A study looking at KHK2823 for people with acute myeloid leukaemia or myelodysplastic syndrome.

Please note - this trial is no longer recruiting patients. We hope to add results when they are available.

Cancer type:

Acute leukaemia
Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL)
Blood cancers
Leukaemia
Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)

Status:

Closed

Phase:

Phase 1

This study is looking at a new drug called KHK2823 as a treatment for acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

More about this trial

For some people with AML or MDS standard treatment Open a glossary item is either not appropriate or their disease has come back or got worse during treatment. Doctors are trying to find treatments for people in this situation.

KHK2823 is a new drug. It is an antibody. The body produces antibodies when it recognises something in the body is foreign or unfamiliar, for example bacteria.  Antibodies can target cancer cells. The target for KHK2823 is a protein found on cancer cells in AML and MDS.

This is the first time KHK2823 will be given to people. The aims of the study are to

  • Find the highest safest dose of KHK2823
  • Learn about the side effects of the drug
  • Learn more about how KHK2823 works in the body as a treatment for AML and MDS

Who can enter

You may be able to join this study if

You have AML and either

  • Can’t have treatment to get rid of your AML (remission induction therapy)
  • Your AML has come back or got worse during treatment and there are no other appropriate treatments available

Or you have MDS and one of the following

  • It has come back or got worse during treatment
  • You have had treatment with either the drug decitabine or azacitabine
  • You are not able to have decitabine or azacitabine because, for example, you have high risk MDS or you have low risk MDS but need to have regular blood transfusions

As well as the above you must

  • Be well enough to be up and about for at least half the day (performance status 0, 1 or 2)
  • Have satisfactory blood test results
  • Be willing to use reliable contraception during the study and for 3 months afterwards if there is any chance that you or your partner could become pregnant
  • Be at least 18 years old

You cannot join this study if any of these apply. You

  • Have a type of leukaemia called acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL)
  • Have leukaemia in your brain or spinal cord (central nervous system) which your doctor thinks is significant
  • Have had major surgery in the last 4 weeks
  • Have had a bone marrow transplant in the last 100 days
  • Have graft versus host disease (GVHD) unless it is very mild or grade 1 skin GVHD
  • Have had chemotherapy, radiotherapy or experimental treatment in the 2 weeks before starting the study treatment. You may still be able to take part if you have had hydroxycarbamide for a very high white blood cell count (hyperleukocytosis) but this would need to be stopped 24 hours before having KHK2823
  • Have had immunotherapy Open a glossary item in the 30 days before starting the study treatment
  • Have side effects from chemotherapy or surgery which are a cause of concern for your doctor
  • Have problems with your heart that are a cause of concern for your doctor
  • Have had a heart attack or heart failure in the last 3 months
  • Have an autoimmune disease Open a glossary item and have had drugs that suppress the immune system 4 weeks before starting the study treatment
  • Have an infection and need treatment into a vein (IV treatment)
  • Are HIV, hepatitis B or hepatitis C positive
  • Have any other condition that the doctors think would affect your taking part in this study
  • Are sensitive to any of the ingredients of KHK2823 (your doctors can advise you about this)
  • Are pregnant or breastfeeding

Trial design

This is a phase 1 study. The doctors need up to 60 people to take part. The study is in 2 parts. You are either in part 1 or part 2.

In part 1 the first few patients taking part will have a low dose of KHK2823. If they don’t have any serious side effects, the next few patients will have a higher dose. And so on, until they find the best dose. This is called a dose escalation study.

In part 2 you have the best dose found in part 1.

Everyone in the study has KHK2823. You have it as a drip into your vein. You have the 1st dose over about 4 hours. Subsequent doses may be given over less time, if the doctors think it is safe to do so.

In part 1 you have it once a week for 4 weeks. This is called a treatment cycle. Depending on the findings of part 1, in part 2 of the study you may have the drug less frequently.

You will have at least 2 treatment cycles of KHK2823 if the doctors think the drug is helping you and you are happy to continue. You have no break between treatment cycles.

As part of the study the doctors will take extra blood samples. This is so they can see how the drug is working in your body. They may call the blood tests pharmacokinetics Open a glossary item. They will also look at the blood samples and samples from your bone marrow to look for substances called biomarkers Open a glossary item and also to see how your genes Open a glossary item affect how KHK2823 works for you. This information should help the doctors know in the future who will benefit most from having KHK2823.

Hospital visits

You see the doctors and have some tests before you start treatment. The tests include

You visit the hospital once a week to have treatment. You should not need to stay overnight. You see a doctor at each treatment visit. You have regular blood tests and bone marrow tests during the whole time you are in the study. The study nurse will explain how often you have these.

You see the doctors 2, 4 and 6 weeks after you finish treatment. You have blood and urine tests, a physical examination and an ECG. The doctors will also ask how you are and how well you manage daily activities such as washing and dressing.  At your 2 week follow up you have a bone marrow test.

Side effects

As this is the first time KHK2823 is being given to people, doctors do not know about all the side effects. Part of the study is looking at side effects. The study team will explain what they think could potentially happen and they will give you a telephone number to contact them if you are concerned about anything.

Recruitment start:

Recruitment end:

How to join a clinical trial

Please note: In order to join a trial you will need to discuss it with your doctor, unless otherwise specified.

Please note - unless we state otherwise in the summary, you need to talk to your doctor about joining a trial.

Chief Investigator

Dr Deborah Richardson

Supported by

Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC)
Kyowa Hakka Kirin Pharma Inc

If you have questions about the trial please contact our cancer information nurses

Freephone 0808 800 4040

Last review date

CRUK internal database number:

12798

Please note - unless we state otherwise in the summary, you need to talk to your doctor about joining a trial.

Last reviewed:

Rate this page:

Currently rated: 3.3 out of 5 based on 80 votes
Thank you!
We've recently made some changes to the site, tell us what you think