NCT03828773

PTX3-targeted Antifungal Prophylaxis

PTX3 Genetically Stratified Randomized Double-blinded Allocation Event-driven Clinical Trial for Antifungal Prophylaxis in Patients With Acute Myeloid Leukemia

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 410 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Bochud Pierre-Yves · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This is a prospective genetically-stratified randomized double-blind event-driven multicentre clinical trial to assess the efficacy of posaconazole-based antifungal prophylaxis allocation strategies for patients with acute myeloid leukemia who receive induction chemotherapy. Allocation strategy based on an invasive mold infection genetic risk will be double-blinded.

Detailed description

Background: Invasive mold infections (IMI, grouping infections due to Aspergillus spp \[IA\] and non-Aspergillus mold) are a major concern in hematological patients, such as those with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or myelodysplastic syndrome in transformation (MDSit), collectively named AML/MDSit in this protocol, or those undergoing hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), with incidence and mortality rates ranging between 3-15% and 25-45%, respectively. Primary antifungal prophylaxis has become the standard of care in such patients. Historically, fluconazole (inactive against IA) was used as prophylaxis and allowed for significant decrease in invasive candidiasis (IC). More recently, posaconazole (a broad-spectrum azole active against IA and other non-Aspergillus filamentous molds) was approved for primary antifungal prophylaxis in high-risk patient categories. However, universal prophylaxis with posaconazole has been challenged, based on the relatively low incidence of IMI and the large number of patients needed to treat. Moreover, administration of broad-spectrum azoles is costly and associated with a large number of complications. Hence, there is an urgent need to optimize antifungal prophylaxis by identifying those patients with the highest risk for IMI to receive a broad-spectrum azole. Pentraxin-3 (PTX3), a pattern recognition receptor, recognizes and binds to Aspergillus conidia, facilitates opsonization and subsequently leads to complement and phagocyte activation. Two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the gene encoding PTX3 have been identified as strong predictors for IA and/or IMI in human studies. What makes PTX3 SNPs different and important in clinical practice is: (i) the extent and reproducibility of basic science data with regards to PTX3 and IA, (ii) the validation of PTX3 SNPs associations with IA in many different patient populations, and (iii) the high frequency of minor allele in the general population. The investigators hypothesize that PTX3 SNPs could be used to identify patients at high risk for IMI, who will benefit the most from antifungal prophylaxis with broad-spectrum azoles. Overall objective: The overall aim of this project is to assess the effectiveness of the use of posaconazole-based antifungal prophylaxis in AML/MDSit patients in high risk group (single or double single homozygotes PTX-3 SNPs). Exploratory objectives are to assess the effectiveness of PTX3 SNPs testing to stratify the use of posaconazole-based antifungal prophylaxis in AML/MDSit patients according to low or high risk genotypes. Methods: Eligible patients will be tested by competitive allele-specific Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) from blood-extracted DNA samples for the presence of PTX3 SNPs rs230561 and rs3816527. Randomisation based on genetic testing will be performed at the latest 24h after the first neutropenia day (D0). Patients will be stratified based on genotyping results in two unbalanced strata: stratum A (high-risk PTX3 SNPs) to be randomized 1:1 posaconazole prophylaxis vs fluconazole and stratum-B (low-risk PTX3 SNPs) to be randomized 1:3 in favour of Fluconazole. Patients will be assessed for a diagnosis of possible, probable or proven Invasive Fungal Infections (IFI) based on consensus definition guidelines by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Mycoses Study Group (EORTC/MSG) groups during 180 days after prophylaxis initiation. Impact: The results of this study may contribute to the optimization of primary antifungal prophylaxis, by preventing IMI while limiting the use of broad-spectrum azoles, thus decreasing complications and costs. This study is one of the first interventional clinical trials to use genetic factors for risk stratification in the field of hematology and infectious diseases, a concept frequently emphasized, however barely transcribed in practice, as precision medicine. Furthermore, the scope of the proposed study expands beyond the specific patient population. The results of this study could be used in the design and initiation of similar efforts in other high-risk patient categories, including allogeneic HCT and solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients.

Conditions

• Candidiasis
• Fungal Infection
• Acute Myeloid Leukemia
• Genetic Predisposition
• Aspergillosis

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DRUG	Posaconazole	Posaconazole is a triazole with broad-spectrum activity, to include Candida species, Aspergillus species, and other fungal pathogens, including the Zygomycetes. Posaconazole is available as slow release tablets (300mg/day) and as intravenous (IV) formulation (300mg/day) and is licensed and approved in Switzerland for the prevention of IFI, including mold and yeast infections, in patients \>18 years who are at high risk of developing these types of infection (patients with long-term neutropenia or HCT recipients). Furthermore, international guidelines recommend posaconazole for primary antifungal prophylaxis in high-risk patients, such as AML patients with prolonged neutropenia. Posaconazole is available in Switzerland under the name of Noxafil® in capsules of 100mg, suspension of 40mg/mL and intravenous formulation of 300mg/16.7 mL.
DRUG	Fluconazole	Fluconazole is an antifungal with activity against most Candida species. Fluconazole is licensed and approved in Switzerland for prophylaxis of IC in patients with neutropenia induced by chemotherapy or radiotherapy at a daily dose of 200 to 400 mg once daily. Fluconazole (200 mg or 400 mg once daily) is still currently used as primary antifungal prophylaxis (standard of care) in all 7 centers participating in this trial. Fluconazole is available in Switzerland under the name of Diflucan® in capsules of 50 mg, 150 mg and 200 mg and in powder for preparation of suspension (50 mg/5 ml and 200 mg/5 ml (forte)) or perfusion (2 mg/1 ml). Several generics of Diflucan® are authorized in Switzerland. Prescribing Diflucan® or any of its generics will remain at the discretion of and based on the standard operating procedures (SOP) at each institution.

Timeline

• Start date: 2019-02-11
• Primary completion: 2027-11-30
• Completion: 2027-11-30
• First posted: 2019-02-04
• Last updated: 2025-12-09

Locations

9 sites across 3 countries: Belgium, France, Switzerland