugs in people who cannot take asparaginase that comes from the bacterium E. coli. Asparaginase Erwinia chrysanthemi breaks down the amino acid asparagine and may stop the growth of cancer cells that need asparagine to grow. It may also kill cancer cells. Induction therapy, consisting of cytarabine, dexamethasone, vincristine, daunorubicin, methotrexate, and rituximab, is the first choice of treatment. Consolidation therapy, consisting of cyclophosphamide, cytarabine, vincristine, mercaptopurine, methotrexate and rituximab, is given after initial therapy to kill any remaining cancer cells. Vincristine is in a class of medications called vinca alkaloids. It works by stopping cancer cells from growing and dividing and may kill them. Methotrexate is in a class of medications called antimetabolites. It is also a type of antifolate. Methotrexate stops cells from using folic acid to make deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and may kill cancer cells. Rituximab is a monoclonal antibody. It binds to a protein called CD20, which is found on B cells (a type of white blood cell) and some types of cancer cells. This may help the immune system kill cancer cells. Cyclophosphamide is in a class of medications called alkylating agents. It works by damaging the cell's DNA and may kill cancer cells. It may also lower the body's immune response. Cytarabine and mercaptopurine stop cells from making DNA and may kill cancer cells. They are a type of antimetabolite. Daunorubicin blocks a certain enzyme needed for cell division and DNA repair and may kill cancer cells. It is a type of anthracycline antibiotic and a type of topoisomerase inhibitor. Dexamethasone is in a class of medications called corticosteroids. It is used to reduce inflammation and lower the body's immune response to help lessen the side effects of chemotherapy drugs. Giving asparaginase Erwinia chrysanthemi with induction chemotherapy followed by consolidation chemotherapy may be safe, tolerable, and/or effective in treating high-risk adults with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia or lymphoblastic lymphoma.

Conditions

B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Philadelphia Chromosome Negative

Lymphoblastic Lymphoma

Study ID

NCT06918431

Start date

Oct 10, 2025

Status verified date

Mar, 2026

Completion date

Mar 30, 2029

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Mar 30, 2029

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 54

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Documented informed consent of the participant and/or legally authorized representative
  • Age between 18 and 39 with body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 or age 40-54 years, regardless of BMI
  • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) ≤ 2
  • Patients with newly diagnosed Philadelphia (Ph)-negative (-) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) or lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL) according to World Health Organization (WHO) criteria

  • Both B- and T-cell phenotypes are allowed.
  • CD20+ patients only: White blood cell count less than 25 x 10\^9/L prior to initiation of rituximab (within 14 days prior to day 1 of protocol therapy)

  • Cytoreduction with hydroxyurea or steroid or a single dose of intrathecal chemotherapy prior to treatment may be required
  • Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) (within 14 days prior to day 1 of protocol therapy) (unless has Gilbert's disease or related to underlying leukemia, ≤ 3 x ULN)
  • Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≤ 3.0 x ULN (AST ≤ 5.0 x ULN if related to underlying leukemia) (within 14 days prior to day 1 of protocol therapy)

  • Note: AST ≤ 3.0 x ULN at the time of first dose of recombinant Erwinia asparaginase administration
  • Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤ 3.0 x ULN (ALT ≤ 5.0 x ULN if related to underlying leukemia) (within 14 days prior to day 1 of protocol therapy)

  • Note: ALT ≤ 3.0 x ULN at the time of first dose of recombinant Erwinia asparaginase administration
  • Creatinine clearance of ≥ 60 mL/min per 24-hour urine test or the Cockcroft-Gault formula (within 14 days prior to day 1 of protocol therapy)
  • Prothrombin (PT) ≤ 1.5 ULN (within 14 days prior to day 1 of protocol therapy)
  • Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) ≤ 1.5 ULN (within 14 days prior to day 1 of protocol therapy)
  • Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥ 50%

  • Note: Echocardiogram to be performed within 42 days prior to day 1 of protocol therapy
  • Seronegative for active hepatitis B virus (HBV) (surface antigen negative and anti-hepatitis B virus core antibody \[HBc\] negative) for CD20+ patients only

  • Note Infectious disease testing to be performed within 28 days prior to day 1 of protocol therapy
  • Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP): negative urine or serum pregnancy test (within 14 days prior to day 1 of protocol therapy)

  • If the urine test is positive or cannot be confirmed as negative, a serum pregnancy test will be required
  • Agreement by females and males of childbearing potential to use an effective (non-hormonal) method of birth control or abstain from heterosexual activity for the course of the study through at least 6 months after the last dose of protocol therapy. For participants taking rituximab, effective birth control or abstinence to be used for at least 12 months after last dose

  • Childbearing potential defined as not being surgically sterilized (men and women) or have not been free from menses for > 1 year (women only)

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Leukemia-based therapy with chemotherapy with the exception of:

  • Cytoreduction with steroid or hydroxyurea or a single dose of intrathecal chemotherapy is allowed before initiating the study
  • Prior treatment with all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) for suspected acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is allowed
  • Received previous treatment with any other asparaginase formulation
  • Must not have received or planning to receive live vaccine while being on study or 2 weeks before and after completion of treatment. For CD20+ patients only: Must not have received any vaccines (live or non-live) 4 weeks before rituximab
  • Known presence of Philadelphia chromosome positive (Ph+; t\[9;22\])
  • Class III/IV cardiovascular disability according to the New York Heart Association classification. Subjects with controlled, asymptomatic atrial fibrillation can enroll
  • Parenchymal central nervous system (CNS) involvement
  • Participants with clinically significant arrhythmia or arrhythmias not stable on medical management within two weeks of enrollment
  • History of acute cardiovascular ischemic event, i.e., myocardial infarction or unstable angina within 6 months of enrollment
  • History of intracranial thrombosis or history of recurrent thrombosis or grade 3 and greater pulmonary embolism (except for catheter-related thrombosis)
  • Participants with history of grade ≥ 3 pancreatitis
  • History of alcohol overuse if deemed relevant in investigator opinion
  • History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to study agent
  • Uncontrolled active infection
  • Clinically significant uncontrolled illness
  • Other active malignancy
  • Females only: Pregnant or breastfeeding
  • Any other condition that would, in the investigator's judgment, contraindicate the patient's participation in the clinical study due to safety concerns with clinical study procedures
  • Prospective participants who, in the opinion of the investigator, may not be able to comply with all study procedures (including compliance issues related to feasibility/logistics)

Study Design

Enrollment

53 participants

Anticipated

Intervention Model

Single group

Primary purpose

Treatment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Treatment (asparaginase Erwinia chrysanthemi)

See Detailed Description

Interventions

Asparaginase Erwinia chrysanthemi

Given IM

Biospecimen Collection

Undergo blood sample collection

Bone Marrow Aspiration

Undergo bone marrow aspiration and/or biopsy

Bone Marrow Biopsy

Undergo bone marrow aspiration and/or biopsy

Computed Tomography

Undergo CT or PET/CT

Cyclophosphamide

Given IV

Cytarabine

Given IT

Cytarabine

Given IV or SC

Daunorubicin Hydrochloride

Given IV

Dexamethasone

Given PO

Echocardiography

Undergo echocardiography

Lumbar Puncture

Undergo lumbar puncture

Mercaptopurine

Given PO

Methotrexate

Given IT

Positron Emission Tomography

Undergo PET/CT

Rituximab

Given IV

Vincristine Sulfate

Given IV

Primary outcome measure

  • Incidence of adverse events (AEs) (Safety Lead-in) [ Time Frame: Up to completion of induction cycle (cycle length = 28 days) ]
  • Incidence of unacceptable adverse events (Safety Lead-in) [ Time Frame: Up to completion of induction cycle 1 (cycle length = 28 days) ]
  • Incidence of grade 3 or higher hepatotoxicity and not resolved to grade 1 or lower within 14 days of occurrence (Expansion) [ Time Frame: Up to completion of induction (cycle length = 28 days) ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Locations

City of Hope at Phoenix

Recruiting

Phoenix, Arizona, United States, 85338

Contacts

Tibor Kovacsovics, MD

888-256-0250ialdoss@coh.org

City of Hope Medical Center

Recruiting

Duarte, California, United States, 91010

Contacts

Ibrahim Aldoss

626-218-2405ialdoss@coh.org

Principal Investigator:

Ibrahim Aldoss

More Information

Sponsor

City of Hope Medical Center

Last update posted

Mar 17, 2026

Last verified

Mar, 2026

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-08. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by City of Hope Medical Center on 2026-03-17.