Intergroup ALFA/GOELAMS randomized phase II trial of lirilumab anti-KIR monoclonal antibody (IPH2102/BMS986015) as maintenance treatment in elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia (EFFIKIR trial).

TPS3117^ Background: Inhibitory killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) negatively regulate natural killer (NK) cell–mediated killing of HLA class I–expressing tumors. Lack of KIR-HLA class I interactions has been associated with potent NK cell-mediated antitumor efficacy and increased survival in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) upon haploidentical stem cell transplantation from KIR-mismatched donors(Ruggeri, Blood 2007). Anti-KIR antibody treatment resulted in long-term survival in SCID mice inoculated with lethal autologous AML cells (Romagne, Blood 2009). Lirilumab is a second generation fully human monoclonal antibody targeting the major inhibitory KIR on NK cells. The objectives of this study are to determine if maintenance therapy with lirilumab can improve leukemia-free survival (LFS) of elderly patients in first complete remission (CR1) of AML and to assess two dose schedules leading to either intermittent or continuous KIR occupancy. Methods: EFFIKIR is a randomized double-blind 3-arm placebo controlled trial of lirilumab in elderly patients in CR1 of AML. Patients aged 60 to 80 in CR1 of AML following standard induction and consolidation programs are randomly allocated to receive placebo or lirilumab given at either 0.1 mg/kg q 12 weeks or 1 mg/kg q 4 weeks according to a minimization algorithm adjusting for center, primary vs. secondary AML, no. of consolidation cycles (1 vs. 2) and cytogenetics (intermediate vs. high risk). Patients are to receive up to 2 yrs of therapy. ECOG performance status of 0-1, adequate hematologic, liver and renal function, and recovery from toxicities of prior chemotherapies are required. Patients are excluded if they are eligible for bone marrow transplantation and if the time interval since last consolidation exceeds 3 mos. The primary endpoint is LFS based on independent central review. The trial will accrue 50 patients in each arm and is powered (80%) to detect an improvement in LFS with a hazard ratio of 0.60 and a one-sided alpha of 0.05. Each dose schedule will be compared to placebo using a Hochberg procedure. The first patient was randomized on 12/11/2012. Clinical trial information: NCT01687387.