NCT03020030

Brief Summary

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common cancer diagnosed in children. The cancer comes from a cell in the blood called a lymphocyte. Normal lymphocytes are produced in the bone marrow (along with other blood cells) and help fight infections. In ALL, the cancerous lymphocytes are called lymphoblasts. They do not help fight infection and crowd out the normal blood cells in the bone marrow so that the body cannot make enough normal blood cells. ALL is always fatal if it is not treated. With current treatments, most children and adolescents with this disease will be cured. The standard treatment for ALL involves about 2 years of chemotherapy. The drugs that are used, and the doses of the drugs, are similar but not identical for all children and adolescents with ALL. Some children and adolescents receive stronger treatment, especially during the first several months. A number of factors are used to decide how strong the treatment should be to give the best chance for cure. These factors are called "risk factors". This trial is studying the use of a new, updated set of risk factors to decide how strong the treatment will be. The study also will test a new way of dosing a chemotherapy drug called pegaspargase (which is part of the standard treatment for ALL) based on checking levels of the drug in the blood and adjusting the dose based on the levels.

Trial Health

78
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
560

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for phase_3

Timeline
103mo left

Started Mar 2017

Longer than P75 for phase_3

Geographic Reach
2 countries

9 active sites

Status
active not recruiting

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Progress52%
Mar 2017Nov 2034

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

January 6, 2017

Completed
7 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

January 13, 2017

Completed
2 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

March 3, 2017

Completed
9.8 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

November 30, 2026

Expected
7.9 years until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

November 1, 2034

Last Updated

January 22, 2026

Status Verified

January 1, 2026

Enrollment Period

9.8 years

First QC Date

January 6, 2017

Last Update Submit

January 21, 2026

Conditions

Keywords

acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

  • Complete Remission Rate

    After 1 month of treatment (Induction IA) for all participants, assessed at the end of first month of treatment in all participants through study completion (expected to take 4-5 years to accrue)

  • Event-Free Survival

    From registration to the time of induction failure, relapse, death, or second malignancy, whichever came first, assessed up to 60 months.

Secondary Outcomes (4)

  • Overall Survival

    From registration to the time of death from any cause, assessed up to 60 months.

  • Disease Free Survival

    From randomization or direct assignment (for participants who achieved a complete remission and were assigned a final risk group) to the time of relapse, death, or second malignancy, whichever came first, assessed up to 60 months.

  • Nadir Serum Asparaginase Activity (NSAA)

    During post-induction therapy with 30-weeks of pegaspargase (15 doses), collected during the first 6 months of therapy for all participants through study completion (expected to take 4-5 years to accrue)

  • Non-allergic Asparaginase Toxicity

    During post-induction therapy with 30-weeks of pegaspargase (15 doses). collected during the first 6 months of therapy for all participants through study completion (expected to take 4-5 years to accrue)

Study Arms (10)

Initial Low Risk (Initial LR)

OTHER

Meets all the following criteria: B-ALL, Age 1-\<15 years, WBC \< 50,000/microliter, CNS-1 or CNS-2, no BCR-ABL1, no iAMP21, and no VHR characteristics. Treated with Induction IA (vincristine, dexamethasone, pegaspargase), Induction IB (cyclophosphamide, cytarabine, mercaptopurine), Consolidation IA (vincristine, high-dose methotrexate + leucovorin, mercaptopurine). IT chemotherapy in all phases. Final risk group assigned by end of Consolidation IA.

Drug: PegaspargaseDrug: Erwinia asparaginaseDrug: CyclophosphamideDrug: CYTARABINEDrug: DEXAMETHASONEDrug: HYDROCORTISONEDrug: LEUCOVORIN CALCIUMDrug: MERCAPTOPURINEDrug: METHOTREXATEDrug: Vincristine

Initial High Risk (Initial HR)

OTHER

Meets at least one of the following criteria: Age \>=15 years, WBC \>=50,000/microliter, CNS-3, T-ALL, iAMP21, BCR-ABL1 And: No VHR characteristics Treated with Induction IA (vincristine, dexamethasone, pegaspargase, doxorubicin + dexrazoxane), Induction IB (cyclophosphamide, cytarabine, mercaptopurine), Consolidation IA (vincristine, high-dose methotrexate + leucovorin, mercaptopurine). IT chemotherapy in all phases. Final risk group assigned by end of Consolidation IA.

Drug: PegaspargaseDrug: Erwinia asparaginaseDrug: CyclophosphamideDrug: CYTARABINEDrug: DEXAMETHASONEDrug: DexrazoxaneDrug: DoxorubicinDrug: HYDROCORTISONEDrug: LEUCOVORIN CALCIUMDrug: MERCAPTOPURINEDrug: METHOTREXATEDrug: Vincristine

Initial Very High Risk (Initial VHR)

OTHER

Any of the following are present: IKZF1 deletion, MLL (KMT2A) rearrangement, low hypodiploidy, t(17;19) Treated with Induction IA (vincristine, dexamethasone, pegaspargase, doxorubicin + dexrazoxane), Induction IB (cyclophosphamide, cytarabine, mercaptopurine), Consolidation IA (vincristine, high-dose methotrexate + leucovorin, mercaptopurine). IT chemotherapy in all phases. Final risk group assigned by end of Consolidation IA.

Drug: PegaspargaseDrug: Erwinia asparaginaseDrug: CyclophosphamideDrug: CYTARABINEDrug: DASATINIBDrug: DEXAMETHASONEDrug: DexrazoxaneDrug: DoxorubicinDrug: ETOPOSIDEDrug: HYDROCORTISONEDrug: LEUCOVORIN CALCIUMDrug: MERCAPTOPURINEDrug: METHOTREXATEDrug: NELARABINEDrug: Vincristine

Final Low Risk (Final LR)

OTHER

Initial Low Risk and Low MRD (\<0.0001) at first time point (Day 32) Final Risk Group assigned at end of Consolidation IA. Subsequent therapy as follows: CNS phase (vincristine, dexamethasone, mercaptopurine, pegaspargase \[by randomization or direct assignment\], IT chemotherapy); Consolidation II (vincristine, dexamethasone, mercaptopurine, methotrexate, pegaspargase \[by randomization or direct assignment\], IT chemotherapy); Continuation (vincristine, dexamethasone, mercaptopurine, methotrexate, IT chemotherapy). All treatment completed 24 months from date of complete remission.

Drug: PegaspargaseDrug: Erwinia asparaginaseDrug: CYTARABINEDrug: DEXAMETHASONEDrug: HYDROCORTISONEDrug: MERCAPTOPURINEDrug: METHOTREXATEDrug: Vincristine

Final Intermediate Risk (Final IR)

OTHER

Initial High Risk and Low MRD (\<0.0001) at first time point (Day 32) Final Risk Group assigned at end of Consolidation IA. Subsequent therapy as follows: CNS phase (vincristine, dexamethasone, mercaptopurine, pegaspargase \[by randomization or direct assignment\], IT chemotherapy); Consolidation II (vincristine, dexamethasone, mercaptopurine, doxorubicin + dexrazoxane, pegaspargase \[by randomization or direct assignment\], IT chemotherapy); Continuation (vincristine, dexamethasone, mercaptopurine, methotrexate, IT chemotherapy). All treatment completed 24 months from date of complete remission.

Drug: PegaspargaseDrug: Erwinia asparaginaseDrug: CYTARABINEDrug: DEXAMETHASONEDrug: DexrazoxaneDrug: DoxorubicinDrug: HYDROCORTISONEDrug: MERCAPTOPURINEDrug: METHOTREXATEDrug: Vincristine

Final High Risk (Final HR)

OTHER

Initial Low Risk or Initial High Risk with High MRD (\>=0.0001) at first time point (Day 32) but low MRD (\<0.001) at second time point (week 10-12) Final Risk Group assigned at end of Consolidation IA. Subsequent therapy as follows: CNS phase (vincristine, dexamethasone, mercaptopurine, pegaspargase \[by randomization or direct assignment\], IT chemotherapy); Consolidation II (vincristine, dexamethasone, mercaptopurine, doxorubicin + dexrazoxane, pegaspargase \[by randomization or direct assignment\], IT chemotherapy); Continuation (vincristine, dexamethasone, mercaptopurine, methotrexate, IT chemotherapy). All treatment completed 24 months from date of complete remission.

Drug: PegaspargaseDrug: Erwinia asparaginaseDrug: CYTARABINEDrug: DEXAMETHASONEDrug: DexrazoxaneDrug: DoxorubicinDrug: HYDROCORTISONEDrug: MERCAPTOPURINEDrug: METHOTREXATEDrug: Vincristine

Final Very High Risk (Final VHR)

OTHER

Initial VHR or any patient with high MRD (\>=0.001) at second time point (week 10-12) Final Risk Group assigned at end of Consolidation IA. Subsequent therapy as follows: Consolidation IB/B-ALL (High-dose methotrexate + leucovorin, cyclophosphamide, etoposide, IT chemotherapy); Consolidation IB/T-ALL (nelararbine, cyclophosphamide, etoposide); Consolidation IC (High-dose cytarabine, etoposide, dexamethasone, pegaspargase \[by direct assignment\], IT chemotherapy); CNS phase (vincristine, dexamethasone, mercaptopurine, pegaspargase \[by direct assignment\], IT chemotherapy); Consolidation II (vincristine, dexamethasone, mercaptopurine, doxorubicin + dexrazoxane, pegaspargase \[by direct assignment\], IT chemotherapy); Continuation (vincristine, dexamethasone, mercaptopurine, methotrexate, IT chemotherapy). Dasatinib administered daily during all phases to pts with ABL1-class fusions. All treatment completed 24 months from date of complete remission.

Drug: PegaspargaseDrug: Erwinia asparaginaseDrug: CyclophosphamideDrug: CYTARABINEDrug: DASATINIBDrug: DEXAMETHASONEDrug: DexrazoxaneDrug: DoxorubicinDrug: ETOPOSIDEDrug: HYDROCORTISONEDrug: LEUCOVORIN CALCIUMDrug: MERCAPTOPURINEDrug: METHOTREXATEDrug: NELARABINEDrug: Vincristine

Fixed Dose Pegaspargase

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Final LR, IR, HR patients who consent to randomization and are assigned to receive 15 doses of pegaspargase every 2-weeks at standard fixed-dose (2500 IU/m2/dose).

Drug: PegaspargaseDrug: Erwinia asparaginase

Reduced Dose (PK-Adjusted) Pegaspargase

EXPERIMENTAL

Final LR, IR, HR patients who consent to randomization and are assigned to receive 15 doses of pegaspargase every 2-weeks beginning at a reduced dose (2000 IU/m2/dose); subsequent doses adjusted based on nadir serum asparaginase activity (NSAA) levels, with goal of maintaining NSAA between 0.4 and 1.0 IU/mL. Closed to Enrollment.

Drug: PegaspargaseDrug: Erwinia asparaginase

Direct Assignment

OTHER

All VHR patients, and any Final LR, IR, HR patients who decline randomization: Assigned to receive standard dosing of pegaspargase (15 doses of pegaspargase every 2-weeks at standard fixed-dose; 2500 IU/m2/dose).

Drug: PegaspargaseDrug: Erwinia asparaginase

Interventions

Arm A: Standard/Fixed Dose Pegaspargase (2500 IU/m2 every 2 weeks) Arm B: Reduced Dose (PK-adjusted) Pegaspargase (Starting Dose: 2000 IU/m2) Arm X: Directly Assigned Standard Dose (2500 IU/m2): For all VHR and patients who decline randomization

Direct AssignmentFinal High Risk (Final HR)Final Intermediate Risk (Final IR)Final Low Risk (Final LR)Final Very High Risk (Final VHR)Fixed Dose PegaspargaseInitial High Risk (Initial HR)Initial Low Risk (Initial LR)Initial Very High Risk (Initial VHR)Reduced Dose (PK-Adjusted) Pegaspargase

Only for patients with Pegaspargase allergy or silent inactivation.

Also known as: ERWINAZE®, ERWINIA CHRYSANTHEMI, ERWINASE®
Direct AssignmentFinal High Risk (Final HR)Final Intermediate Risk (Final IR)Final Low Risk (Final LR)Final Very High Risk (Final VHR)Fixed Dose PegaspargaseInitial High Risk (Initial HR)Initial Low Risk (Initial LR)Initial Very High Risk (Initial VHR)Reduced Dose (PK-Adjusted) Pegaspargase

Standard of Care

Also known as: CYTOXAN
Final Very High Risk (Final VHR)Initial High Risk (Initial HR)Initial Low Risk (Initial LR)Initial Very High Risk (Initial VHR)

Standard of Care

Also known as: CYTOSINE ARABINOSIDE, ARA-C, CYTOSAR®
Final High Risk (Final HR)Final Intermediate Risk (Final IR)Final Low Risk (Final LR)Final Very High Risk (Final VHR)Initial High Risk (Initial HR)Initial Low Risk (Initial LR)Initial Very High Risk (Initial VHR)

Standard of Care

Final Very High Risk (Final VHR)Initial Very High Risk (Initial VHR)

Standard of Care

Also known as: DECADRON®, HEXADROL®,, DEXONE®,, DEXAMETH®
Final High Risk (Final HR)Final Intermediate Risk (Final IR)Final Low Risk (Final LR)Final Very High Risk (Final VHR)Initial High Risk (Initial HR)Initial Low Risk (Initial LR)Initial Very High Risk (Initial VHR)

Standard of Care

Also known as: Zinecard
Final High Risk (Final HR)Final Intermediate Risk (Final IR)Final Very High Risk (Final VHR)Initial High Risk (Initial HR)Initial Very High Risk (Initial VHR)

Standard of Care

Also known as: ADRIAMYCIN®
Final High Risk (Final HR)Final Intermediate Risk (Final IR)Final Very High Risk (Final VHR)Initial High Risk (Initial HR)Initial Very High Risk (Initial VHR)

Standard of Care

Also known as: VePesid
Final Very High Risk (Final VHR)Initial Very High Risk (Initial VHR)

Standard of Care

Final High Risk (Final HR)Final Intermediate Risk (Final IR)Final Low Risk (Final LR)Final Very High Risk (Final VHR)Initial High Risk (Initial HR)Initial Low Risk (Initial LR)Initial Very High Risk (Initial VHR)

Standard of Care

Final Very High Risk (Final VHR)Initial High Risk (Initial HR)Initial Low Risk (Initial LR)Initial Very High Risk (Initial VHR)

Standard of Care

Also known as: 6-MP
Final High Risk (Final HR)Final Intermediate Risk (Final IR)Final Low Risk (Final LR)Final Very High Risk (Final VHR)Initial High Risk (Initial HR)Initial Low Risk (Initial LR)Initial Very High Risk (Initial VHR)

Standard of Care

Final High Risk (Final HR)Final Intermediate Risk (Final IR)Final Low Risk (Final LR)Final Very High Risk (Final VHR)Initial High Risk (Initial HR)Initial Low Risk (Initial LR)Initial Very High Risk (Initial VHR)

Standard of Care

Final Very High Risk (Final VHR)Initial Very High Risk (Initial VHR)

Standard of Care

Also known as: Oncovin
Final High Risk (Final HR)Final Intermediate Risk (Final IR)Final Low Risk (Final LR)Final Very High Risk (Final VHR)Initial High Risk (Initial HR)Initial Low Risk (Initial LR)Initial Very High Risk (Initial VHR)

Eligibility Criteria

Age1 Year - 21 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsChild (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

  • Confirmed diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Diagnosis should be made by bone marrow aspirate or biopsy demonstrating ≥ 25% involvement by lymphoblasts, with flow cytometry or immunohistochemistry confirming B-precursor or T-ALL phenotype.
  • \-- For patients with circulating blasts in the peripheral blood, flow cytometry confirmation of B-ALL or T-ALL phenotype is sufficient for registration onto the study. Bone marrow aspirate and/or biopsy should be performed as soon as feasible, preferably prior to the initiation of any therapy.
  • Prior Therapy: No prior therapy is allowed except for the following:
  • Corticosteroids: Short courses of corticosteroid (defined as ≤ 7 days of corticosteroids within the 4-weeks preceding registration) are allowed prior to registration.
  • \--- Participants who have been on corticosteroids chronically (defined as more than 7 days of corticosteroids within the 4-weeks preceding registration or more than 28 days of corticosteroids over the preceding 6 months) are not eligible.
  • IT cytarabine: A single dose of intrathecal cytarabine (at the time of the diagnostic lumbar puncture) is allowed prior to registration. If patient has received IT cytarabine prior to registration, Day 1 IT cytarabine should not be administered.
  • Emergent Radiation Therapy: Emergent radiation to the mediastinum or other life-threatening masses is allowed prior to registration.
  • Age: 365 days to \< 22 years
  • Direct bilirubin \< 1.4 mg/dL (23.9 micromoles/L).
  • Ability of parent or guardian to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.

You may not qualify if:

  • Mature B-cell (Burkitt's) ALL (defined by the presence of surface immunoglobulin and/or the t(8;14)(q24;q32), t(8;22), or t(2;8) translocation and/or c-myc-gene rearrangement).
  • World Health Organization diagnostic criteria of mixed phenotype acute leukemia (MPAL) or leukemia of ambiguous lineage
  • Any chemotherapy or radiotherapy for previous malignancy are not eligible.
  • Treatment in past with any anti-neoplastic agent, including methotrexate, 6-mercaptopurine, 6-thioguanine, vincristine cyclophosphamide, cytarabine (except for IT cytarabine), or any anthracycline, for any reason (eg, rheumatologic or autoimmune condition).
  • Currently receiving any investigational agents.
  • Known HIV-positivity
  • Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to ongoing infection with vital sign instability (hypotension, respiratory insufficiency), life-threatening acute tumor lysis syndrome (eg, with renal failure), symptomatic congestive heart failure, cardiac arrhythmia, intracranial or other uncontrolled bleeding, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements.
  • Pregnant women are excluded from this study because many of the agents used on this protocol have potential for teratogenic and/or abortifacient effects. Because there is an unknown but potential risk of adverse events in nursing infants secondary to treatment of the mother with these chemotherapy agents, breastfeeding should be discontinued if the mother is enrolled.
  • History of a previous malignancy. Exception: Individuals with a previous malignancy treated with surgery only (no chemotherapy or radiotherapy) more than 5 years prior to registration may be enrolled.

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (9)

Boston Children's Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States

Location

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States

Location

Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey

New Brunswick, New Jersey, 08903, United States

Location

Roswell Park Cancer Institute

Buffalo, New York, 14263, United States

Location

Columbia University Medical Center, Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of New York-Presbyterian

New York, New York, 10032, United States

Location

Montefiore Medical Center

The Bronx, New York, 10467, United States

Location

Hasbro Children's Hospital / Rhode Island Hospital

Providence, Rhode Island, 02903, United States

Location

Hospital Sainte Justine, University of Montreal

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Location

Centre Hospitalier U. de Quebec

Québec, Quebec, Canada

Location

Related Publications (2)

  • Park Y, K C N, Willekens J, Patel C, Savage BA, Lin H, Paneque A, Daly R, Thrope A, Burns MA, Welch JJG, Kahn JM, Kelly KM, Tran TH, Michon B, Gennarini L, Silverman LB, Sands SA, Cole PD. Treatment-Related Changes in Cerebrospinal Fluid Markers of Oxidative Stress and Neurodegeneration during Therapy for Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2025 Nov 3;34(11):2015-2024. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-25-1058.

  • Tran TH, Langlois S, Meloche C, Caron M, Saint-Onge P, Rouette A, Bataille AR, Jimenez-Cortes C, Sontag T, Bittencourt H, Laverdiere C, Lavallee VP, Leclerc JM, Cole PD, Gennarini LM, Kahn JM, Kelly KM, Michon B, Santiago R, Stevenson KE, Welch JJG, Schroeder KM, Koch V, Cellot S, Silverman LB, Sinnett D. Whole-transcriptome analysis in acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a report from the DFCI ALL Consortium Protocol 16-001. Blood Adv. 2022 Feb 22;6(4):1329-1341. doi: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2021005634.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma

Interventions

pegaspargaseasparaginase erwinia chrysanthemi recombinantAsparaginaseCyclophosphamideCytarabineDasatinibDexamethasoneCalcium DobesilateDexrazoxaneDoxorubicinEtoposideHydrocortisoneLeucovorinMercaptopurineMethotrexatenelarabineVincristine

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Leukemia, LymphoidLeukemiaNeoplasms by Histologic TypeNeoplasmsHematologic DiseasesHemic and Lymphatic DiseasesLymphoproliferative DisordersLymphatic DiseasesImmunoproliferative DisordersImmune System Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

AmidohydrolasesHydrolasesEnzymesEnzymes and CoenzymesPhosphoramide MustardsNitrogen Mustard CompoundsMustard CompoundsHydrocarbons, HalogenatedHydrocarbonsOrganic ChemicalsPhosphoramidesOrganophosphorus CompoundsCytidinePyrimidine NucleosidesPyrimidinesHeterocyclic Compounds, 1-RingHeterocyclic CompoundsArabinonucleosidesNucleosidesNucleic Acids, Nucleotides, and NucleosidesThiazolesSulfur CompoundsAzolesPregnadienetriolsPregnadienesPregnanesSteroidsFused-Ring CompoundsPolycyclic CompoundsSteroids, FluorinatedBenzenesulfonatesBenzene DerivativesHydrocarbons, AromaticHydrocarbons, CyclicArylsulfonatesArylsulfonic AcidsSulfonic AcidsSulfur AcidsRazoxaneDiketopiperazinesPiperazinesDaunorubicinAnthracyclinesNaphthacenesPolycyclic Aromatic HydrocarbonsAminoglycosidesGlycosidesCarbohydratesPodophyllotoxinTetrahydronaphthalenesNaphthalenesGlucosidesPregnenedionesPregnenes11-HydroxycorticosteroidsHydroxycorticosteroidsAdrenal Cortex HormonesHormonesHormones, Hormone Substitutes, and Hormone Antagonists17-HydroxycorticosteroidsFormyltetrahydrofolatesTetrahydrofolatesFolic AcidPterinsPteridinesHeterocyclic Compounds, 2-RingHeterocyclic Compounds, Fused-RingCoenzymesSulfhydryl CompoundsPurinesAminopterinVinca AlkaloidsSecologanin Tryptamine AlkaloidsIndole AlkaloidsAlkaloidsIndolesIndolizidinesIndolizines

Study Officials

  • Melissa Burns, MD

    Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
phase 3
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

January 6, 2017

First Posted

January 13, 2017

Study Start

March 3, 2017

Primary Completion (Estimated)

November 30, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

November 1, 2034

Last Updated

January 22, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

Locations