Oral Azacitidine Plus Salvage Chemotherapy in Relapsed/Refractory Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma

The purpose of this study is to determine the safety and tolerability of adding oral azacitidine to the chemotherapy combination R-ICE. This study will also look at whether or not disease outcomes improve with the combination.


Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Histologic confirmation of relapsed/refractory disease of one of the following:

   * DLBCL
   * Transformed DLBCL (from follicular lymphoma or marginal zone lymphoma but not from CLL)
   * Grade 3B follicular lymphoma
   * B-Cell lymphoma unclassifiable with features intermediate between diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and Burkitt lymphoma
   * Primary mediastinal B cell lymphoma
2. Eligible for high dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplant determined by treating physician
3. Measurable disease on cross section imaging by PET and/or CT that is at least 1.5 cm in the longest diameter and measurable in two perpendicular dimensions as defined by IWG criteria. See Section 12.1.
4. At least 18 years old
5. Able to understand and voluntarily sign consent prior to any study related assessments or procedures are performed.
6. Performance status of 0-2 on the ECOG scale (see Appendix A).
7. Adequate organ function defined by the following

   1. Hepatic

      * Serum bilirubin ≤ 1.5 X ULN unless attributed to Gilbert's syndrome or hemolysis.
      * AST ≤ 2.5 x ULN
      * ALT ≤ 2.5 x ULN
   2. Hematologic: Unless directly attributable to lymphoma within the bone marrow

      * Platelet count ≥ 75,000 cells/mm3
      * ANC ≥ 750 cells/mm3
      * HGB ≥ 8.0 cells/mm3
   3. Renal

      • Serum creatinine ≤ 2.5 x ULN
   4. Coagulation parameters:

      * PT ≤ 15 seconds
      * INR ≤ 1.5
      * PTT/aPTT \< 40 seconds
8. Must have received at least one prior anti-CD20 containing multi-agent chemotherapy regimen (i.e. R-CHOP, R-EPOCH). Bendamustine and rituximab can be the prior regimen if used for follicular lymphoma or marginal zone lymphoma and subsequently transformed to DLBCL.
9. WOCBP should be advised to avoid becoming pregnant and men should be advised to not father a child while receiving treatment with CC-486. All men and women of childbearing potential must use acceptable methods of birth control throughout the study as described below:

WOCBP: Recommendation is for two effective contraceptive methods during the study. Adequate forms of contraception are double-barrier methods (condoms with spermicidal jelly or foam and diaphragm with spermicidal jelly or foam), oral, depo provera, or injectable contraceptives, intrauterine devices, and tubal ligation.

Men with female partners who are of childbearing potential: Recommendation is for male and partner to use at least two effective contraceptive methods, as described above, during the study. Must agree to refrain from semen or sperm donation while taking CC-486 and for at least 90 days after last dose.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Women who are pregnant or breast-feeding. Lactating women must agree not to breast feed while taking CC-486 and for at least 90 days after the last dose. WOCBP will have a serum pregnancy test within 72 hours before starting study treatment on day -6. Pregnancy test must be negative in order to move forward with study treatment.
2. More than three prior treatments for the large cell component of lymphoma (i.e. induction chemotherapy and salvage chemotherapy). Radiation therapy does not count as a line of therapy.
3. Patients with history or active CNS lymphoma
4. Previous history of autologous or allogeneic stem cell transplantation
5. Uncontrolled systemic fungal, bacterial or viral infection (defined as ongoing signs/symptoms related the infection without improvement despite appropriate antibiotics, antiviral therapy and/or other treatment)
6. History of inflammatory bowel disease (eg, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis), celiac disease (ie, sprue), prior gastrectomy or upper bowel removal, or any other gastrointestinal disorder or defect that would interfere with the absorption, distribution, metabolism or excretion of the study drug and/or predispose the subject to an increased risk of gastrointestinal toxicity
7. History of stroke or intracranial hemorrhage within 6 months prior to registration.
8. Prior history of malignancy other than DLBCL unless subject is free of disease for more than 2 years from signing consent. Exceptions include the following:

   1. Basal cell carcinoma of the skin
   2. Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin
   3. Carcinoma in situ of the cervix or breast
   4. Previously treated localized prostate cancer with normal PSA levels
9. Significant active cardiac disease defined as the following

   * NYHA class III or IV CHF (Appendix B)
   * Unstable angina
   * Myocardial infarction within the last 6 months
10. Active viral infection of hepatitis type B or C. Patients who are positive for hepatitis B core antibody, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), or Hepatitis C antibody must have negative PCR prior to enrollment.
11. Seropositive for HIV
12. Known or suspected hypersensitivity to azacitidine or mannitol
13. Patients with advanced malignant hepatic tumors
14. Any condition causing an inability to swallow pills
15. Receipt of live vaccine within 28 days prior to registration.
16. Anti-cancer therapy within 21 days prior to registration. Prior radiation therapy within 14 days prior to registration.
17. Any other illness that in the opinion of the investigator, would exclude the patient from participating in this study.