A Comparison of Clofarabine-based (GCLAC) and Cladribine-based (CLAG) Salvage Chemotherapy for Relapsed/Refractory AML

Clinical review of substitutions or alternatives for critical chemotherapy drug shortages in hematologic malignancies

PURPOSE

Over the past decade, drug shortages have become increasingly more problematic for clinicians, with over 300 drug shortages reported in the first quarter of 2023. Shortages of chemotherapy drugs can have a negative impact on patient care, as omission or delay of treatment can lead to worse outcomes. Although many articles have been published on this topic, currently no review articles discuss strategies for using alternative regimens or substitutions in the event of severe chemotherapy drug shortages.

SUMMARY

In this article, we review the literature on antineoplastic agents used to treat hematologic malignancies that experienced a drug shortage from 2010 through 2023, providing recommendations for substitutions and alternative regimens in the event of a critical shortage. In particular, we discuss how shortages of fludarabine, cytarabine, daunorubicin, methotrexate, and platinum agents may be addressed, including supporting clinical evidence.

CONCLUSION

Further publications assessing possible alternatives and substitutions for chemotherapy agents and examining the efficacy of previous strategies are needed to mitigate potentially devastating interruptions to care for patients with cancer during severe drug shortages.

Impact of cladribine, cytarabine, and G-CSF (CLAG) as a bridging therapy prior to allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia

The combination of cladribine, cytarabine, and G-CSF (CLAG) has exhibited robust synergistic anti-leukemia activity as an induction therapy (IT) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, the impact of CLAG as a bridging therapy (BT) administered between IT and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) for patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) AML remains uncertain. In this retrospective study, we examined the efficacy of CLAG as a transitional strategy prior to allo-HSCT in R/R AML. We included 234 patients with R/R AML who received the modified busulfan plus cyclophosphamide conditioning regimen for allo-HSCT in our center during the past 6 years, performed a propensity-score matching analysis, partitioned them into four distinct cohorts, and further integrated them into the CLAG group and non-CLAG group based on response to IT and utilization of CLAG. Our cohorts encompassed 12 patients in Cohort A (modified composite complete remission (mCRc) after IT, CLAG), 31 in Cohort B (mCRc after IT, non-CLAG), 35 in Cohort C (non-complete remission (non-CR) after IT, CLAG), and 80 in Cohort D (non-CR after IT, non-CLAG). Intriguingly, among patients with non-CR status, the administration of CLAG correlated with a notably statistically diminished risk of relapse and improved survival at 2-year follow-up (Cohort C vs. Cohort D). Employing CLAG as a BT prior to allo-HSCT demonstrates substantial effectiveness, a relative degree of safety, and manageable toxicity in selected R/R AML cases.

How I treat relapsed or refractory AML

Treatment of relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has presented challenges for hematologists for decades. Despite numerous clinical studies, outcomes are consistently disappointing with 5-year overall survival rates of ∼10%. Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation at the time of second complete remission remains the only reliable option with curative potential. However, recent approval of several new agents has transformed treatment paradigms that had been in place for almost half a century in AML. This new therapeutic landscape provides the opportunity to revisit the approach to relapsed or refractory AML. Through illustrative cases, we describe our approach, which increasingly relies on specific disease biology. We focus on treatment outside of the context of clinical trials because such trials are not available in most parts of the world. Primarily, we consider age, fitness to tolerate intensive chemotherapy, remission duration, and presence of a targetable mutation to guide treatment. The coming years will inevitably bring new targets and agents that may prove most effective when combined with each other and/or chemotherapy. Future studies are needed to determine how best to implement this evolving armamentarium of treatment options, to elucidate mechanisms of resistance, and to continue the pursuit of novel drug discovery.

Long-term follow-up of Cladribine, high-dose Cytarabine, and Idarubicin as salvage treatment for relapsed acute myeloid leukemia and literature review

PURPOSE

Outcome for relapsed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is poor. Cladribine has activity in AML, and an enhancing effect on other cytostatic drugs thus may help overcome resistance. Here, we present the final analysis of our phase II trial evaluating safety and efficacy of cladribine, cytarabine, and idarubicin (CAI) in relapsed AML.

METHODS

Patients with relapsed AML after at least 6 months remission received two courses of CAI. After 9 patients, prolonged neutropenia prompted protocol change (omission of idarubicin in 2nd course and dose-reduction of cytarabine). Primary endpoints were remission rate and safety.

RESULTS

Twenty patients received treatment, fourteen one, and six two courses CAI/CA. After first course, complete remission (CR/CRi) was achieved in 60%. Most frequent toxicity was infection. Median OS was 8.8 months in all patients and 21.1 months in those with CR. Nine patients (48%) proceeded to allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT), four of those are still alive and in CR, accounting for a 5-year survival rate of 55% of transplanted patients.

CONCLUSION

Cladribine, cytarabine, and idarubicin in relapsed AML is feasible and induces good response rates. As expected, infections are the most important complication. However, combined with allo-SCT, long-term survival can be achieved in a substantial number of patients.

Clofarabine Commandeers the RNR-α-ZRANB3 Nuclear Signaling Axis

Ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) is an essential enzyme in DNA biogenesis and a target of several chemotherapeutics. Here, we investigate how anti-leukemic drugs (e.g., clofarabine [ClF]) that target one of the two subunits of RNR, RNR-α, affect non-canonical RNR-α functions. We discovered that these clinically approved RNR-inhibiting dATP-analogs inhibit growth by also targeting ZRANB3-a recently identified DNA synthesis promoter and nuclear-localized interactor of RNR-α. Remarkably, in early time points following drug treatment, ZRANB3 targeting accounted for most of the drug-induced DNA synthesis suppression and multiple cell types featuring ZRANB3 knockout/knockdown were resistant to these drugs. In addition, ZRANB3 plays a major role in regulating tumor invasion and H-ras^G12V-promoted transformation in a manner dependent on the recently discovered interactome of RNR-α involving select cytosolic-/nuclear-localized protein players. The H-ras^G12V-promoted transformation-which we show requires ZRANB3-supported DNA synthesis-was efficiently suppressed by ClF. Such overlooked mechanisms of action of approved drugs and a previously unappreciated example of non-oncogene addiction, which is suppressed by RNR-α, may advance cancer interventions.

Decitabine plus CLAG chemotherapy as a bridge to haploidentical transplantation in the setting of acute myeloid leukemia relapse after HLA-matched sibling transplantation: a case report

BACKGROUND

Patients with relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) have a poor prognosis, with a 2-year survival rate of 14%. The optimal treatment for these patients remains unclear. To treat these patients, we designed a new salvage regimen consisting of decitabine, cladribine, cytarabine, and granulocyte-stimulating factor (D-CLAG).

CASE PRESENTATION

Here, we describe a case of acute monocytic leukemia with a complex karyotype in a 38-year-old female patient who relapsed after her first HSCT, which was performed using a matched sibling donor. The patient did not respond to standard induction chemotherapy and subsequently achieved complete remission with the D-CLAG regimen. No severe hematological or extramedullary toxicity was observed. Subsequently, the patient received a second D-CLAG regimen as a bridge therapy and directly underwent haploidentical related HSCT. Following HSCT, the marrow showed complete hematologic and cytogenetic remission. Currently, 1 year after transplantation, the patient's general condition remains good.

CONCLUSIONS

This case suggests that the D-CLAG regimen can be an option for reinduction in relapsed refractory AML patients as a bridge to transplantation. Nevertheless, further research will be required in the future as this report describes only a single case.

Management of primary refractory acute myeloid leukemia in the era of targeted therapies

Primary refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML), or primary induction failure, represents a continued challenge in clinical management. This review presents an overview of primary refractory disease and a discussion of risk factors for induction failure, including current evidence regarding the impact of karyotype and molecular mutation status on responsiveness to chemotherapy. We review the evidence for various treatment options for refractory AML including salvage chemotherapy regimens, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, targeted agents, and non-intensive therapies such as hypomethylating agents. A therapeutic approach to this patient population is presented, and several new and emerging therapies are reviewed.