Clinical trial NCT01444742
Conditions: Leukemia Myeloproliferative Diseases
Keywords: Leukemia Myeloproliferative Diseases Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) Relapsing Refractory Clofarabine Clofarex Clolar Cytarabine Ara-C Cytosar DepoCyt Cytosine Arabinosine Hydrochloride
Sponsor: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Start date: 2011-11-16; Completion date: 2017-01-29
Enrollment: 81 participants; Allocation: NA; Intervention model: SINGLE_GROUP

Brief summary:
The goal of this clinical research study is to learn if clofarabine when given in combination with cytarabine can help to control myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) after the disease could not be controlled with standard therapy. The safety of this treatment will also be studied.

Clofarabine is designed to interfere with the growth and development of cancer cells.

Cytarabine is designed to insert itself into DNA (the genetic material of cells) of cancer cells and stop the DNA from repairing itself.

Detailed description:
Induction Cycles:

If you are found to be eligible to take part in the study, on Days 1-5 of each cycle , you will receive clofarabine by vein over 1-2 hours.

On Days 1-7 of each cycle, you will receive cytarabine by injection under the skin over several seconds 2 times a day.

You may receive up to 3 cycles at this dose and schedule (also called "induction cycles"). There are 7 treatment days in each cycle but the total length of one cycle (including rest and recovery period) is usually between 4 and 8 weeks.

Consolidation Cycles:

After you have completed the Induction Cycles, if you show a response to treatment, you can then continue with up to a total of 12 more cycles of therapy, which will be called "consolidation cycles". Not every participant may be able to receive all 12 consolidation cycles. The actual number that you will receive depends on whether or not you maintain the response and how you are able to tolerate ongoing therapy. There will be 4-8 weeks between each consolidation cycle depending on any side effects you may be having and your blood counts.

During consolidation cycles you will receive clofarabine on Days 1-3 by vein over 1-2 hours. You will receive cytarabine by injection under the skin over several seconds 2 times a day .

Induction and Consolidation Cycles:

On the days when you receive clofarabine and cytarabine (Days 1-5 during induction and Days 1-3 during consolidation), the clofarabine will be given about 3-6 hours before the cytarabine injections. You can be taught to give cytarabine injections to yourself. In this case, you can leave the clinic after receiving clofarabine. You will be required to record the injections of cytarabine in a diary unless you receive the treatments while you are in the hospital.

Study Visits:

On Day 1 of every cycle (+/- 7 days):

* You will have a physical exam, including measurements of your weight and vital signs.
* Your performance status will be recorded.
* Blood (about 1-2 teaspoons) will be drawn for routine tests.

About 4 weeks after you started your first cycle, you may have a bone marrow aspirate to check the status of the disease. After that, you may have repeat bone marrow aspirates when the doctor thinks it is needed.

It is recommended that you stay in Houston for up to the first 4 weeks of treatment. After that, you will need to return to Houston before each induction cycle. If you continue with the consolidation you can receive these treatments by your local oncologist. However, you have to return to Houston at least every 3 months for your study visits.

Length of Study:

You may continue taking the study drugs for up to 15 cycles. You will no longer be able to take the study drugs if the disease gets worse, if intolerable side effects occur, or if you are unable to follow study directions.

This is an investigational study. Clofarabine is FDA approved and commercially available for use in pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Its use in adults and in patients with MDS is investigational.

Cytarabine is FDA approved and commercially available for use in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Up to 80 patients will take part in this study. All be enrolled at MD Anderson.

Arms: arm 1: Induction:

Clofarabine 10 mg/m2 1-2 hours by vein daily for 5 days (days 1-5) Cytarabine 20 mg subcutaneously twice daily for 7 days (days 1-7)

Consolidation:

Clofarabine 10 mg/m2 1-2 hours by vein daily for 3 days (days 1-3) Cytarabine 20 mg subcutaneously twice daily for 5 days (days 1-5)
Interventions: intervention 1: Clofarabine intervention 2: Cytarabine
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: Induction:

10 mg/m2 by vein over 1-2 hours daily for 5 days (days 1-5)

Consolidation:

10 mg/m2 by vein over 1-2 hours daily for 3 days (days 1-3) intervention 2: Induction:

20 mg subcutaneously twice daily for 7 days (days 1-7)

Consolidation:

20 mg subcutaneously twice daily for 5 days (days 1-5)

Protocol documents:
Prot_SAP_000.pdf: 
2011-0660
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Protocol Page
Clofarabine plus Low-Dose Cytarabine for the Treatment of Patients with 
Higher-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) who have been Relapsing after, or 
are Refractory to, Hypomethylator Therapy
2011-0660
Core Protocol Information
Short Title 
Clofarabine plus Low-Dose Cytarabine for Patients with Higher-Risk MDS
Study Chair: 
Guillermo Garcia-Manero
Additional Contact:
Shannon L. Bailey
Vicky H. Zoeller
Leukemia Protocol Review Group
Department:
Leukemia
Phone:
713-745-3428
Unit:
428
Full Title: 
Clofarabine plus Low-Dose Cytarabine for the Treatment of Patients with Higher-Risk 
Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) who have been Relapsing after, or are Refractory to, 
Hypomethylator Therapy
Protocol Type:
Standard Protocol
Protocol Phase:
Phase II
Version Status:
Terminated 01/30/2017
Version:
11
Submitted by:
Vicky H. Zoeller--1/9/2017 3:57:58 PM
OPR Action:
Accepted by:  Melinda E. Gordon -- 1/13/2017 3:28:27 PM
Which Committee will review this protocol?
 The Clinical Research Committee - (CRC)


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Protocol Body
1.0 Objectives
Pimary objectives
The primary objective is to assess complete response (CR) rate and overall survival
Secondary objectives
The secondary objectives are to assess duration of response, relapse-free survival, and the safety profile
2.0 Background
Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a heterogeneous group of disorders charaterized by progressive 
pancytopenia due to impaired cellular differentiation and increased apoptosis, with a tendency to convert 
to acute leukemia [1]. The disease typically affects individuals over 65 years of age, and it is thought to 
result from multiple mutations affecting the hematopoietic stem cell. There is a wide clinical spectrum of 
MDS ranging from moderate anemia with normal neutrophil and platelet counts, to frank leukemia with a 
clinical course that can range from a few months to many years. Treatment options are limited. Only bone 
marrow transplantation offers a cure although there are significant treatment-related adverse events that 
can result from this procedure [2].
In the U.S. there are currently 2 drugs approved for the treatment of (non 5q-) MDS: azacitidine and 
decitabine (referred to collectively as hypomethylating agents). Both drugs are active although the 
objective response rates they produce are low [3]. In the case of azacitidine a recent large randomized 
study demonstrated a survival benefit for azacitidine-treated patients compared to those who received 
conventional care (including best supportive care) [4]. Although either of these drugs are among the best 
availabe outside clinical trials, they are not curative and typically patients relapse either on therapy or 
shortly after completion of therapy.  SGI-110 is a second generation hypomethylating agent with 
significantly increased activity than azacitidine or decitabine and is being investigated at MD Anderson 
Cancer Center (MDACC Protocol # 2010-0615).
These patients who have either not responded to or relapsed from treatment with hypomethylating agents 
carry a dismal prognosis with a median survival of less than 6 months, a 1-year survival probability of less 
than 30% and a likelihood of response to conventional therapies (e.g. cytarabine of around 20%) [5]. 
Hence, new approaches are needed for patients in this situation.
Clofarabine is a second generation purine nucleoside analog that incorporates two halogen atoms, 
chlorine and fluorine, resulting in resistance to both adenosine deaminase degradation and 
phosphorolysis [6]. Studies of clofarabine (both i.v. and p.o.) have demonstrated activity in patients with 
higher risk MDS [7]. In addition, we have previously shown the feasibility and efficacy of the combination 
of lower dose clofarabine (30 mg/m
2/day) with low-dose cytarabine in patients with high-risk MDS and 
acute myeloid leukemia (AML), which was more active than single agent clofarabine [8]. 
Here we propose to take this approach of the combination of clofarabine with low-dose cytarabine and 
use this combination to treat patients with higher-risk MDS who have failed to respond to hypomethylating 
agents.These patients are facing a huge unmet medical need.
3.0 Background Drug Information
3.1 
Clofarabine
Clofarabine is FDA approved for children with relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia and 


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therefore commercially available.
Clofarabine is formulated at a concentration of 1mg/mL in sodium chloride (9mg/mL), United States 
Pharmacopeia (USP) or European Pharmacopeia (EP) and water for injection, USP or EP, quantity 
sufficient (qs) to 1 mL. Clofarabine is supplied in 20-mL flint vials contain 20 mL (20 mg) of solution. The 
pH range of the solution is 4.5 to 7.5. The solution is clear and practically colorless, is preservative free, 
and is free from foreign matter. 
Vials containing undiluted clofarabine should be stored at room temperature (15° to 25° C; 59° to 77° F). 
Ongoing shelf-life stability studies indicate that clofarabine is stable for 36 months at 25°C and 60% 
relative humidity and for 6 months at 40°C (+/- 2°C) and 75% (+/- 5%) relative humidity. 
Clofarabine for injection should be filtered through a sterile 0.2 microM syringe and then further diluted 
with 0.9% sodium chloride injection USP or EP for a final concentration of 0.15 to 0.4 mg/mL prior to IV 
infusion. The resulting admixture may be stored at room temperature, but must be used within 24 hours 
of preparation. Clofarabine will be administered as a 1- to 2-hour IV infusion as tolerated. To prevent drug 
incompatibilities, no other medications should be infused concurrently throught he same IV lines as 
clofarabine. Also, no blood products should be administered at the same time as clofarabine.
3.2
Cytarabine (Ara-C)
Cytarabine is available commercially.
Cytarabine is a deoxycytidine analog that is metabolized to cytarabine triphosphate, a substance that 
inhibits DNA polymerase. It is S phase specific, and thus affects DNA synthesis. It has an initial plasma 
half-life of about 15 minutes, with a secondary phase of about 2 hours, and is rapidly catabolized by 
hepatic cytidine deaminases to Ara-U.
Cytarabine injection, an antineoplastic is a sterile solution of cytarabine for intravenous administration. 
Each mL contains 20 mg cytarabine in 100 mg (20 mg/mL) single dose vials and 100 mg cytarabine in 2 
g (100 mg/mL) single dose vial.
Cytarabine comes as 20 mg/mL (5, 25 and 50 mL vials) and 100 mg/ml solutions (20 mL vial), in addition 
to several vial sizes of powder for solution (100 mg, 500 mg, 1 g, 2 g). 
Cytarabine to be prepared as per institutional standards based on product availability.
3.3
Expected Toxicities
Myelosuppression, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, mucositis, skin rash with blisters (particularly hand-foot 
syndrome), Steven-Johnson's syndrome, fatigue, mental status changes/coma, allergic reactions 
(including fever, muscle aches, edema, dyspnea), congestive heart failure, conjunctivitis, and anorexia. 
Pancreatitis, liver failure, kidney failure. Infections.
Autoimmune reactions (antiplatelet antibodies, erythema nodosum) and/or chemical imbalances in the 
blood, lethargy, malaise, asthenia, alopecia, peritonitis, anorexia, stomatitis/pharyngitis, 
hyperbilirubinemia, increase of SGPT and/or SGOT, abdominal pain or cramping.
3.4 
Drug Supply
Clofarabine is approved by the FDA for use in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia and will be used off 
label in higher-risk MDS in this study. Ara-C (cytarabine) is approved for use in patients with AML but will 


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be used for patients with higher-risk MDS in this study. Neither clofarabine nor cytarabine will be provided 
free of charge during the study.
4.0 Patient Eligibility
Inclusion:
1)
Age >/= 18 years.
2)
Diagnosis of MDS confirmed within 10 weeks prior to study entry according to WHO or FAB criteria. 
Patients are either not eligible for or choose not to proceed with a stem cell transplant.
3)
MDS classified as follows: RAEB-1 (5%-9% BM blasts); RAEB-2 (10%-19% BM Blasts); CMML 
(5%-19% BM blasts); RAEB-t (20%-29% BM blasts) AND/OR by IPSS: intermediate-2 and high risk 
patients.
4)
No response, progression, or relapse (according to 2006 IWG criteria; see section 8 for details) 
following at least 4 cycles of either azactidine or decitabine, or following at least 2 cycles of SGI-110, 
which were completed within the last 2 years - AND/OR - intolerance to azacitidine, decitabine, or 
SGI-110  defined as drug-related >/= grade 3 hepatic or renal toxicity leading to treatment discontinuation 
during the preceding 2 years.
5)
Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of </= 2.
6)
Willing to adhere to and comply with all prohibitions and restrictions specified in the protocol.
7)
Patient (or patient's legally authorized representative) must have signed an informed consent 
document indicating that the patient understands the purpose of and proecdures required for the study 
and is willing to participate in the study.
Exclusion:
1)
Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, symptomatic congestive heart failure, 
unstable angina pectoris, or cardiac arrhythmia.
2)
Active infection not adequately responding to appropriate antibiotics (i.e. ongoing temperatures of 
>/= 38 degree Celsius).
3)
Total bilirubin >/= 1.5 mg/dL and not related to hemolysis or Gilbert's disease. Patients with total 
bilirubin >/= 1.5 mg/dL to 3 mg/dL are eligible if at least 75% of the bilirubin is indirect.
4)
Alanine transaminase (ALT/SGPT) or aspartate transaminase (AST/SGOT) >/= 2.5 x the upper limit 
of normal.
5)
Serum creatinine > 1.5 mg/dL.
6)
Female patients who are pregnant or lactating.
7)
Patients with reproductive potential who are unwilling to following contraception requirements 
(including condom use for males with sexual partners, and for females: prescription oral contraceptives 
[birth control pills], contraceptive injections, intrauterine devies [IUD], double-barrier method [spermidical 
jelly or foam with condoms or diaphragm], contraceptive patch, or surgial sterilization) throughout the 
study.
8)
Female patients with reproductive potential who do not have a negative urine or blood beta-human 


2011-0660
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chorionic gonadotropin (beta HCG) pregnancy test at screening.
9)
Patients receiving any other concurrent investigational agent or chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or 
immunotherapy.
10)
No prior treatment with cytarabine or clofarabine. Prior hydroxyurea for control of leukocytosis or 
use of hematopoietic growth factors (eg, G-CSF, GM-CSF, procrit, aranesp, thrombopoietins) is allowed 
at any time prior to or during study if considered to be in the best interest of the patient.
11)
Psychiatric illness or social situation that would limit the patient's ability to comply with study 
requirements.
5.0 Treatment Plan
5.1 
Study Treatment
Patients may receive up to 3 cycles of induction therapy and up to 12 cycles of consolidation. 
Treatment will be terminated if patients exhibit evidence of treatment failure, disease progression, 
experience clinically significant toxicity, or the investigator determines that discontinuation of 
treatment is in the best interest of the patient. 
Patients will be treated with study drugs based on a calculation determined from the patient's BSA. Body 
surface area (BSA) will be calculated before each cycle and will be based on the patient's height 
(measured at baseline) and weight (measured each cycle).
Patients will be instructed to self-administer cytarabine at home and return unused drug to be handled 
and processed by the dispensing pharmacy.
In order to lower the risk of pregnancy, patients of child bearing potential must agree to use 
acceptable forms of birth control until at least 8 weeks after the last dose of therapy is administered. If 
patients are already using birth control, they must check with the study doctor or a member of the 
study staff to make sure that it is considered one of the acceptable forms to use in this study. 
Examples of effective birth control include condoms or diaphragms with spermicidal jelly, and birth 
control methods that are taken by mouth, injected, or implanted.
Exepct for the first cycle, treatment can be administered at MDACC or through the supervision of the 
home physician.
5.1.1 Induction
Clofarabine 10 mg/m2 as a 1-2 hours i.v. infusion. daily for 5 days (days 1-5)
Cytarabine 20 mg s.c. twice daily for 7 days (days 1-7)
Cytarabine should be administered 3 to 6 hours following the start of the clofarabine infusions.
Cycles are repeated every 4 to 8 weeks depending on resolution of toxicities. No dose reductions, delays, 
or modifications are required for hematologic toxicities during the induction cycles. It is assumed that low 
counts at diagnosis are due to involvement by the disease process and require therapy for improvement. 
Patients who receive repeated induction cycles have persistent disease and thus no recovery of 
hematologic parameters can be expected.


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Patients can receive up to a maximum of 3 induction cycles as long as they have stable disease and do 
not progress. If patients have not achieved at least a hematologic improvement after three cycles, they 
should be taken off study. Patients with at least hematologic improvement can continue the consolidation. 
Patients with any response less than CR or CRp before completion of three induction cycles can 
complete all three induction cycles in an effort to maximize their response prior to moving on with the 
consolidation if this is considered in the best interest of a particular patient.
5.1.2 Consolidation
Clofarabine 10 mg/m2 as a 1-2 hours i.v. infusion daily for 3 days (days 1-3)
Cytarabine 20 mg s.c. twice daily for 5 days (days 1-5)
Cytarabine should be administered 3 to 6 hours following the start of the clofarabine infusions.
Cycles are repeated every 4 to 8 weeks depending on hematopoietic recovery and resolution of toxicities. 
The maximum number of consolidation cycles is 12. Patients who continue with treatment after a delay 
for any reason other than toxicity or adverse event must restart treatment by Day 84 after Day 1 of the 
previous cycle. Patients can start after day 84 if discussed with and approved by the Principal 
Investigator.
5.1.3.
Supportive Measures During Treatment
Necessary supportive measures for optimal medical care are to be given throughout the study as 
indicated by the treating physician's assessment of the patient's medical need and by the institutional 
guidelines. Administration of antiemetics during drug administration is strongly recommended. 
It is recommended that the patient's fluid status and hepatic and renal function be carefully monitored 
daily during the drug administration period. 
Management of Capillary Leak Syndrome
In pediatric studies, during or shortly after IV clofarabine administration a few patients developed signs 
and symptoms consistent with capillary leak syndrome. In these heavily pretreated patients, it has been 
difficult to separate potential drug-related cases of capillary leak syndrome from concurrent medical 
conditions such as infections/sepsis, progressive disease, or other underlying problems resulting from 
prior antileukemic therapies.
For these reasons, during and after each dose of clofarabine investigators should assess patients for the 
onset of the following signs or symptoms >/= grade 2:
- Tachypnea or other evidence of respiratory distress;
- Unexplained hypotension; and/or
- Unexplained tachycardia
If one or more of these signs or symptoms occurs during study drug infusion, clofarabine administration is 
to be interrupted or held as clinically indicated. It is recognized that the total infusion time for this 
clofarabine dose in this circumstance may exceed 1 hour. Thus, if the patient's condition stabilizes or 
improves, clofarabine administration may resume. Pretreatment with steroids (e.g. hydrocortisone 100 
mg/day or its equivalent or dexamethasone 20 mg/day as part of an anti-emetic regimen) is 
recommended for all subsequent doses during the remainder of that treatment cycle and for all 
subsequent treatment cycles.
5.2
Dose Modifications


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Dose modifications can be made for one drug only if the investigator is reasonably confident that the 
toxicity relates to that particular drug. If that distinction cannot be made, the doses of both drugs should 
be modified.
Missed doses of clofarabine and/or cytarabine can be made up on subsequent days if felt to be in the 
best interest of the patient.
5.2.1
Hematologic (Blood/Bone Marrow) Toxicity
No dose reductions, delays, or modifications are required for hematologic toxicities during the induction 
cycles. It is assumed that low counts at diagnosis are due to involvement by the disease process and 
require therapy for improvement. Patients who are considered for reinduction have persistent disease 
and thus no recovery of hematologic parameters can be expected in the absence of further therapy.
Patients who achieve a CR/CRp should receive the consolidation cycles no sooner than 28 days from 
Day 1 of the previous cycle, provided the ANC has recovered to >/= 1.0 x 10
9/L and the platelet count >/= 
50 x 10
9/L (in case of CR). For patients in CRp where the platelet count by definition has not recovered, 
no limits are set to continue. If the peripheral count recovery is delayed beyond 42 days from Day 1 of the 
prior cycle and the delay is presumed to be secondary to the therapy, the study drug doses for the next 
cycle should be reduced by 25%.
5.2.2
Non-Hematologic Toxicity
Patients who experience a > grade 1 drug-related non-hematologic toxicity or drug-related asymptomatic 
grade 2 elevations of creatinine, bilirubin, amylase, lipase  during any week of treatment should have 
clofarabine held until recovery to grade 1 before starting treatment. Grade 3 drug-related toxicities that 
result in delays or omissions must resolve to grade 1 before starting treatment. Dose omissions due to 
toxicities that occur during the treatment can be made up as per the treating physician's discretion and if 
this is felt to be in the best interest of the patient. 
5.2.2.1 Infections
If a patient develops a clinically significant infection of any grade, initiation of treatment cycles will be 
delayed or withheld until the infection is clinically controlled (e.g., the patient is afebrile and with 
improving signs/symptoms). Treatment (i.e., subsequent cycles) may then resume at the full dose. At 
the discretion of the investigator, prophylactic therapy to prevent recurrence of infection can be 
instituted as clinically indicated.
5.2.2.2 Non-infectious, drug-related
a) First or second occurrence of a drug-related >/= grade 3 toxicity:
If toxicity recovers to Grade 1 within 35 days from the onset of the toxicity: study therapy is to be 
restarted at 25% reduction with no alteration in schedule from the previous doses for all subsequent 
cycles.*
If toxicity does not recover to Grade 1 within 35 days from the onset of toxicity: the patient should not 
receive additional study drug.*
* Excludes NCI CTC grade 2 alopecia and >/= grade 3 anorexia, transient elevations in hepatic 
transaminases or alkaline phosphatase based on institutional normals without clinical significance, and 
nausea/vomiting, diarrhea or mucositis that resolves (with or without supportive care) to < grade 2 within 
72 hours of onset to grade 3.


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b) 3rd Occurrence of a drug-related non-infectious event(s): Grade 3 toxicity:
The patient should not receive any additional treatment.
5.3
Supportive Care
5.3.1
Blood Products
All blood products are to be irradiated and leukocyte-reduced according to institutional guidelines. 
5.3.2 
Infection Prophylaxis
The use of prophylactic antibacterial, antifungals, and antiviral agents is recommended according to 
standard of care. 
5.3.3
Colony Stimulating Factors
Hematopoietic growth factors (e.g., granulocyte colony stimulating factor [G-CSF]) can be administered at 
the treating physician's discretion and judgment.
5.3.4
Concomitant Therapy
No systemic concomitant cytotoxic therapy or investigational therapy is allowed during the study. 
To the extent possible, use of nephrotoxic (e.g., vancomycin, amphotericin B, etc) and hepatotoxic (e.g., 
voriconazole, cyclosporine, etc) agents is strongly discouraged and is to be avoided during clofarabine 
administration for all treatment cycles unless there are compelling reasons to do so.
6.0 Pretreatment evaluation
History and physical.
CBC with differential and platelets, chemistry profile (total bilirubin, serum creatinine, SGPT or SGOT, 
uric acid, LDH, potassium, magnesium) within 14 days of therapy start.
Bone marrow aspirate and/or biopsy within 28 days of therapy start. The bone marrow evaluation must 
include cytogenetic studies except for situations where cytogenetic analysis was not added to a bone 
marrow aspirate and/or biopsy and the stage/prognostic group of the MDS can be ascertained as higher 
risk based on the available information (eg, blasts and/or degree of cytopenias).
Pregnancy (urine or blood) test for women of childbearing potential within two weeks of start of therapy. 
Child bearing potential is defined as not post-menopausal for 12 months or no previous surgical 
sterilization.
7.0 Evaluation During Study
CBC with differential and platelet counts at least weekly while on therapy and every 4 to 8 weeks 
thereafter as long as on study. No differential is needed if the WBC is < 1.0 x 10
9/L.
Chemistry profile (at least creatinine, SGOT or SGPT, total bilirubin, potassium, magnesium) 
every two weeks while on therapy, then every 4 to 8 weeks as long as on study.


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Bone marrow aspirate and/or biopsy at the end of course 1 (day 28 +/- 7 days). If a patient is not 
in remission at this point, further bone marrow aspirate and/or biopsy can be scheduled as per 
the investigator's discretion and mandated by the development of the peripheral blood counts.
No repeat bone marrow is necessary if non-response or progressive disease can be 
unequivocally diagnosed from peripheral blood tests, or, in patients with a WBC < 0.3 if the bone 
marrow test is considered non-contributory by the investigator at any time point.
Follow up marrow tests should include cytogenetic analysis for those patients who had 
abnormalities prior to therapy start.
Repeat physical examination (problem focused) prior to administration of each course
After completion of therapy and as long as still on study, patients will return to MD Anderson 
Cancer Center for repeat physical examination (problem focused), repeat CBC with differential 
and platelet count, and chemistry profile (at least creatinine, SGOT or SGPT, total bilirubin, 
potassium, magnesium) every 6 months (+/- 2 months). A CBC with differential and platelet count 
should be checked every one to two months, but these blood tests may be done locally.
8.0 Criteria for Response
Category
Response Criteria 
(responses must last for at least 4 weeks)
Complete remission (CR(
Marrow: 
</= 5% myeloblasts with normal maturation of all cell lines. 
Persistent dysplasia will be noted (dysplastic changes should 
consider the normal range of dysplastic changes.)
Blood: 
- Hemoglobin (Hb) >/= 11 g/dL (untransfused, patient not on EPO)
- Neutrophils >/= 1x109/L (not on myeloid growth factor)
- Platelets >/= 100 x 109/L (not on thrombopoietic agent)
- No blasts
Partial remission (PR)
All CR criteria (if abnormal prior to treatment), except:
Marrow blasts decreased by >/= 50% compared with pretreatment 
but still > 5%.
Cellularity and morphology not relevant
Marrow CR
Marrow: 
</= 5% myeloblasts and decrease by >/= 50% over pretreatment
Blood:
if hematologic improvement (HI) responses, they will be noted in 
addition to the marrow CR 
Stable disease (SD)
Failure to achieve at least PR, but no evidence of progression for > 8 
weeks.
Failure
Death during treatment or disease progression characterized by 
worsening of cytopenias, increase in percentage of marrow blasts, 
or progression to an MDS FAB subtype more advanced than 
pretreatment.
Relapse after CR or PR
At least one of the following:
- Return to pretreatment bone marrow blast percentage
- Decrement of >/= 50% from maximum remission/response levels in 
granulocytes or platelets
- Reduction in Hb concentration by >/= 1.5 g/dL or transfusion 
dependence (in the absence of another explanation, such as acute 
infection, GI bleeding, hemolysis, etc.)
Cytogenetic response
Complete:
Disappearance of the chromosomal abnormality without appearance 
of new ones
Partial:
At least 50% reduction of the chromosomal abnormality


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Disease progression
For patients with 
< 5% blasts: >/= 50% increase in blasts to > 5% blasts
5%-10% blasts: >/= 50% increase in blasts to > 10% blasts
10%-20% blasts: >/= 50% increase in blasts to > 20% blasts
20%-30% blasts: >/= 50% increase in blasts to > 30% blasts
Any of the following:
At least 50% decrement from maximum remission/response levels in 
granulocytes or platelets.
Reduction in Hb concentration by >/= 2 g/dL.
Transfusion dependence (in the absence of another explanation, 
such as acute infection, GI bleeding, hemolysis, etc.)
Hematologic Improvement
Response Criteria
(responses must last at least 8 weeks)
Erythroid response
(pretreatment, < 11 g/dL)
Hb increase by >/= 1.g/dL
Relevant reduction of units of RBC transfusions by an absolute 
number of at least 4 RBC transfusions/8wk compared with the 
pretreatment transfusion number in the previous 8 wk.
Only RBC transfusions given for a Hb of </= 9 g/dL pretreatment will 
count in the RBC transfusion response evaluation
Platelet response
(pretreatment, < 100x109/L)
Absolute increase of >/= 30 x 109/L for patients starting with > 20 x 
109/L
Increase from < 20 x 109/L to > 20 x 109/L and by at least 100% 
Neutrophil response
(pretreatment, < 1 x 109/L)
At least 100% increase an an absolute increase > 0.5 x 109/L
Progression or relapse after HI
At least 1 of the following:
At least 50% decrement from maximum respnose levels in 
granulocyte or platelets
Reduction in Hb by >/= 1.5 g/dL
Transfusion dependence (in the absence of another explanation, 
such as acute infection, GI bleeding, hemolysis, etc.)
Reference: Cheson et al. 2006
9.0 Criteria for Removal from the Study
Reason to take patients off study include (but are not limited to) the following:
Progressive disease

Patient refusal

Patient non-compliance

Physician judgment

Pattern of patient non-compliance



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10.0 Data Monitoring Plan
This is a single arm phase II study in patients with MDS who have failed therapy with or are intolerant of 
hypomethylating agents. 
Primary objective: complete response (CR); overall survival.
Secondary objective: duration of response; relapse-free survival; safety. 
It will be postulated that the treatment can achieve a CR rate of 20% and a median overall survival time of 
6 months.
A maximum of 80 patient will be accrued at a rate of 2 to 5 patients per month (maximum accrual period  
3.33 yrs). The CR, overall survival and toxicity will be monitored during the study, and all data will be 
used to update the prior distributions for toxicity and efficacy parameters. The study will be stopped for 
toxicity and futility based on the following stopping rules. 
Efficacy monitoring
Complete response and overall survival will be monitored separately. The method of Thall, Simon, and 
Estey [9] will be used to monitor response and Bayesian time-to-event model [10] will be used to monitor 
overall survival.
a.
CR
CR will be monitored in all pts using the method of Thall et al.[9]  Denote the probability of CR by PE.  
We assume PE ~ beta (0.4, 1.6).  We will stop the trial if at any point that there is < 1% chance that 
the CR rate is > 20%. Stopping boundaries corresponding to this stopping rule and operating 
characteristics are listed in tables 1a and 1b. CR in the 4 months after the treatment will be included 
in the primary analysis.
Table 1a.  Stop accrual if the number of response is equal to or less than indicated (i.e., # response) 
among number of patients accrued (i.e., # Patients). (PL=0.01)
# CR
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
# Pts
15
24
33
41
49
56
64
71
78
Table 1b: Operating characteristics of response (based on 10000 simulations) (PL=0.01)
Trial Sample Size Percentile
True
Probability
Stop 
Probability
25%
50%
75%
0.05
0.992
15
24
33
0.1
0.735
24
41
80
0.15
0.301
64
80
80
0.2
0.086
80
80
80
b.
Overall survival 
Bayesian time-to-event model will be used to monitor the overall survival [10]. Let Te and Ts represent 
the overall survival time for the study and the historical treatment, respectively. We assume Te|Me and 
Ts|Ms follow an exponential distribution with median Me and Ms, respectively. We further assume that the 
prior for Ms follows Inverse Gamma (IG) (35, 204) to reflect our knowledge of overall survival from the 
historical data,  which has a mean of 6 months and a variance of 1.09. The prior for Me is assumed to be 
IG (3,12), which has the same mean as Ms but with a much larger variance (36) to reflect much greater 
uncertainty about the median time to progression of the study treatment.  


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The study will be monitored after the first 14 pts have been enrolled and then be repeated every month. 
The study will be stopped early if, based on the available data, we have little reason to believe that the 
median OS is 6 months or more. Formally, we’ll stop the study early if there is < 5% chance that the 
median OS is 6 months or more. The operating characteristics of this decision rule are shown in the 
following table:
Table 2: Operating characteristics of Efficacy Monitoring(PL=0.05)
True Median OS (Mos)
P(Stop)
Mean Number of Pts (25%, 75%)
2
1
18 (15,20)
4
0.835
42 (21,63)
6
0.079
76 (80,80)
7
0.024
79 (80,80)
Toxicity Monitoring 
Toxicity will be monitored in all pts using the method of Thall et al 1995 [9]. Toxicity is defined as 
non-hematologic grade 3 or 4 toxicities during the treatment course. Denote the probability of toxicity by 
E, where study drug related toxicity is defined as any Grade 3 or greater non-hematological toxicities.  
We assume E ~ beta (0.6, 1.4).  We will stop the trail if at any point Pr(E > 0.30 | data)  >0.95, i.e. if at any 
time during the study, we determine that there is > 95% chance that the study drug related toxicity rate is 
> 30%. Toxicity monitoring will be done in cohorts and the trial will be stopped if (number of toxicity 
observed / among number of patients) >/= 6/10, 8/15, 10/20, 12/25, 14/30, 16/35, 18/40, 19/45, 21/50, 
23/55, 25/60, 26/65, 28/70, 30/75, and 31/80. 
Table 3: The operating characteristics for toxicity monitoring are summarized in the following table
True toxicity probability
Probability of early stop
Sample size percentiles
(10, 25, 50, 75, 90)
0.1
0
80 80 80 80 80
0.2
0.012
80 80 80 80 80
0.3
0.188
23 80 80 80 80
0.4
0.755
10 15 36 79 80
0.5
0.99
10 10 15 25 41
Early termination of the study can be caused by either lack of efficacy or too much toxicity. If the efficacy 
and toxicity are considered jointly, the stopping probabilities will be higher than the probabilities shown in 
Tables 1 to 3. 
Table 4 shows several scenarios of the joint stopping probabilities assuming that efficacy and toxicity are 
independent.
Table 4: Operating characteristics considering efficacy and toxicity jointly
True probability of CR
True Median OS (mos)
True Probabilty of 
Toxicity
Early Stop Probability
0.25
7
0.2
0.06
0.25
4
0.2
0.84
0.25
7
0.5
0.99
0.2
6
0.3
0.316
0.1
4
0.4
0.989
0.1
6
0.2
0.759
0.1
7
0.4
0.937


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All calculations were performed using OnearmTTE and Multc99.
Trial Conduct
The Department of Biostatistics will provide and maintain a website ("Clinical Trial Conduct") for 
monitoring of the overall survival. The Clincal Trial Conduct website resides on a secure server, and 
access is gained through usernames and passwords provided to personnel responsible for enrolling 
patients and updating patient data. The website is accessed through a browser using secure socket layer 
(SSL) technology.
Personnel responsible for enrolling patients on trials will be trained in the use of the trial website, with 
emphasis on the importance of timely updating of follow-up times and recording of events. The monitoring 
rules for the overall survival will be automatically evaluated each time patient data are updated on the trial 
website. If the stopping rule is met, the study statistician, research nurse, and principal investigator will 
each receive an email notification that the stopping boundary has been met.
Analysis Plan
For discrete or categorical data, descriptive statistics will include tabluations of frequencies. For 
continuous data, summary statistics including n, mean, standard deviation, median, minimum and 
maximum will be computed. The posterior CR rate and its 95% credible intervals will be estimated. The 
Kaplan-Meier method will be used to estimate the probability of the overall survival.
11.0 Reporting Requirements
Please refer to Appendix D (Leukemia-specific adverse event recording guidelines) and Appendix E 
(Expected adverse events in leukemia).
Serious Adverse Event Reporting (SAE)
A serious adverse event is – any adverse drug experience occurring at any dose that results in any of the 
following outcomes: 
·
Death
·
A life-threatening adverse drug experience – any adverse experience that places the patient, in 
the view of the initial reporter, at immediate risk of death from the adverse experience as it occurred. It 
does not include an adverse experience that, had it occurred in a more severe form, might have caused 
death.
·
Inpatient hospitalization or prolongation of existing hospitalization
·
A persistent or significant disability/incapacity – a substantial disruption of a person’s ability to 
conduct normal life functions.
·
A congenital anomaly/birth defect.
Important medical events that may not result in death, be life-threatening, or require hospitalization may 
be considered a serious adverse drug experience when, based upon appropriate medical judgment, they 
may jeopardize the patient or subject and may require medical or surgical intervention to prevent one of 
the outcomes listed in this definition. Examples of such medical events include allergic bronchospasm 
requiring intensive treatment in an emergency room or at home, blood dyscrasias or convulsions that do 
not result in inpatient hospitalization, or the development of drug dependency or drug abuse (21 CFR 
312.32).
·
All events occurring during the conduct of a protocol and meeting the definition of a SAE must be 
reported to the IRB in accordance with the timeframes and procedures outlined in “University of Texas M. 
D. Anderson Cancer Center Institutional Review Board Policy on Reporting Serious Adverse Events”.  


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·
Serious adverse events will be captured from the time the patient signs consent until 30 days 
after the last dose of drug. Serious adverse events must be followed until clinical recovery is complete 
and laboratory test have returned to baseline, progression of the event has stabilized, or there has been 
acceptable resolution of the event.
Recommended Adverse Event Recording (PDMS) Guidelines
Attribution
Grade 1
Grade 2
Grade 3
Grade 4
Grade 5
Unrelated
Phase I
Phase I
Phase I
Phase II
Phase I
Phase II
Phase III
Phase I
Phase II
Phase III
Unlikely
Phase I
Phase I
Phase I
Phase II
Phase I
Phase II
Phase III
Phase I
Phase II
Phase III
Possible
Phase I
Phase II
Phase I
Phase II
Phase III
Phase I
Phase II
Phase III
Phase I
Phase II
Phase III
Phase I
Phase II
Phase III
Probable
Phase I
Phase II
Phase I
Phase II
Phase III
Phase I
Phase II
Phase III
Phase I
Phase II
Phase III
Phase I
Phase II
Phase III
Definitive
Phase I
Phase II
Phase I
Phase II
Phase III
Phase I
Phase II
Phase III
Phase I
Phase II
Phase III
Phase I
Phase II
Phase III
12.0 References
1. Nimer SD. Myelodysplastic syndromes. Blood 2008; 111: 4841-4851.
2. Cutler CS, Lee SJ, Greenberg P, et al. A decision analysis of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation 
for the myelodysplastic syndromes: Delayed transplantation for low-risk myelodysplasia is associated 
with improved outcome. Blood 2004; 104: 579- 585.
3. Kantarjian H, Issa JP, Rosenfeld CS, et al. Decitabine improves patient outcomes in myelodysplastic 
syndromes: Results of a phase III randomized study. Cancer 2006; 106: 1794-1803. 
4. Fenaux P, Mufti GJ, Hellstrom-Lindberg E, et al.Efficacy of azacitidine compared with that of 
conventional care regimens in the treatment of higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes: A randomised, 
open-label, phase III study. Lancet Oncol 2009; 10: 223-232.
5. Jabbour E, Garcia-Manero G, Batty N, et al. Outcome of patients with myelodysplastic syndrome after 
failure of decitabine therapy. Cancer 2010; 116: 3830-3834.


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6.Ghanem H, Jabbour E, Faderl S, et al. Clofarabine in leukemia. Expert Rev Hematol 2010; 3: 15-20.
7. Faderl S, Garcia-Manero G, Estrov Z, et al. Oral clofarabine in the treatment of patients with higher-risk 
myelodysplastic syndrome. J Clin Oncol 2010; 28: 2755-2760
8. Faderl S, Ravandi F, Huang X, et al. A randomized study of clofarabine versus clofarabine plus 
low-dose cytarabine as front-line therapy for patients aged 60 years and older with acute myeloid 
leukemia and high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome. Blood 2008; 112: 1638-1645.
9. Thall PF et al. Bayesian sequential monitoring designs for single-arm clinical trials with multiple 
outcomes. Statistics in Medicine 1995; 14: 357-379.
10. Thall PF et al. Monitoring event times in early phase clinical trials: some practical issues. Clinical 
Trials 2005; 2: 467-478.