Genasense® (Oblimersen Sodium), Fludarabine, and Rituximab in Subjects With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

A Pilot Study of Genasense® (G3139, Oblimersen Sodium, Bcl-2 Antisense Oligonucleotide), Fludarabine and Rituximab in Previously Treated Subjects With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

The treatment combination of Rituxan® (rituximab) and fludarabine has previously been reported to produce a high percentage of responses with less toxicity than other combination treatments. However, some leukemia subjects continue to have leukemia despite treatment with these standard anticancer drug therapies, or they may work for only a short period of time. In some subjects, when the leukemia does not respond well to therapy the leukemia cells may be over-producing one or more proteins. One of these proteins is called Bcl-2. Bcl-2 is a protein that appears to protect cancer cells from being killed and thus lengthens the life of the cancer cells. Genasense® (oblimersen sodium) is a compound that blocks production of the Bcl-2 protein. By first lowering levels of Bcl-2, it is possible that chemotherapy drugs may work more effectively as a cancer treatment. Genasense® may also directly kill CLL cells. This study will test whether treating subjects with Genasense®, fludarabine and rituximab is safe and effective.

Key Inclusion Criteria:

• Absolute lymphocyte count of > 10,000 cells/mm3 or history of ALC >10,000 cell/mm3
• Platelets > 50,000 cells/mm3
• Tumor lymphocytes expressing surface CD5, CD19, CD20 and CD23
• Creatinine < 1.5 mg.dL

Key Exclusion Criteria:

• Less than 3 weeks from any prior major surgery or other therapy for CLL including radiation therapy, chemotherapy, high-dose steroid therapy, immunotherapy, cytokine, biologic or vaccine therapy.
• History of autoimmune hemolytic anemia
• Prior allogeneic transplant