Phase 1 Trial of Siplizumab and Dose-Adjusted EPOCH-Rituximab in T- and NK-Cell Lymphomas

Background: The clinical outcome for patients with T-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is significantly inferior to the outcome of patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. In most reports less than 20% of patients with T cell lymphoid malignancies remain free of disease at 5 years. The combination of alemtuzumab and Etoposide, Prednisone, Vincristine, Cyclophosphamide and Doxorubicin (EPOCH) chemotherapy was evaluated in patients with chemotherapy naive aggressive T and natural killer (NK) cell lymphoid malignancy. Dose-limiting bone marrow toxicity prevented escalation of the alemtuzumab dose. Siplizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody directed at cluster of differentiation 2 (CD2) that demonstrated activity in the treatment of relapsed/refractory T cell lymphoma, suggesting further development by combining with chemotherapy for untreated patients. Siplizumab caused Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) lymphoproliferative disease in patients treated with a weekly schedule of administration. Rituximab prevents the development of EBV lymphoproliferative disease in the allogeneic transplant setting and may be active in preventing EBV-related B cell lymphoma in other settings. Objectives: Determine the toxicity and maximum tolerated dose of siplizumab and dose-adjusted EPOCH rituximab chemotherapy in chemotherapy naïve CD2- expressing T and NK lymphoid malignancies. Eligibility: CD2-expressing lymphoid malignancy. Patients with chemotherapy naive aggressive T \& NK lymphomas. Patients with alk-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma and patients with T-cell precursor disease are not eligible. Design: Four dose levels of siplizumab will be evaluated to determine the toxicity profile and in a preliminary fashion, and its activity in combination with dose-adjusted EPOCH with rituximab. Four dose levels of siplizumab will be explored, in cohorts of three to six patients each. Patients will receive 3.4, 4.8, 8.5, or 15 mg/kg of siplizumab on day 1 of therapy, followed by dose-adjusted EPOCH-rituximab chemotherapy days 1-5 every 3 weeks for a total of 6 cycles.