Testing the Use of Combination Therapy in Adult Patients With Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma, the EQUATE Trial

What this study is about

This phase III trial compares the combination of four drugs (daratumumab, bortezomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone) to the use of a three drug combination (daratumumab, lenalidomide and dexamethasone). Bortezomib may stop the growth of cancer cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Chemotherapy drugs, such as lenalidomide, work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Daratumumab is a monoclonal antibody that may interfere with the ability of cancer cells to grow and spread. Anti-inflammatory drugs, such as dexamethasone lower the body's immune response and are used with other drugs in the treatment of some types of cancer. Adding bortezomib to daratumumab, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone may be more effective in shrinking the cancer or preventing it from returning, compared to continuing on daratumumab, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone.

Who can join (things the study team will check)

✅ You may be able to join if…

• STEP 0 - Patient must have an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) of 0-2 (PS 3 allowed if secondary to pain)
• STEP 0 - Patient must have newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) by International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) criteria
• STEP 0 - Patient must agree to register to the mandatory REVLIMID Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (RevREMS) program and be willing and able to comply with the requirements of RevREMS
• STEP 0 - Patient must be able to undergo diagnostic bone marrow aspirate following preregistration.
  • NOTE: Bone marrow aspirate specimen must be submitted to Adaptive Biotechnologies for clonoSEQ Assay
  • NOTE: Adaptive Biotechnologies will release results to the diagnostic Portal from the Clonality (ID) test within fourteen (14) days of receipt and reconciliation of fresh bone marrow specimen to the submitting institution
• STEP 1 - Patient must meet all eligibility criteria in STEP 0 with exception of allergy requirement
• STEP 1 - Institution must have received the Clonality (ID) test results from Adaptive Biotechnologies and dominant sequences were identified
• STEP 1 - Patient must have standard risk MM as defined by the Revised International Staging System (RISS) stage I or II
  • NOTE: R-ISS stage is based on serum beta2 microglobulin, albumin and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels along with presence of chromosomal abnormalities (CA) detected by interphase fluorescent in situ hybridization (iFISH). Presence of del(17p), t(4;14), and/or t(14;16) is considered high risk and absence of these, including any other findings, are standard risk
  • R-ISS stage
  • Stage I: ISS stage I [beta2 macroglobulin < 3.5 mg/L, albumin > 3.5 g/dL] AND standard-risk CA AND normal LDH
  • Stage II: Not R-ISS stage I or III
  • Stage III: ISS stage III [beta2 macroglobulin > 5.5 mg/L] AND high-risk CA OR high LDH (> upper limit of normal) [patients with stage III are ineligible]
• STEP 1 - Patient must have measurable or evaluable disease as defined by having one or more of the following, obtained within 28 days prior to registration:
  • >= 1 g/dL monoclonal protein (M-protein) on serum protein electrophoresis
  • >= 200 mg/24 hours of monoclonal protein on a 24-hour urine protein electrophoresis
  • Involved free light chain >= 10 mg/dL or >= 100 mg/L AND abnormal serum immunoglobulin kappa to lambda free light chain ratio (< 0.26 or > 1.65)
  • Monoclonal bone marrow plasmacytosis >= 30% (evaluable disease)
• STEP 1 - Patients must have a serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP), urine protein electrophoresis (UPEP), and serum free light chain (FLC) assay performed within 28 days prior to registration. In addition, a bone marrow biopsy and/or aspirate is required within 28 days if bone marrow is being followed for response
  • NOTE: UPEP (on a 24-hour collection) is required, no substitute method is acceptable. Urine must be followed monthly if the baseline urine M-spike is >= 200 mg/24 hr. Please note that if both serum and urine M-components are present, both must be followed in order to evaluate response
  • NOTE: The serum free light chain test is required to be done if the patient does not have measurable disease in the serum or urine. Measurable disease in the serum is defined as having a serum M-spike >= 1 g/dL. Measurable disease in the urine is defined as having a urine M-spike >= 200 mg/24 hr
• STEP 1 - Calculated creatinine clearance > 30 mL/min (obtained =< 14 days prior to Step 1 registration)
• STEP 1 - Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) >= 1000/mm\^3 (obtained =< 14 days prior to Step 1 registration)
• STEP 1 - Untransfused platelet count >= 75,000/mm\^3 (obtained =< 14 days prior to Step 1 registration)
• STEP 1 - Hemoglobin >= 8.0 g/dL (obtained =< 14 days prior to Step 1 registration)
• STEP 1 - Total bilirubin =< 1.5 x ULN (institutional upper limit of normal) (obtained =< 14 days prior to Step 1 registration)
• STEP 1 - Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) =< 3 x ULN (obtained =< 14 days prior to Step 1 registration)
• STEP 1 - Patient must have received no more than one cycle (28 days or less) of prior chemotherapy and no more than 160 mg of prior dexamethasone (or equivalent dose of prednisone) for treatment of symptomatic myeloma. Patient must not have been exposed to daratumumab for treatment of symptomatic myeloma. Prior radiation therapy to symptomatic lesions is allowed provided there are no residual toxicity related to radiation and blood counts meet the study requirements. Radiation treatment must be completed at least 14 days prior to Step 1 registration
• STEP 1 - Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients on effective anti-retroviral therapy with undetectable viral load within 6 months of randomization are eligible for this trial
• STEP 1 - For patients with evidence of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, the HBV viral load must be undetectable on suppressive therapy, if indicated
• STEP 1 - Patients with a history of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection must have been treated and cured. For patients with HCV infection who are currently on treatment, they are eligible if they have an undetectable HCV viral load
• STEP 1 - Patients with a prior or concurrent malignancy whose natural history or treatment does not have the potential to interfere with the safety or efficacy assessment of the investigational regimen are eligible for this trial

+ 14 more criteria — see the full checklist in the app.

🚫 You may not be able to join if…

• STEP 0 - Patient must not have any known allergies, hypersensitivity, or intolerance to corticosteroids, monoclonal antibodies or human proteins, or their excipients (refer to respective package inserts or Investigator's Brochure), or known sensitivity to mammalian-derived products
• STEP 1 - Women must not be pregnant or breast-feeding due to the potential harm and teratogenic effects to an unborn fetus and possible risk for adverse events in nursing infants with the treatment regimens being used. All females of childbearing potential must have a blood test or urine study with a sensitivity of at least 25 mIU/mL within 10-14 days prior to Step 1 registration to rule out pregnancy and again within 24 hours prior to the first dose of lenalidomide. Females of childbearing potential must also agree to ongoing pregnancy testing while on protocol treatment. A female of childbearing potential is defined as any woman, regardless of sexual orientation or whether they have undergone tubal ligation, who meets the following criteria:
  • Has achieved menarche at some point,
  • Has not undergone a hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy; or
  • Has not been naturally postmenopausal (amenorrhea following cancer therapy does not rule out childbearing potential) for at least 24 consecutive months (i.e., has had menses at any time in the preceding 24 consecutive months)
• STEP 1 - Women of childbearing potential must not expect to conceive children by using accepted and effective method(s) of contraception (for this protocol defined as the use of TWO acceptable methods of birth control, one highly effective method and one additional effective method AT THE SAME TIME for 1) at least 28 days before starting protocol treatment; 2) while participating in the study; 3) during dose interruptions; and 4) for at least 3 months days after the last dose of protocol treatment) OR by practicing true abstinence from sexual intercourse for the duration of their participation in the study (periodic abstinence [e.g., calendar, ovulation, symptothermal, post-ovulation methods] and withdrawal are not acceptable methods of contraception). Men must not expect to father children by practicing true abstinence from sexual intercourse for the duration of their participation in the study (periodic abstinence [e.g., calendar, ovulation, symptothermal, post-ovulation methods] and withdrawal are not acceptable methods of contraception) OR use a latex condom during sexual contact with a female of child bearing potential while participating in the study and for at least 3 months after the last dose of protocol treatment even if they have had a successful vasectomy. Men must also agree to abstain from donating sperm while on study treatment and for 3 months after the last dose of protocol treatment even if they have had a successful vasectomy. Both women and men must both agree to abstain from donating blood during study participation and for at least 28 days after the last dose of protocol treatment
• STEP 1 - Patient must not have peripheral neuropathy >= grade 2 on clinical examination or grade 1 with pain at time of Step 1 registration
• STEP 1 - Patient must not have any serious medical or psychiatric illness that could, in the investigator's opinion, potentially interfere with the completion of treatment according to this protocol
• STEP 1 - Patient must not have moderate or severe persistent asthma within the past 2 years, or uncontrolled asthma of any classification
  • NOTE: Patients who currently have controlled intermittent asthma or controlled mild persistent asthma are allowed to register
• STEP 1 - Patient must not receive any other concurrent chemotherapy, or any ancillary therapy considered investigational while on this protocol
  • NOTE: Bisphosphonates are considered to be supportive care rather than therapy, and are thus allowed while on protocol treatment
• STEP 2 - Patient must not have received any non-protocol therapy outside of the assigned Step 1 Induction treatment including stem cell transplant
• STEP 2 - Women must not be pregnant or breast-feeding due to the potential harm and teratogenic effects to an unborn fetus and possible risk for adverse events in nursing infants with the treatment regimens being used. All females of childbearing potential must have a blood test or urine study with a sensitivity of at least 25 mIU/mL within 10-14 days prior to Step 2 randomization to rule out pregnancy and again within 24 hours prior to the first dose of lenalidomide. Females of childbearing potential must also agree to ongoing pregnancy testing while on protocol treatment. A female of childbearing potential is defined as any woman, regardless of sexual orientation or whether they have undergone tubal ligation, who meets the following criteria:
  • Has achieved menarche at some point,
  • Has not undergone a hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy; or
  • Has not been naturally postmenopausal (amenorrhea following cancer therapy does not rule out childbearing potential) for at least 24 consecutive months (i.e., has had menses at any time in the preceding 24 consecutive months).
• STEP 2 - Women of childbearing potential must not expect to conceive children by using accepted and effective method(s) of contraception (for this protocol defined as the use of TWO acceptable methods of birth control, one highly effective method and one additional effective method AT THE SAME TIME for 1) at least 28 days before starting protocol treatment; 2) while participating in the study; 3) during dose interruptions; and 4) for at least 3 months days after the last dose of protocol treatment) OR by practicing true abstinence from sexual intercourse for the duration of their participation in the study (periodic abstinence [e.g., calendar, ovulation, symptothermal, post-ovulation methods] and withdrawal are not acceptable methods of contraception). Men must not expect to father children by practicing true abstinence from sexual intercourse for the duration of their participation in the study (periodic abstinence [e.g., calendar, ovulation, symptothermal, post-ovulation methods] and withdrawal are not acceptable methods of contraception) OR use a latex condom during sexual contact with a female of child bearing potential while participating in the study and for at least 3 months after the last dose of protocol treatment even if they have had a successful vasectomy. Men must also agree to abstain from donating sperm while on study treatment and for 3 months after the last dose of protocol treatment even if they have had a successful vasectomy. Both women and men must both agree to abstain from donating blood during study participation and for at least 28 days after the last dose of protocol treatment

Where this trial is running

• Anchorage Associates in Radiation Medicine, Anchorage, Alaska, United States
• Anchorage Radiation Therapy Center, Anchorage, Alaska, United States
• Alaska Breast Care and Surgery LLC, Anchorage, Alaska, United States
• Alaska Oncology and Hematology LLC, Anchorage, Alaska, United States
• Alaska Women's Cancer Care, Anchorage, Alaska, United States
• Anchorage Oncology Centre, Anchorage, Alaska, United States
• Katmai Oncology Group, Anchorage, Alaska, United States
• Providence Alaska Medical Center, Anchorage, Alaska, United States
• Cancer Center at Saint Joseph's, Phoenix, Arizona, United States
• University of Arizona Cancer Center-Orange Grove Campus, Tucson, Arizona, United States
• Banner University Medical Center - Tucson, Tucson, Arizona, United States
• University of Arizona Cancer Center-North Campus, Tucson, Arizona, United States

+ 637 more sites.