Study of Carfilzomib Weekly Plus Melphalan and Prednisone in Untreated Symptomatic Elderly Multiple Myeloma

IFM 2012-03 protocol is a Phase 2 multicenter nonrandomized open in elderly patients with multiple myeloma at diagnosis. Study primary objectives are in the first step to determine Maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of Carfilzomib Weekly based on definition of Dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) and in the second step to expanded cohort, to determine the VGPR (Very Good Partial Response) + CR (Complete Response) rate of Carfilzomib Weekly at the MTD in combination with Melphalan Prednisone at the end of the 9 induction cycles.

Overall design. This study is a Multicenter, Open-label, Phase 2 study of Carfilzomib Weekly +MP in Untreated Elderly MM. Eligible patients must have a symptomatic, untreated MM with a measurable disease. There is a dose escalation part in the study as the MTD remained to be determined for carfilzomib weekly given for 4 infusions (day 1, 8, 15, 22) on a 35-days cycle.

This study will thus comprise 2 parts. Step 1. To determine MTD of Carfilzomib Weekly based on definition of DLTs - (N=6 patients per cohort, maximum 5 cohorts of carfilzomib weekly +MP) The patients will be included into three cohorts at 36 mg/m², 45 mg/m², 56 mg/m² and 70mg/m² of Carfilzomib Weekly given for 4 infusions (day 1, 8, 15, 22) +MP given on days 1 to 4 of a 35-days cycle. Carfilzomib will be administered at a dose of 36mg/m² for the first cohort where the 20 mg/m² dose is administered on Day 1 of Cycle 1 only and then 36 mg/m² for all subsequent doses.

If dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) occur in fewer or equal than 2 of these patients, the next cohort of 6 patients (cohort 2) will be opened and patients will receive a dose of 20/45 mg/m². If DLTs occur in fewer or equal than 2 of the patients in cohort 2, the third cohort of 6 patients will receive a dose of 20/56 mg/m² where the 20 mg/m² dose is administered on Day 1 of Cycle 1 only and then 56 mg/m² for all subsequent doses. If DLTs occur in fewer or equal than 2 of the patients in cohort 3, the fourth and five cohort of 6 patients will receive a dose of 20/70 mg/m² where the 20 mg/m² dose is administered on Day 1 of Cycle 1 only and then 70 mg/m² for all subsequent doses.

If at any time during cycle 1 of a dose cohort, \> 2 subjects experience a drug-related DLT, the MTD will have been exceeded, additional enrolment within the cohort will cease, and dose escalation will stop. The MTD will be defined as the dose level below which DLT is observed in \> 33% (i.e. \> 2 of 6) subjects in a cohort.

The following are defined as DLTs:

* Any hematologic toxicity of grade 4 intensity or preventing administration of 2 or more of the 4 carfilzomib doses of the first treatment cycle
* Grade ≥ 3 febrile neutropenia
* Grade ≥ 3 gastrointestinal toxicities
* Any other grade ≥ 3 nonhematologic toxicity considered related to CMP by the principal investigator.
* Grade ≥ 3 peripheral neuropathy persisting for more than 3 weeks after discontinuation of study drugs.

Exceptions are:

1. grade 4 thrombocytopenia without bleeding lasting ≤ 7 days or
2. grade 4 neutropenia lasting ≤ 7 days
3. grade ≥ 3 nausea/ vomiting if the patient had not received adequate antiemetic prophylaxis Adverse events (AEs) will be graded according to National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI CTCAE, version 4.0). MTD determination will be based on occurrence of DLTs during the first induction treatment cycle only.

Step 2. Expanded Cohort (N=50 patients; Carfilzomib weekly at the MTD +MP only) After identification of the MTD, it is planned for the dose cohort to be expanded to include up to a total of 50 patients treated at the MTD of carfilzomib weekly for the step 2 of the study. A full treatment course is the same as for step 1, see "dosing regimen".

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* able to understand and voluntarily sign an informed consent form
* able to adhere to the study visit schedule and other protocol requirements.
* age ≥ 65 years.
* life expectancy \> 6 months.Patients must have Symptomatic Measurable previously Untreated MM
* have measurable disease as defined by the following: quantifiable monoclonal M-component value in the serum and/or urine
* eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status score ≤2
* dequate bone marrow function, documented within 72 hours and without transfusion 5 days prior to the first intake of investigational product no growth factor support Adequate organ function
* subjects affiliated with an appropriate social security system.
* male subjects must:Understand the potential teratogenic,and genotoxic risk of Melphalan if engaged in sexual activity with a pregnant female or a female of childbearing potential.
* understand the potential genotoxic risk of Carfilzomib if engaged in sexual activity with a pregnant female or a female of childbearing potential.
* practice complete abstinence or understand the need and agree to use a condom during sexual contact with a pregnant female or a female of childbearing potential throughout the entire duration of study treatment, during dose interruptions and until at least 3 months after the end of treatment discontinuation of CMP, even if he has undergone a successful vasectomy.
* if pregnancy or a positive pregnancy test does occur in the partner of a male study patient during study participation, the investigator must be notified immediately.
* agree not to donate semen or sperm during study drug therapy and until at least 3 months after the end of treatment discontinuation of CMP.

Exclusion Criteria:

* any other uncontrolled medical condition or comorbidity that might interfere with subject's participation.
* known positive for HIV or active infectious hepatitis, type B or C.
* patient with terminal renal failure that require dialysis and clearance creatinine \< 30 ml/min.
* prior history of malignancies, other than multiple myeloma, unless the patients has been free of the disease for ≥ 5 years.
* prior local irradiation within two weeks before first dose
* evidence of central nervous system (CNS) involvement.
* unable to take corticotherapy at study entry
* any ongoing adverse event or medical history \> grade 2 severity
* persons protected by a legal regime (guardianship, trusteeship).Alkeran's (Melphalan) contraindication: Hypersensitivity to Melphalan or to any other constituents.
* patients with heart failure class 3 and 4 according to the NYHA criteria, or patients with past history of myocardial infarction within the last 6 months or no controlled cardiac conduction abnormalities.
* patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction under or equal to 45 % (LVEF ≤ 45%)