Myelodysplastic Syndrome clinical trials at UC Davis

The main purpose of this study is to identify a safe and potentially effective dose of tuspetinib to be used in future studies in study participants diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), myelodysplastic syndromes with increased blasts grade 2 (MDS-IB2), or chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) that is relapsed or refractory after at least one line of prior therapy, or in study participants with newly diagnosed AML. Tuspetinib will be administered as a single agent or in combination with other drugs (venetoclax or venetoclax plus azacitidine), as specified for each part of the study.

Myeloid malignancies which include AML (acute myeloid leukemia) and MDS (myelodysplatic syndrome) are cancers of the bone marrow which lead to bone marrow failure. The bone marrow is the place or factory in the body where components of blood such as red cells, platelets and white cells are made. In bone marrow failure, the ability of the bone marrow to make these cells is decreased. The decreased bone marrow function is the result from abnormalities that develop in the malignant cells which prevent the normal maturation process by which bone marrow cells develop into red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. The malignant cells in the bone marrow are not good at maturing to make the components of the blood that you need, they occupy space in the bone marrow and prevent the function of remaining normal bone marrow cells. DNA is a chemical substance within cells that stores information needed for cell growth and cell behavior. One approach to treating the malignant cells is to give chemotherapy which damages DNA within these cells and causes their death. Unfortunately, such therapy has side-effects, since even normal cells can be affected by the treatment. Decitabine is FDA approved for treatment of MDS and AML. Venetoclax is approved for AML in combination with Azacitidine for patients with AML or are over age 75 or unfit for chemotherapy. In this study, Decitabine and venetoclax will be administered using a low dose weekly schedule in an attempt to improve efficacy by decreasing the side effects often seen when these drugs are given at standard dosing.

This MyeloMATCH Master Screening and Reassessment Protocol (MSRP) evaluates the use of a screening tool and specific laboratory tests to help improve participants' ability to register to clinical trials throughout the course of their myeloid cancer (acute myeloid leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome) treatment. This study involves testing patients' bone marrow and blood for certain biomarkers. A biomarker (sometimes called a marker) is any molecule in the body that can be measured. Doctors look at markers to learn what is happening in the body. Knowing about certain markers can give doctors more information about what is driving the cancer and how to treat it. Testing patients' bone marrow and blood will show doctors if patients have markers that specific drugs can target. The marker testing in this study will let doctors know if they can match patients with a treatment study (myeloMATCH clinical trial) that tests treatment for the type of cancer they have or continue standard of care treatment with their doctor on the Tier Advancement Pathway (TAP).

This phase II MyeloMATCH treatment trial tests whether the standard approach of cytarabine and daunorubicin in comparison to the following experimental regimens works to shrink cancer in patients with high risk acute myeloid leukemia (AML): 1) daunorubicin and cytarabine liposome alone; 2) cytarabine and daunorubicin with venetoclax; 3) azacitidine and venetoclax; 4) daunorubicin and cytarabine liposome and venetoclax. "High-risk" refers to traits that have been known to make the AML harder to treat. Cytarabine is in a class of medications called antimetabolites. It works by slowing or stopping the growth of cancer cells in the body. Daunorubicin is in a class of medications called anthracyclines. It also works by slowing or stopping the growth of cancer cells in the body. Azacitidine is in a class of medications called demethylation agents. It works by helping the bone marrow to produce normal blood cells and by killing abnormal cells. Venetoclax is in a class of medications called B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) inhibitors. It may stop the growth of cancer cells by blocking Bcl-2, a protein needed for cancer cell survival. There is evidence that these newer experimental treatment regimens may work better in getting rid of more AML compared to the standard approach of cytarabine and daunorubicin.