This research study is evaluating a drug called clofarabine as a possible treatment for
Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis( LCH )
Minimum age: N/A.
Maximum age: N/A.
Gender(s): Both.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Prior diagnosis of Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis established by standard diagnostic
criteria and confirmed histologically
- Evidence of disease reactivation or progression after standard treatment against LCH
(histological confirmation is not required)
- Performance Score > 70% (use Lansky score for age < 16 and Karnofsky score for age =
>16).
- Patients of all ages will be eligible.
- Provide signed written informed consent.
- Patients have failed first line treatment with prednisone and vinblastine. There is
no limitation of amount or the type of prior therapy or drugs.
- Patients with clinical evidence of involvement of hematopoietic system, liver or
spleen, have failed salvage treatment with cladribine/cytarabine or are not
considered to be eligible for such treatment.
- Female patients of childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test
within 14 days prior to enrollment. Male and female patients must use an effective
contraceptive method during the study and for a minimum of 6 months after study
treatment.
- Capable of understanding the investigational nature, potential risks and benefits of
the study, and able to provide valid informed consent.
- Participants must have adequate marrow functions as defined below, except those with
involvement of hematopoietic system for whom these criteria can be waived:
- Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 750/µL
- Platelets ≥75,000/µL
- Participants must have adequate organ functions as defined below:
- Total bilirubin ≤ 2. 5x institutional upper limit of normal
- AST (SGOT)/ALT (SGPT) < 2. 5 X institutional upper limit of normal unless it is
related to involvement by LCH
- Adequate renal function defined as:
- A serum creatinine ≤ institutional upper limit of normal or
- Creatinine clearance or radioisotope GFR ≥60 mL/min/1. 73 m2
- Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2. 5 x institutional upper limit of normal
Exclusion Criteria:
- Participants who have had chemotherapy or radiotherapy within 2 weeks (6 weeks for
nitrosoureas or mitomycin C) prior to entering the study or those who have not
recovered from adverse events due to agents administered more than 2 weeks earlier.
- Participants may not be receiving any other investigational agents targeting LCH.
- Use of alternative medications (e. g., herbal or botanical that could interfere with
clofarabine) is not permitted during the entire study period.
- Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to ongoing or active
infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac
arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with
study requirements.
- Pregnant women are excluded from this study because clofarabine has potential for
teratogenic or abortifacient effects. Because there is an unknown but potential risk
of adverse events in nursing infants, breastfeeding should be discontinued if the
mother is treated with clofarabine.
- Individuals with a history of a different malignancy are ineligible except for the
following circumstances. Individuals with a history of other malignancies are
eligible if they have been disease-free for at least 5 years and are deemed by the
investigator to be at low risk for recurrence of that malignancy. Individuals with
the following cancers are eligible if diagnosed and treated within the past 5 years:
cervical cancer in situ, and basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin.
- Patients with a history of prior hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(HSCT),
elevated conjugated serum bilirubin at study entry, uncontrolled systemic fungal,
bacterial, or other infection, a history of hepatitis B or C infection or a history
of cirrhosis.
- Individuals who are known to be HIV-positive on combination antiretroviral therapy.
Carlos Rodriguez-Galindo, MD, Phone: 617-632-4580, Email: carlos_rodriguez-galindo@dfci.harvard.edu