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Recruiting Phase 2 NCT04239157

NCT04239157 A Phase II, Open-Label, Study of Subcutaneous Canakinumab, an Anti-IL-1β Human Monoclonal Antibody, for Patients With Low or Int-1 Risk IPSS/IPSS-R Myelodysplastic Syndromes and Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia

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Clinical Trial Summary
NCT ID NCT04239157
Status Recruiting
Phase Phase 2
Sponsor M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Condition Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia
Study Type INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment 76 participants
Start Date 2020-08-25
Primary Completion 2026-12-31

Eligibility & Interventions

Sex All sexes
Min Age 18 Years
Max Age N/A
Study Type INTERVENTIONAL
Interventions
Canakinumab

Eligibility Fast-Check

Enter your details for a quick preliminary check. This does not replace medical advice.

What to Expect as a Participant

You will actively receive the study intervention — which may be a drug, biologic, device, or procedure.

In Phase 2, researchers evaluate early signs of effectiveness. You may be randomized to receive the active treatment or a comparator. Monitoring continues closely.

This trial targets 76 participants in total. It began in 2020-08-25 with a primary completion date of 2026-12-31.

⚠ This information is for research awareness only. Always consult your physician before joining any clinical trial. Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time.

Brief Summary

This phase II trial studies how well canakinumab works for the treatment of low- or intermediate-risk myelodysplastic syndrome or chronic myelomonocytic leukemia. Canakinumab is a monoclonal antibody that may interfere with the ability of cancer cells to grow and spread.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria: * Age ≥ 18 years as MDS and CCUS are very rare conditions in the pediatric setting. * Cohorts 1-3: Diagnosis of MDS according to WHO 2016 classification and low or intermediate-1 risk by IPSS or IPSS-R with a score of ≤ 3.5. * Cohort 4: Diagnosis of CCUS defined as: * Presence of a somatic pathogenic variant associated with hematological malignancy without morphological evidence of myelodysplasia * Variant allele fraction of greater than or equal to 2% in at least one identified somatic pathogenic variant * Bone marrow aspirate excluding hematological malignancy and MDS * Presence of a cytopenia for \>30 days. Cytopenia will be defined using accepted CHRS (Clonal Hematopoiesis Risk Score) criteria (Weeks et al, NEJM Evidence in press): ANC \<1.8 or hgb \<12 in females and \<13 in males or a platelet count of \<150. * Cohort 1: Participants need to have not responded to prior therapy with ESAs or hypomethylating agents (HMAs). These could include azacitidine, decitabine, SGI-110, ASTX727, or CC-486. Patients will need to have received at least 4 cycles of HMA. Participants with relapse or progression after any number of cycles of HMA by IWG 2006 criteria will also be candidates. Participants with evidence of del 5q alteration also are required to have been treated with Lenalidomide. * Cohort 1: Hemoglobin \<10g/dL with symptomatic anemia or transfusion dependency defined as the need for prior transfusion in the past 8 weeks for a hemoglobin level less than 8g/dl. * Cohort 2: Transfusion dependency defined as the need for prior transfusion in the past 8 weeks of (1) at least 2 units of PRBC for a hemoglobin level less than 8g/dl or symptomatic anemia (hemoglobin \<10g/dL), or (2) any platelet transfusion. * Participants (or patient's legally authorized representative) must have signed an informed consent document indicating that the patient understands the purpose of and procedures required for the study and is willing to participate in the study. * Adequate hepatic function with total bilirubin \</=3 x ULN, AST or ALT \</= 3xULN. * Serum creatinine clearance \>30mL/min and no end/stage renal disease (using Cockcroft-Gault). * ECOG performance status \</=2. Exclusion Criteria: * Active infection not adequately responding to appropriate antibiotics. * Prior treatment with IL-1/IL-1r inhibitors * Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \<0.5x109 k/ul; colony-stimulating factors can be administered prior to study drug initiation. * Female participants who are pregnant or lactating. * Participants 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 devices \[IUD\], double-barrier method \[spermicidal jelly or foam with condoms or diaphragm\], contraceptive patch, or surgical sterilization) throughout the study. Reproductive potential is defined as no previous surgical sterilization or females that are not post-menopausal for 12 months. * Female participants with reproductive potential who do not have a negative urine or blood beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta HCG) pregnancy test at screening. * History of an active malignancy within the past 2 years prior to study entry, with the exception of: a. Adequately treated in situ carcinoma of the cervix uteri b. Adequately treated basal cell carcinoma or localized squamous cell carcinoma of the skin or any other malignancy with a life expectancy of more than 2 years. * Participants receiving any other concurrent investigational agent or chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or immunotherapy (within 14 days of initiating study treatment). * Known history of testing positive for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infections. Participants requiring systemic steroids, methotrexate or other immunosuppressive drugs will not be included in the study.

Contact & Investigator

Central Contact

Guillermo Garcia-Manero

✉ ggarciam@mdanderson.org

📞 713-794-3604

Principal Investigator

Guillermo Garcia-Manero

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can join the NCT04239157 clinical trial?

This trial is open to participants of all sexes, aged 18 Years or older, studying Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.

What phase is the NCT04239157 trial and what does that mean for participants?

Phase 2 trials evaluate whether the treatment shows signs of effectiveness while continuing to monitor safety. More participants are enrolled than in Phase 1 to help refine the treatment protocol.

Is NCT04239157 currently recruiting?

Yes, NCT04239157 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at ggarciam@mdanderson.org for enrollment information.

Where is the NCT04239157 trial being conducted?

This trial is being conducted at Houston, United States.

Who is sponsoring the NCT04239157 clinical trial?

NCT04239157 is sponsored by M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. The principal investigator is Guillermo Garcia-Manero at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. The trial plans to enroll 76 participants.

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ClinicalMetric — Independent clinical trial intelligence platform. Not affiliated with NIH, ClinicalTrials.gov, the U.S. FDA, or any pharmaceutical company, hospital, or clinical research organization. Trial data is sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Do not make any treatment, enrollment, or health decisions based solely on information found here — always consult a qualified healthcare professional. Full Disclaimer  ·  Last Reviewed: November 2026  ·  Data Methodology